Liptovský Ján – Smrekovica – Stanišovská Dolina – A beautiful high-altitude hiking trail

Liptovský Ján is located at the lower end of the Jánska dolina valley and was first mentioned in historical records in the 12th century. From there, we begin our long forest walk through the “Forest of Happiness.” Due to storm damage, the ascent is challenging, as we have to zigzag around fallen trees and navigate steep terrain. This is followed by a beautiful high-altitude hiking trail until we hike back down into the valley through the lovely Stanišovská Valley. We hike through the Jánska Valley toward our starting point. This valley stretches from the Ďumbier peaks in the south to the Váh River in the north. Along the way, we walk on a beautifully landscaped trail alongside the wild and romantic Štiavnica River.> From the Avena Relaxhotel in Liptovský Ján 01 (699 m), we head south on the main road. We ignore a turnoff to the left leading to a house. But at the next fork in the trail, we follow the path slightly to the left across the meadows and, shortly afterward, through the forest. On the grassy meadows in the clearing that follow, the trail is hard to make out. The trail is interrupted by a newly built forest road02 (890 m), but then continues slightly to the left uphill. As soon as we see trail markers, we know we’re on the right track. The slope is extremely steep, with no switchbacks, as we climb up. A less steep section of the trail follows. We pass the highest point03 (1,261 m) of the hike quite unremarkably, below the 1,285-meter-high Smrekovica summit. On the gently descending trail, we pass two elevation survey points. At the next fork in the trail, we ignore the path branching off to the left toward a clearing; instead, we head slightly to the right and downhill through the forest. At another clearing, our trail joins a forest road. At the next opportunity, we turn slightly to the right (there are directional arrows here as well) and then reach Stanišovské sedlo04 (1,101 m). To the south, you can see several huts in a high valley; we head west (to the right) down through the Stanišovská dolina. The first section of the descent is extremely steep, then the trail levels off and leads gently across meadows to the exit of the Stanišovská dolina05 (709 m). After a short stretch northward on the paved road, we branch off slightly to the right onto the hiking trail from the Ďumbierska Saddle to Liptovský Ján. From here on, the trail leads through the Jánska Dolina. You’ll reach a private property that you’ll have to cross. Coming from our direction, there’s no “No Trespassing” sign. At the next fork in the paved road, we head slightly to the left. Right in front of the Partizán cabin, we turn right onto the cul-de-sac and follow it through the left-hand curve. We pass the annex of the Partizán chalet and reach a trail that continues, which shortly thereafter joins another dirt road. At the next intersection, we head slightly to the right and slightly uphill. Finally, the dirt road makes a right-hand turn and immediately afterward a left-hand turn around a solitary house and a smaller house. While still level with the house, we take the half-right path uphill at the fork and reach the outbound trail, which we follow back to the starting point.