Minčol
Minčol is the highest peak of Oravská Magura, stretching across its southwestern part in the Kubínska hoľa sub-unit. Its summit is located at an altitude of 1,393.9 m a.s.l. Part of the territory falls within Národná prírodná rezervácia Minčol. Two protective zones also reach here, specifically Národný park Malá Fatra and Chránená krajinná oblasť Horná Orava. Cadastrally, Minčol falls under the town of Dolný Kubín.
When you reach its summit, you will be presented with beautiful and truly far-reaching views. If you are not sure which peaks or mountain ranges you are looking at, an orientation board with a detailed description of the panorama will help you. The list will certainly include the peaks of Oravská Magura, Veľká Fatra, Malá Fatra, Západné Tatry, Nízke Tatry, Vysoké Tatry, Oravské Beskydy, Kysucké Beskydy, as well as Veľký Choč. The views are truly breathtaking. Especially in winter, when the surrounding treetops are covered with a layer of snow, the distant hills take on a steel-gray color, and the sky gives it all a cool touch. That is when you feel like you are literally in a fairy tale.
And while we are mentioning winter, the sought-after ski resort Ski Park Kubínska hoľa extends across the southeastern slope of the peak Minčol. And where people ski in winter, the venue transforms into a bike park and zipline in summer. In fact, it is the longest and at the same time the most modern zipline in Central and Eastern Europe, so it would be a sin not to try it. But if you still prefer putting on your wandering hiking boots, head out to the neighboring peaks as well. On one side, it is Paráč, and on the other side, Kubínska hoľa.
The aforementioned Národná prírodná rezervácia Minčol covers an area of 96.1 ha. It was declared in 1980 and falls under the authority of Národný park Malá Fatra. Rare vegetation can be found here. In places, it has a primeval character, while elsewhere it consists of spruce-beech-fir or purely spruce forests. The nature reserve does not have a protective zone. You can reach its edge along paths accessible to the public.
Another attraction of the peak Minčol could be its northeastern slope. The well-known "Minčolské Morské oko" is located here. That is what locals call Puchmajerovej jazierko. It is a unique peat bog lake set in an eye-pleasing environment of a dense coniferous forest. It is almost 6 m deep and full of beautiful clear water. You can even see old trunks of huge trees deep below. It is a typical peat bog where hydrophilic vegetation thrives in particular. In fact, several very rare and unique plants occur here. The lake has only one tiny drawback. Since it is located in the 4th level of protection and peat bogs are our most endangered ecosystem, entry to it is prohibited. Only a person with a special permit can take you here.
How do you actually get to Minčol? You can take the red hiking trail from the village of Zázrivá, the green hiking trail directly from Dolný Kubín, or the blue hiking trail from Oravský Podzámok via Kubínska hoľa or from neighboring Minčol (a mountain of the same name lying to the north). To fully enjoy the beauties of the area, we recommend booking accommodation near the peak Minčol, for example on the page accommodation Dolný Kubín. We believe you will fall in love with magical Orava and it will not be the last time you visit this picturesque Slovak region.
