National parks Košický kraj

Národný park Slovenský raj is one of nine Slovak national parks and is considered one of the most beautiful. It stretches across the Banskobystrický kraj, Prešovský kraj, and Košický kraj regions, where it extends into the Spiš region. It is located within the territories of the Brezno, Poprad, Spišská Nová Ves, and Rožňava districts. The territory of Slovenský raj is a true paradise for hikers. Waterfalls, canyons, rocks, and breathtaking views—this is how our most visited national park could also be characterized.

NP Slovenský raj is a paradise for both animals and tourists

Slovenský raj was declared a national park in 1988. There are 11 national nature reserves and 8 nature reserves here. The park's territory lies in the north of the Slovenský Rudohorie mountains. Due to its fauna and flora, it has been included in the highest level of protection. Bears, wolves, foxes, and lynx live here, and even the Tatra chamois was artificially released here in 1963. Trout swim in the streams, and we can find various species of falcons as well as the golden eagle here.

The area of Národný park Slovenský raj is 19,414 hectares. Two rivers, the Hnilec and the Hornád, flow through the park, creating unique water phenomena—canyons, gorges, ravines, and waterfalls. The longest gorge is Prielom Hornádu, which was declared a national nature reserve as early as 1964. The section is 16 km long and belongs to the cadastre of the village of Letanovce. The trail is full of bridges, ladders, footbridges, and chains. Tourists from far and wide come to admire the wonderful scenery here.

The most visited gorge in Slovenský raj is Suchá Belá, through which a stream of the same name flows. You can reach it from the tourist center of Podlesok near the village of Hrabušice. The valley is interspersed with several waterfalls such as Misové vodopády, Korytový, or the beautiful Okienkový vodopád. With good hiking boots, even children can manage this undemanding and interesting hike.

Explore gorges, waterfalls, and the adrenaline-filled via ferrata

Národný park Slovenský raj also offers other gorges to explore. Klaštorská dolina is relatively short but popular with families with children. On the 1.5-kilometer route, you can admire Vodopád objaviteľov, Strakov vodopád, or Dúhový vodopád. Your starting point will be Kláštorisko, which is a ruin of a 13th-century Carthusian monastery. You will find a tourist center and a restaurant here. The entrance to this part of Slovenský raj is a rope bridge—a footbridge that was the first to be built when the gorge was opened to the public.

We also recommend visiting other nature reserves of Slovenský raj. In the Sokolia dolina gorge, which is the steepest valley in the park, you will find Závojový vodopád. With its height of 75 meters, it is the highest waterfall in Slovenský raj, and you can visit it from Tomášovská Belá. A no less famous gorge is Kyseľ, where the second largest waterfall in this park, Obrovský vodopád, is located. Adrenaline enthusiasts in the gorge will certainly be pleased by the Kyseľ Ferrata—a place where you can try rock climbing.

Other popular gorges include Piecky, Veľký Sokol, and Tiesňavy. The gorges in NP Slovenský raj require an entry fee but are open year-round. The weather, just like in the mountains, can be changeable here. Before your visit, always check the forecast and check the status of the hiking trails on the national park's website. Do not forget good, waterproof clothing or a raincoat. Due to its humidity, Slovenský raj resembles a primeval forest.

The most beautiful view and a magical ice cave await you

The most beautiful view in Slovenský raj will undoubtedly open up to you at Tomášovský výhľad. You can reach this rocky outcrop from the tourist center of Čingov or from the village of Smižany. Even seniors or families with children can handle the ascent to it. Of course, caution is advised. From an altitude of 667 m a.s.l., you will be able to see as far as the Vysoké Tatry mountains.

There is a large number of caves in Národný park Slovenský raj, most of which remain unexplored. Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa, accessible from the village of Dobšiná, is open to the public. And as the name suggests, the cave is a magical realm of ice. So, if your children love Frozen, Elsa, Anna, or the snowman named Olaf, a visit to the cave will be an unforgettable experience for them.

If you are looking for a place in Slovenský raj to swim or laze about so that you can rest after a demanding hike, try the Klauzy water reservoir. The shores of the Palcmanská Maša water reservoir in the village of Dedinky also offer perfect relaxation. This largest water reservoir in Slovenský raj will also be an ideal starting point for your further wanderings through the national park.

Thanks to its countless natural beauties, Slovenský raj is the right place for an active holiday. Go on hikes here and admire what nature has created. We have prepared tips for trips in Slovenský raj for you. Plan your holiday now. We offer you quality accommodation near Národný park Slovenský raj. Book it on the page for accommodation in Slovenský raj or accommodation in Dedinky on our portal. You will surely choose from the wide offer. There are options for families with children as well as accommodation for hikers. Book your holiday in Slovenský raj today.

Červené skaly is a locality in the territory of the Spišská Nová Ves district in the Košice Region, which has been declared a national nature reserve. It falls under the state nature conservation of the Slovenský raj. The reserve extends into the cadastral areas of the villages of Poráč, Olcnava, and Slovinky. The most beautiful part of the first-mentioned village's territory is precisely the Poráčska dolina, where you will also find a canyon up to 300 meters deep in places, featuring Červená skala. Despite its name, the latter is rather white from a distance. Červené skaly form the wall of the canyon of the Poráčsky potok, which is also the subject of protection. The canyon with a semi-karst character cuts through the Galmuská planina. This locality with rock, meadow, and forest communities is a typical representative of the biogeocenosis of the Slovenské rudohorie. It has an area of 390.5 ha and was declared a protected area back in 1981.

Protect nature, walk only on marked trails

The bedrock of the Poráčska dolina is formed predominantly by limestone, which, with the help of the Poráčsky jarok, enabled the formation of canyon-like valleys and numerous karst phenomena such as turrets, rock windows, waterfalls, and caves. Rising above the Poráčska dolina is the triple peak Slovinská skala. Due to the ruggedness of the relief, there are two areas in this territory that differ in their flora. In the north of the valley, beeches and thermophilic flowers mainly occur. In the southern part, fir-beech forests, spruce forests grow, and besides thermophilic vegetation, cold-loving mountain plants appear in the shadows. Dealpine pine bushes thrive on the rock ridges, and alder forests thrive in the floodplains of the Poráčsky potok. Among the protected species, one can find the Carpathian bellflower, the Moldavian monkshood, the alpine clematis, or the Slovak pasque flower. In the forests and meadows, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, fox, and especially in recent years, the wolf find their home.

The national natural monument Červené skaly is protected by the 5th and 4th levels of protection, therefore the territory can be visited only within marked hiking trails, cycling and cross-country skiing routes, and economic activity is prohibited here. The canyon of the Poráčsky potok is best accessible from the villages of Slovinky and Poráč. A foot crossing from one village to the other through the Poráčska dolina takes approximately two and a half hours and is an undemanding hike with an elevation gain of 319 m.

Make the most of your time spent in Červené skaly

In the vicinity of the nature reserve, there are many natural attractions such as the Šarkanova diera cave. For those who will have a taste for a bit of history after a walk in nature, the Markušovský hrad in Markušovce or the Banský skanzen in the village of Hnilčík are nearby. It is also not far to Spišská Nová Ves, which offers a zoological garden, or to Spišské Podhradie, where besides the Spišský hrad, there is also St. Martin's Cathedral (Katedrála sv. Martina).

Book your accommodation near the Červené skaly nature reserve and get to know this area more closely. You will be closest to the rocks if you stay in one of the cottages in Poráč. If these facilities are occupied, try browsing the offer of apartments in Spišské Vlachy or other accommodation in Jamník. A bit further away, in Spišské Podhradie, you will also find other quality accommodation options. Just choose a date and you can start looking forward to a wonderful trip.

Národný park Slovenský kras extends over the southwestern part of our country, along the border with Hungary. It reaches into the districts of Rožňava and Košice-okolie, with a portion of its buffer zone extending into the Revúca district as well. Its area covers 34,611.08 ha, while the buffer zone comprises 11,741.57 ha. The territory of the national park is formed by a system of karst plateaus, river canyons, gorges, and a multitude of surface and underground karst phenomena. Slovenský kras is the most extensive plateau-type karst area in all of Central Europe. 78% of its area is covered by forests.

Slovenský kras was declared a Protected Landscape Area on August 31, 1973. On March 1, 1977, the area became the first in Slovakia to be inscribed into the international network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves under the Man and the Biosphere Programme. The area officially became a national park on February 13, 2002. Currently, more than 1,350 caves and chasms are known, which are inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. Probably the most significant cave is the unique Ochtinská aragonitová jaskyňa. The territory is renowned for the diversity of its natural conditions. These allow for the occurrence of animal and plant species representing mountain, forest-steppe, and steppe habitats.

Climate of the national park and its “Highlights”

The climate in Národný park Slovenský kras is mild. The area falls within the moderately humid and moderately warm climate zone, while higher elevations fall into the moderately cool climate region. The average temperature in January ranges from -4 to -6 °C, whereas in July it climbs to between 19 and 20 °C. Snow cover blankets the territory from 50 to 115 days, reaching an average maximum height of 45 cm. Annual precipitation is not particularly high, reaching between 630 and 990 mm. Water seeps into underground cavities, subsequently creating so-called karst springs (vyvieračky, e.g., Brzotínska, Ardovská, Kečovská, and others). In the national park, you will encounter two waterfalls (Hrhovský, Hájske) and several smaller water reservoirs. These include various ponds, such as Jasovské rybníky or Hrušovské rybníky.

Národný park Slovenský kras boasts several "bests". The highest point sits at an altitude of 925 m above sea level on the peak of Matesova skala. The lowest point is located at an altitude of 217 m above sea level at the foot of Plešivská planina. The longest and simultaneously deepest cave is the cave system of Skalistý potok (length 8,123 m, elevation difference 373 m, vertical range 376 m). The oldest nature reserve dates back to 1925 (Jasovská jaskyňa). The lowest-lying classic ice cave (Silická jaskyňa) is located at an altitude of 503 m above sea level. The smallest nature reserve covers an area of 1.22 ha (Pod Fabiankou), while the largest (Brzotínske skaly) covers an area of 433.78 ha.

Slovenský kras has a diverse representation of flora and fauna

Národný park Slovenský kras features flora represented by various regions. Plants, together with their communities, belong among the most impressive components of the local nature. The influence of both Carpathian and Pannonian flora is clearly visible here, creating a mosaic-like vegetation pattern. In fact, all species of rumenica (Onosma) occurring in our country grow here. Given the altitudinal range of Slovenský kras, 3 vegetation tiers are distinctly defined, planar, colline, and submontane. Currently, chudôbka drsnoplodá Klášterského (Draba lasiocarpa subsp. klasterskyi) is considered an endemic species of the national park. It replaced rumenica turnianska (Onosma tornensis), which until recently was regarded as a local endemic. Other endemics of the territory include, for example, šafran spišský (Spiš crocus), poniklec prostredný (middle pasqueflower), or peniažtek slovenský (Slovak penny-cress). Calciphytes and xerothermic species have the largest representation. Their main feature is high adaptability to the environment; they survive in conditions of drought as well as extreme frosts. Up to 1,500 taxa of higher plants occur in Národný park Slovenský kras, but other "bests" are also tied to it. You will find here the largest area covered with kandík psí (dog's-tooth violet) and the lowest altitude where astra alpínska (alpine aster) occurs.

The fauna of Národný park Slovenský kras is equally diverse. The territory is home to all our carnivores, a wealth of invertebrates, and almost all species of bats. Avifauna (birds), herpetofauna (reptiles), and batrachofauna (amphibians) are also richly represented. Thanks to suitable living conditions in caves and underground spaces, spiders and mollusks occur alongside bats. A bat census takes place annually during their hibernation in cave systems. During that period, 24 species represented by more than 50,000 individuals live here. However, the fauna of the steppe and forest-steppe zones is particularly typical of this area. Interesting animals of the national park include sága stepná (predatory bush-cricket), krátkonôžka štíhla (snake-eyed skink), jašterica zelená (European green lizard), užovka stromová (Aesculapian snake), syseľ pasienkový (European ground squirrel), sova dlhochvostá (Ural owl), and ďateľ čierny (black woodpecker). The fauna of Slovenský kras also has its "bests". The largest hibernating colony of bats lives in the national park, our largest bird of prey (golden eagle) as well as our smallest feathered creature (firecrest) nest here, and our largest mammal (brown bear) has its den here.

Great place for walks, hiking, and rock climbing

The national park comprises 6 nature reserves, 10 national nature reserves, and 16 national natural monuments (mainly caves). Each of these locations is exceptional in a different way and stands out with a unique asset that attracts tourists. Tourists can visit them year-round. It is possible to plan easy walks as well as multi-day treks. It is all down to considering your own abilities, strength, and options. In summer, hiking, cycling, and rock climbing are typical in the national park. In winter, meeting cross-country skiers is nothing unusual. As for the mentioned rock climbing, year-round climbing is permitted only in the locations Stienka za chatou, Stienka nad potokom (from the creek side as well as from the Masív Zadného komína wall), and Májová Veža. In other locations, due to a high level of nature protection, seasonal closures apply from February 1 to July 31. The main rock climbing center in Slovenský kras is NPR Zádielska tiesňava.

Among other opportunities offered by Národný park Slovenský kras are agritourism, fishing, and horseback riding. A perfect trip awaits you to Turniansky hrad, Štítnik, or Plešivec, which are castle ruins. It is also very lovely near Zádielske hradisko, Hrad Krásna Hôrka, or Kaštieľ Betliar. On our website, you will find an offer of accommodation in the vicinity of Národný park Slovenský kras, thanks to which you will be truly close to the local attractions. After that, your only task is to pack your backpack, put on your walking shoes, and set out to explore its beauty.