Náučný chodník Jakuba Surovca
If you enjoy putting on your hiking boots, set out to discover the beauties of nature in Muránska planina. In the village of Tisovec, which is a well-known birthplace of Slovak painters, politicians, and artists, you will have the opportunity to spend a day in this national park. This is also possible thanks to the Náučný chodník zbojníka Jakuba Surovca educational trail in Čertova tiesňava.
The educational trail begins in the village of Tisovec. From the local sheep farm (salaš), where you can treat yourself to a tasty bite to eat, set off directly towards adventure. Crossing this trail is at your own risk. The trail is one-way, has a length of 4.7 km, and an elevation gain of 268 m. The hike will take approximately 3 hours of your time. The difficulty of the loop trail is medium, so it is good to have very good footwear. During the winter months, in spring, and also during heavy rains, the terrain is dangerous and visiting is not recommended. However, as a group of 4 or more people, you can arrange a guide who will enrich your walk along the route with an engaging commentary.
Just as the highwayman Juraj Jánošík is well known in Slovakia, the highwayman Jakub Surovec is known in the Malohont region. He was the leader of a group of highwaymen who robbed wealthy people not only in Slovakia but also in parts of Poland. That is also why the trail leading through the untouched nature of Čertova dolina, through which he escaped from the gendarmes long ago, is named after him. The most beautiful spots on this trail are attractive gorges, which you can conquer here using wooden ladders.
After starting your journey from the sheep farm, heading upstream along the creek, you will enjoy bird song in the canyon-like valley, the soothing sounds of falling water from the waterfall, and the rustle of the forest, dominated by fir, spruce, beech, and valuable broadleaf trees on limestone bedrock with karst relief. At the beginning, you will be surprised by a legend about a local monk, which you can read on the 1st of the 7 panels. The route continues to the cave in Remeta. Do not miss Rizňa either, a wooden chute used for sending timber down. You can also stop by a miraculous spring, but we do not recommend drinking water from it. There are 2 information panels placed in Makové koryto. One concerns hunting and the other forestry. Following Masarykova cesta, continue to Čertov viadukt, where an information panel with information about the rack railway line Pohronská Polhora – Tisovec awaits you. You can refresh yourself and enjoy a moment of rest at Vyvieračka, a modified spring. Continuing into Čertova dolina, where Zbojnícky vodopád, the narrow pass Surovcov stisk, Malý vodopád, dams, the narrow pass Posledná barikáda, and a cave are located, you will enjoy beautiful views of the surroundings. At Pacherka, a panel will introduce you to information about sheep farming and highwaymen. At Galička, a true Carpathian sheep farm with a shepherd (bača), farmhands (vlasi), and sheep is located.
This longer hike will give you a workout, but it is well worth completing. Perhaps you will still have enough strength to step into a carriage of the steam rack railway Parná zubačka Tisovec. In the winter season, it is great to enjoy the slopes of the ski resort Tisovec - Rejkovo and Tisovec - Bánovo. From another perspective, the lookout tower Rozhľadňa Zbojská offers views of the world. Are you warm and feel like cooling off not only from the inside? Then visit the pools of the swimming pool Klenovec. Rest assured that you will not be bored in this region.
For a longer stay, we recommend booking accommodation near Náučný chodník zbojníka Jakuba Surovca. The cheapest solution during the summer is to set up a tent. This option does not suit everyone, so it is good to choose from the range of cottages and chalets in Tisovec or treat yourself to comfort in a room at Hotel Tisovec. We will gladly help you with your choice.
