Kmeťov vodopád
Kmeťov vodopád, with its impressive height of 80 m, is the highest waterfall in Slovakia. If you want to visit it, you will find it in a spruce forest on the western side of the lower slopes of Kriváň peak. Its exact location is Kôprová dolina in the western part of Vysoké Tatry. The waters of Nefcerský potok fall from an altitude of 1,245 m above sea level.
The waterfall bears the attributes glacial, tectonic, and selective. Miloš Janoška gave it its name in the 1st Slovak guide to the Tatras from 1911. It was named after the Slovak scholar and priest Andrej Kmeť. The waterfall is formed by two steps, and the water falls in a relatively narrow, wild, and cascading stream.
To find it, you have to go further off the path. It is well hidden in the forest. You will not see it from the road. You will have a nice view of the waterfall from above from a wooden viewing platform, which is actually a bridge over the bed of Nefcerský potok. You can reach it via a path after turning off the blue-marked hiking trail in Kôprová dolina. The cycling route ends as well.
A popular walking and cycling route leads from the Podbanské parking lot along the yellow, green, and subsequently blue hiking trail. It is an easy hike lasting approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, with a length of about 8.5 km. Another route from Podbanské leads along the red hiking trail, later joining the blue one, and is 1.5 km longer compared to the previous one.
Another frequently used route leads from the parking lot at the former Važecká chata at Tri studničky. It is 1.5 kilometers shorter than the one leading from Podbanské; however, it is more challenging, although it is more scenic thanks to passing through the forest. At its beginning and end, there is a steeper hill that needs to be conquered.
Experienced hikers can choose from two interesting yet demanding routes. One leads from Štrbské pleso, through Popradské pleso, Hincové plesá, Vyšné Kôprovské sedlo, and subsequently through Hlinská dolina to Kôprová dolina. The second route leads through Tichá dolina from Podbanské, through Liptovský košiar, Sedlo Závory, and subsequently through Kobylia dolina to Kôprová dolina. These are hikes demanding both in terms of required physical fitness and covered distance, elevation gain, and time.
Whichever route you choose, your reward will be a visit to a waterfall that is not overcrowded with tourists. Since there is no mountain shelter located in its vicinity, we recommend booking an overnight stay on the pages accommodation Podbanské or accommodation Štrbské Pleso, where the starting points of the hike are located. Consider a longer stay as well and visit various other attractions in the surroundings of Vysoké Tatry. There are many of them, and each is more interesting than the last.






