National parks Spiš

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.

Pieninský národný park can be found in the far north of Slovakia, east of the Vysoké Tatry mountains on the border with Poland. It is located in the districts of Stará Ľubovňa and Kežmarok in the Prešovský kraj region. This smallest Slovak national park covers an area of only 37.5 km². The Pieniny are a beautiful location and, together with the Dunajec river that flows through them, create an unmistakable natural scenery.

Creation of the smallest national park in Slovakia

Pieninský národný park had to wait a long time for its role as a national park. A lot of timber was harvested in the forests here, especially on the Polish side, and the land mostly belonged to private owners. The first historical references point to an interest in creating a protected area in Pieniny in Poland in 1921.

Delimiting the territory was heavily influenced by negotiations between former Czechoslovakia and representatives of Poland in 1925 in Zakopane. Both countries agreed on the principles of the Pieniny border park. The purchasing of land from owners and the setting of the national park's boundaries began. However, this was slowed down by the war and the country's economic situation.

In 1932, at least the Slovenská prírodná rezervácia Pieniny was declared in Červený Kláštor, and Oldřich Lacina became its first administrator. The reserve was under the administration of Štátne lesy in Liptovský Hrádok. Only after World War II did territorial plans, maps, and research into local fauna and flora begin again. In 1957, the Pieninská prírodná rezervácia Červený Kláštor was established, and in 1960, the Náučný chodník Prielom Dunajca educational trail was opened to the public, which was the very first educational trail in Slovakia.

It was not until 10 years later, in 1967, that Pieninský národný park (abbreviated as PIENAP) was established. Today, it falls under the Štátna ochrana prírody headquartered in Banská Bystrica. They say that good things come in small packages, and in this case, it holds perfectly true. Pieninský národný park, with a buffer zone area of just 22,444 hectares, earned its recognition in the end. And even though it is small, it really has a lot to offer.

Parts of Pieninský národný park and their attractions

It is divided into three parts: the western Czorsztynske Pieniny, Malé Pieniny in the eastern part, and Pieninky in the central part. The highest peak is considered to be Tri Koruny at an altitude of 982 m above sea level, whose five rocky summits really look like a royal crown. Other popular ridges among hikers are Sokolica (747 m a.s.l.), Holica (824 m a.s.l.), and Kláštorná hora (654 m a.s.l.).

There are three protected natural reserves located in Pieninský národný park. Probably the most significant is Štátna prírodná rezervácia Pieniny, Prielom Dunajca. This area is particularly attractive for its rocky sections and natural phenomena created by the Dunajec river. Many water sports fans come here for rafting. You can try white-water rafting or wooden raft rides down the Dunajec. And perhaps you will spot a black stork or glimpse an Eurasian otter swimming on the water surface.

In addition to rafting down the Dunajec, a hiking trail with educational boards leads through the gorge. The trail begins in the village of Červený Kláštor and leads all the way to the Polish spa town of Szczawnica. Along the way, you can observe Jánošíkov skok, where the Dunajec narrows and reaches a depth of up to 12 meters. You will also discover the Storočná voda spring, from which, if you drink, you will reportedly live to be 100 years old.

Another protected natural formation of the Pieniny national park is Haligovské skaly. It is a magnificent complex of limestone rocks containing holes, cavities, and caves. The most famous karst cave among them is Aksamitka, which is unfortunately closed to the public. However, you can reach Haligovské skaly via a hiking route, for example from the village of Haligovce.

The last protected reserve of Pieninský národný park is Prielom Lesníckeho potoka. The Lesnícky potok stream flows from the right side of the Dunajec and has formed steep rock walls of Kača, Bystrík, Biela skala, and Osobitá skala. You can reach this natural formation via a hiking trail from the village of Lesnica, or by boat or raft.

The Pieniny region is undoubtedly a great choice for spending an active vacation. It is an ideal place for hikers, as well as for families with children. Some hiking trails are adapted for young visitors. Furthermore, the surroundings of Pieniny offer other attractions that are well worth visiting. And we have prepared a selection of accommodation in Pieninský národný park for you. Choose from a wide range of cottages, apartments, or family guesthouses. Book today so you don't miss out on your stay in the beautiful nature of the Pieniny national park.