Hiking and biking trails Východná

Do you love the Vysoké Tatry mountains and enjoy spending your free time walking in the fresh air? Then put on your walking shoes and set off with us on the Náučný chodník Štrbské pleso educational trail. Bring your little ones along and discover together the history, fauna, and flora of this moraine lake. Did you know that the region in which Štrbské pleso lies was once called Štrbský chotár?

This highest-situated Tatras settlement (1,346 m a.s.l.) is located in the Národný park Vysoké Tatry (High Tatras National Park) and is a local part of the village of Štrba. 5 km long educational trail with 40 wooden information panels is open to tourists throughout the whole year. Even your youngest in a stroller or mobility-impaired persons in a wheelchair can handle the excursion along the paved stony path. Prepare for a 2.5-hour walk during which you will learn something about historical sights, spa history, as well as sports events at Štrbské Pleso.

Our hike begins in front of the railway station, which is the final stop of the Tatras electric railway and cog railway. Going up the stairs past Hotel Toliar, we find ourselves at Hotel Kempinski. We turn left and follow the asphalt road to a viewpoint from which we can already see our most visited Tatras lake from a distance. Water does not flow out of it anywhere, nor does any flow into it. It fills through underground springs from a depth of more than 12 meters. Thanks to its location, the surface of the lake is frozen for an average of 155 days a year. Other points of interest certainly include the ski jumping hill that has stood here since 1966. However, this massive structure has not been used for active sports for many years. In 1925, the European Ice Hockey Championships were held on the frozen surface of the lake.

The dark blue crystal-clear water in the lake is home to many small aquatic animals and fish. The most numerous fish species found here include chub, northern pike, European perch, and roach. A notable feature is the presence of the vendace fish (Coregonus maraena / sih maréna). This is most likely the last place in the world where this fish still occurs. Fishermen from the Třeboňsko region (Czech Republic) brought the vendace here in 1929. Their current number can be counted on the fingers of two hands. Despite the efforts of locals for artificial breeding, this fish is doomed to extinction.

Our trip continues to another viewpoint, offering an unprecedented view of the Podtatranská kotlina basin and the Nízke Tatry mountains. We proceed along a slightly steep slope from which we can see Cesta slobody. From Hotel Solisko, we continue around the lake, and after a few meters, we turn onto a narrow peninsula where we find the monument to the Slovenské národné povstanie (Slovak National Uprising). Right before it, we can stop at the memorial dedicated to our poet Maša Haľamová. On the northeastern shore, we turn onto the path that leads to Hotel Patria. If we turn left, we reach Hotel Fis, from where we can see all the way to Vodopád Skok waterfall, located in Mlynická dolina. At the main intersection, we turn left onto a small path leading to Nové Štrbské pleso (1,315 m a.s.l.). We will return to our destination, Štrbské pleso, along the path leading along the northern shore of the lake. If you have worked up an appetite after this easy hike, visit one of the hotel restaurants and treat yourself to a great gastronomic experience.

Plan your active holiday in Vysoké Tatry. But do not spend unnecessarily big money on expensive hotels. Comfortable yet affordable accommodation near Náučný chodník Štrbské Pleso can be found on our page cheap accommodation Štrbské Pleso. Whether you choose stylish apartments or cottages in the magical forest environment is entirely up to you. Spend the money saved to visit other attractions, of which there are plenty in the Tatras. Enjoy your stay in the fresh air and head to Botanická záhrada (Botanical Garden), where you have a great opportunity to discover up to 300 species of Tatras plants and trees. If you feel like something special, you will experience a proper dose of adrenaline on the Tatrabob bobsleigh track. We wish you a successful holiday full of unforgettable experiences.

Fans of active movement will surely be interested in the Cyklotúra Svidovské sedlo cycling tour, during which you will overcome a total of nearly 500 elevation meters and a route of almost 12 km. Your reward will be a beautiful view of the Nízke Tatry ridge. You will set out by bicycle into Jánska dolina, which, with its picturesque corners, seems to draw you into another world. A world where you will perceive only the fresh air hitting your face and the sounds of nature. In Liptovský Ján, you can refresh yourself with a sip of healthy water at the Termálny prameň Kaďa Liptovský Ján thermal spring and head off for a new experience along the yellow cycling trail. You will reach the peak after approximately an hour of pedaling.

From the beginning, it will be a moderate climb along a paved road, which will intensify from Stanišovská jaskyňa and over time you will climb along a gravel-covered forest road. This trip is also suitable for families with active children, where you can comfortably seat the youngest ones in a bicycle trailer. We recommend mountain bikes for this route, and if you are less fit, you can also rent e-bikes. The road winds alongside a babbling brook and is truly diverse. You can make your first stop at the cave, where you will refresh yourself and continue up the valley. After another three kilometers, you will have a parking area on your left, where foresters occasionally store harvested timber. If you were to plunge into the forest in its middle, you would reach Vodopád Šuštiačka, to which a narrow forest path leads. This waterfall is less known, but it is a magnificent temple of nature.

After a short rest, you continue further until you find yourself at Horáreň pred Bystrou. Here the road splits and you will head left. After a short section, you will pass a barrier and subsequently a shepherd's hut will appear before you, where in season you can taste quality žinčica or sheep's cheese. The road further meanders among the trees, offering you beautiful views of the rock formations of Ohnište, which you can admire right up to the moment when you find yourself directly at Svidovské sedlo, at an altitude of 1,133 m a. s. l. A wooden gazebo is prepared for you here, where you can have a small snack, or feel free to sit on the ground and thus enjoy the connection with nature and the beautiful views. For the return trip, you can choose the same route, or head towards Malužiná, from where you will get back to Liptovský Ján via the village of Liptovský Hrádok.

Enjoy such pleasant movement in the fresh air during your next visit to Liptov. You can easily find accommodation near the Cyklotúra Svidovské sedlo cycling tour on our portal as well. Cottages and guesthouses in Liptovský Ján are fully at your disposal, and in the surroundings, you will find many other attractions worth seeing. Take the kids to Svätojánska rozhľadňa or treat yourself to well-deserved relaxation at Termal raj Sorea Liptovský Ján and you will not regret it.