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The Low Tatras offer countless hiking opportunities all year round. In today’s article, we’ll take a look at the hiking options from the southern side of the central part of the Low Tatras in the Chopok area.
Chalet of Gen. M. R. Štefánik and Mt Ďumbier
The green trail running to the Chalet of Gen. M. R. Štefánik (colloquially called Štefánička) from the area of Trangoška is a popular classic. The route is about 3 kilometres long with an altitude difference of 600 metres. It’s a fairly demanding hike, but not a technically difficult one. The trail has been renewed recently and adjusted to make the ascent safer and more comfortable.
You can savour delicious refreshments at the chalet, and once you’ve recharged your batteries, you can continue along the red-marked trail along the ridge – either eastwards to Mt Besná or westwards to Mt Ďumbier.
When hiking to Mt Ďumbier, it’s important to note that outside the winter season (with continuous snow cover), hikers must use the red-marked detour and approach Mt Ďumbier from the west. The path running from the chalet, used for winter ascents, is off-limits without snow cover due to severe erosion caused by heavy tourist traffic in the past. From the chalet to Mt Ďumbier, it’s another 300 metres of altitude difference over roughly 3 kilometres.
Ridge section: Mt Ďumbier – Mt Chopok
The ridge route from Mt Ďumbier to Mt Chopok via Krúpovo sedlo and Demänovské sedlo (saddles) is a frequently visited stretch, but be prepared for large numbers of tourists. You can also hike it in the opposite direction, from Mt Chopok to Mt Ďumbier, and make the ascent more comfortable by using a cable car from the area of Krupová, which is very easy thanks to your Gopass card.
Did you know that a return cable car ticket allows you to travel across both sides of Mt Chopok? From the north: Biela Púť – Priehyba – Mt Chopok – Kosodrevina – Krupová and back. From the south: Krupová – Kosodrevina – Mtt Chopok – Priehyba – Biela Púť and back again.
Mt Chopok and Mt Dereše
For a real vertical challenge, try the yellow hiking trail from Srdiečko to Mt Chopok – you’ll climb an impressive 800 metres over 3.5 kilometres. The summit of Mt Chopok offers a variety of refreshment options, including the Rotunda restaurant, which boasts stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Check out an original eye-catching bird’s-nest swing overlooking the Horehronie region. You’ll find it on the hiking trail running from Mt Chopok towards Mt Dereše. It’s a unique photo spot that deserves a place in your photo album. If you visit it, don’t forget to tag Gopass 😊
The route to Mt Dereše offers a similar altitude difference, but over a longer distance (about 5 kilometres). Starting again from Srdiečko, instead of turning uphill towards Mt Chopok at the crossroads, follow the blue traverse, then turn onto the yellow trail at the Príslop saddle and continue along the ridge to Mt Dereše.
Along the ridge westwards to Mt Poľana
If you’re up for a longer ridge hike, continue westwards all the way to the summit of Mt Poľana. From Mt Chopok (reached either via Trangoška or the cable car), follow the red trail westwards via Mt Dereše. The total distance from Mt Chopok to Mt Poľana is about 4.5 kilometres.
There are two options for the return journey – either retrace your steps along the red trail back to Mt Chopok or descend via the red trail to Krížske sedlo (saddle) and follow the blue traverse cutting across the southern slope of the Dereše massif.
The entire loop via Mt Dereše and Mt Poľana from Trangoška covers 17 kilometres with an altitude difference of nearly 1,000 metres. However, if you take the cable car to Mt Chopok, you can shorten the route to around 14 kilometres and reduce the altitude difference to just 200 metres.
Vajskovský waterfall
If waterfalls are more your thing, the hike to Vajskovský waterfall is a great option. Tucked away beneath the main ridge of the Low Tatras, it’s well hidden and worth the effort. You can start from Trangoška or Mt Chopok. If setting off from Trangoška, the trail is identical to the Dereše route until the Príslop saddle.
At Príslop, instead of turning off, continue to the junction at Drevenica beneath Mt Dereše, and descend along the yellow-marked trail. This connects with the green-marked trail, which leads directly to the waterfall. The hike isn’t too difficult, but the climb back up from Drevenica on the return leg can be a bit of a slog.
The Low Tatras are beautiful in every season. All you need to do is pick a trail that suits you and head out to explore their natural wonders.
