Slovak Paradise · Slovakia
5 Days Hiking and Camping in the Slovak Paradise
Slovak Paradise National Park (locally known as Slovenský raj) is one of Slovakia's most unique hiking destinations, famous for its deep limestone gorges, cascading waterfalls, and adventurous trails that weave through some of the country's most spectacular scenery. Unlike traditional mountain hikes, many of the routes here take you through narrow canyons using wooden footbridges, metal ladders, chains, and platforms fixed to the rock, creating an unforgettable experience that's as much about the journey as the destination.
This guide goes over 5 amazing long hikes in Slovak Paradise, organised around a base-camp approach: setup camp once, then explore the park on day hikes.
ACTIVITY OVERVIEW
📏 Distance
106.7km/66.3mi
⏱️ Duration
5 days
⛰️ Highest point
1,058m /3,471ft
📈 Elevation
3,880m/12,730ft
🗓 Best Season
Late June – September
ESTIMATED COSTS
🚌 Transfers
~40 EUR
⛺ Pitches
~50 EUR
🍦 Food
~20-30 EUR per day
What to Expect
in the Slovak Paradise
From spectacular gorges and waterfalls to panoramic viewpoints and peaceful forest trails, Slovak Paradise National Park is packed with unforgettable places to explore. Here are some of the park's must-see highlights, whether you're visiting for a few hours or planning several days of hiking.
🌋 Suchá Belá Gorge
The most famous route, featuring ladders, metal steps, and waterfalls in a narrow canyon.
🌋 Piecky Gorge
A quieter alternative to Suchá Belá with tall vertical ladders, waterfalls and narrow rocky passages.
🌋 Veľký Sokol Gorge
The longest and most remote gorge in the Slovak Paradise with amazing journey through waterfalls, towering canyon walls, ladders and forest scenery.
🌋 Prielom Hornádu
A signature walk following the Hornád River along a thrilling route of suspended walkways, footbridges, and ladders beneath dramatic limestone cliffs.
🏛️ Tomášovský Výhľad
A spectacular viewpoint perched above the Hornád River, offering one of the best panoramas in Slovak Paradise.
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Everything you need to know for each day
🗺️ Trail Maps & Navigation
Full route overview with key waypoints and navigation information.
🧭 Navigation Tips
Download offline maps before you go — cell signal is unreliable.
Note key safety locations and emergency shelter options for each stage.
Check weather and trail conditions the evening before each stage.
⚠️ The maps provided on this website are intended as a general guide only. Conditions, routes, and features may change at any time. Always rely on your own judgement and seek local or professional advice if possible.
Preparation
in Poprad
0
Poprad is a gateway city to the High Tatras, known for its convenient transport links, thermal spa complex, and historic Spišská Sobota district, making it a popular base for exploring Slovakia’s mountains and national parks.
Getting to Slovakia
✈️ Fly
The most convenient airport to get to the Slovak Paradise is Poprad-Tatry Airport (TAT) located a short 10min car journey from central Poprad.
Other nearby airports include Košice International Airport (KSC) and Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK) in Poland but they are 1.5hr and 3hr away by public transport respectively.
60-150 EUR
Transport to Poprad
🚕 Ride Sharing
Bolt is a great balance between price and convenience. Do keep in mind that it may take up to 20 minutes to find a drive as the airport is quite small and there is not that many drivers in Poprad.
~5-10 EUR · 10 min
🚕 Taxis
Taxis are always an option for but does require a bit more negotiation. Initially, they will ask for 20 EUR to get to Popard city center but with some haggling, you can get them down to 15 or a bit lower. Always agree on the price before getting in.
~15 - 20 EUR · 10 min
🚎 Public Buses
There are no public buses to and from the airport.
Where to Stay
🏨 Hotels and Hostels
There are plenty of hotels and hostels which can be booked by all the popular online travel agent sites such as Booking.com, Expedia and Airbnb.
Hostels / guesthouses: 20 to 40 EUR
Budget hotels: 30 to 80 EUR
20-80 EUR
💡 If you're staying outside the park, hiring a car is recommended, as public transport to the Slovak Paradise is fairly limited and services are infrequent. It's also worth arriving at the main trailhead car parks early, especially during peak season, as they tend to fill up quickly.
🏕️ Autocamping Podlesok
A great little campsite offering cabins, tent pitches, warm showers (1 EUR for 3 minutes) and modern facilities located right at the entrance to the famous Suchá Belá hike. Staying here also includes the entrance fee to the Slovak Paradise which make staying here a bargain.
The best way to get here from Poprad is via taxi or ride sharing service which costs about 20 EUR.
It’s also possible to take a train from Poprad to Vydrník, which takes around 15 minutes and costs just 1 EUR, before walking the remaining hour to the park. Just be sure to check the timetable on the Slovak Rail website, as trains only run every two hours, and Google Maps isn't always accurate for these connections.
10-15 EUR
💡I highly recommend purchasing tickets using the official IDeme vlakom or via the Slovak Rail website. If you plan to visit the High Tatra Mountains, the app can also be used to purchase tickets for the Tatra electric railway.
Please note that the account registration process can be a bit confusing for english readers as the pages are only partially translated. If you need help with creating an account, you can follow the step-by-step guide.
Stocking Up on Supplies
🎒 Decathlon
Decathlon is a large international sporting-goods store known for affordable, good-quality equipment for almost every outdoor and athletic activity.
🎒INTERSPORT Galfy Poprad
A well-stocked outdoor and sports retailer selling hiking gear, clothing and footwear. Only sells Campingaz gas canisters.
🎒Sportrysy Poprad OC Storeland
A specialist outdoor equipment store offering high-quality hiking, mountaineering, and skiing gear.
⚠️ Check the connector type! Campingaz is a very common brand of camping gas in France but uses a proprietary connector instead the usual screw thread.
🛒 Tesco Supermarket Poprad Forum
Offering a full range of groceries, fresh produce, snacks, and travel essentials right in the center of the city.
🛒 Kaufland
A large discount supermarket in Poprad offering affordable groceries, fresh bakery items, fruit and vegetables and drinks. Located right next to the train station and bus depot.
🛒 BILLA
A mid-size supermarket, located next to the train station and bus depot offering everyday groceries, fresh bakery items, snacks, drinks and travel essentials.
🎒 Decathlon
Decathlon is a large international sporting-goods store known for affordable, good-quality equipment for almost every outdoor and athletic activity.
🎒INTERSPORT Galfy Poprad
A well-stocked outdoor and sports retailer selling hiking gear, clothing and footwear.
🎒Sportrysy Poprad OC Storeland
A specialist outdoor equipment store offering high-quality hiking, mountaineering, and skiing gear.
Things to Do
🏄♀️ AquaCity Poprad
One of Slovakia's best-known thermal water and wellness resorts. It features indoor and outdoor thermal pools, saunas, wellness facilities, and mountain views. It's particularly enjoyable after hiking in the Tatras or on a break day to help the body heal.
🛝 Spišská Sobota
A beautifully preserved medieval quarter of Poprad with colourful burgher houses, a historic square, and the Gothic Church of St. George. It's much quieter than many European old towns and makes for a pleasant stroll.
🛍️ Tatra Gallery
An unusual contemporary art gallery housed in a former power station, featuring Slovak and international artists.
Suchá Belá and
Veľký Kyseľ
Circular
1
6hr · 18.7km · 720m ascent
Suchá Belá is the most visited gorge in the Slovak Paradise and is considered one of the most romantic gorges in the national park. It is one of the most easily accessible gorges, as its beginning is located directly in the tourist centre Podlesok.
Veľký Kyseľ Gorge is a more adventurous and dramatic gorges known for its wild canyon terrain, waterfalls, and long series of ladders and metal bridges.
Top Tips
Start early as Suchá Belá can get very busy. You can check the status of each gorge hike and the wait times at the screens near the information center.
Buy tickets at the start of the trails using the self-service machines. If you’re staying at Autocamping Podlesok, tickets are included in your accommodation fee.
Grab a meal at Chata Kláštorisko. Make sure you order sides with you dish to ensure you have enough energy for the afternoon hike.
Check out more information about Suchá Belá and Veľký Kyseľ on the official Nation Park Slovak Paradise website.
Restaurant in the Slovak Paradise close quite early at around 7pm.
Food Options
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
🛖 Chata Kláštorisko
A great mountain hut located at the historic Kláštorisko plateau serving light Slovak meals like soups, sausages, schnitzel and fries.
1-10 EUR
🍽️ Ranč Podlesok
A rustic, family-friendly restaurant serving hearty Slovak mountain dishes such as goulash, fried cheese, grilled meats, soups, and dumplings.. Although it is more on the expensive side, the views of the Tatra Mountains during sunset more than makes up for it.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia PONIKLEC
A relaxed pub style restaurant serving traditional Slovak dishes such as bryndzové halušky, roasted meats, soups and huge burgers.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia Rumanka
A relaxed local restaurant conveniently located right at the entrance to the campsite. It serves traditional Slovak and Central European dishes such as goulash, schnitzel, grilled meats, soups, and dumpling-based meals in a casual, welcoming setting. All dishes comes with sides.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Cafe & Bufet u Orla
A casual café and buffet-style spot offering simple Slovak snacks, sandwiches, and quick hot meals like sausages and burgers. This is a great place for the budget conscious.
5-10 EUR
Piecky and
Sokolia Dolina
Circular
2
8.5hr · 25.3km · 950m ascent
The Piecky is another of the many beautiful gorges of the Slovak Paradise. It belongs among the quieter and calmer gorges. Of course, there are waterfalls, ladders and wooden footbridges, which are a great attraction.
Sokolia dolina is one of the more remote and challenging gorges in Slovak Paradise, known for its dramatic rock walls, ladders, and waterfalls, including the impressive Závojový waterfall—one of the highest in Slovakia at 78 metres. It’s less crowded than other routes and takes a bit more time to explore, but rewards you with three beautiful waterfalls and a wilder, more adventurous feel.
Top Tips
Definitely start early again as this is a tough long day.
Piecky is much less crowded than Suchá Belá but just as stunning.
Sokolia dolina is not to be underestimated. It is arguably the hardest gorge in the Slovak Paradise with a ladder system over 80m long (the longest ladder being about being 17m!). A good head of heights is definitely required.
When you leave Sokolia dolina, stick to the marked paths as you’ll be walking very close to areas which are frequent by bears.
Check out more information about Piecky and Sokolia Dolina on the official Nation Park Slovak Paradise website.
Food Options
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
🛖 Chata Kláštorisko
A great mountain hut located at the historic Kláštorisko plateau serving light Slovak meals like soups, sausages, schnitzel and fries.
1-10 EUR
🍽️ Ranč Podlesok
A rustic, family-friendly restaurant serving hearty Slovak mountain dishes such as goulash, fried cheese, grilled meats, soups, and dumplings.. Although it is more on the expensive side, the views of the Tatra Mountains during sunset more than makes up for it.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia PONIKLEC
A relaxed pub style restaurant serving traditional Slovak dishes such as bryndzové halušky, roasted meats, soups and huge burgers.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia Rumanka
A relaxed local restaurant conveniently located right at the entrance to the campsite. It serves traditional Slovak and Central European dishes such as goulash, schnitzel, grilled meats, soups, and dumpling-based meals in a casual, welcoming setting. All dishes comes with sides.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Cafe & Bufet u Orla
A casual café and buffet-style spot offering simple Slovak snacks, sandwiches, and quick hot meals like sausages and burgers. This is a great place for the budget conscious.
5-10 EUR
Veľký Sokol and
Tomášovská Belá
Circular
3
8hr · 24.9km · 760m ascent
Veľký Sokol Gorge is one of the longest and most remote gorges in Slovak Paradise, offering a more adventurous and less crowded hiking experience with waterfalls, wooden ladders, and narrow canyon passages surrounded by dense forest and limestone cliffs.
Top Tips
Due to the remoteness and logistics, you will need to ensure you have enough snacks and lunch for the day.
Veľký Sokol is one of the longest gorges and because it is quite a distance away from the campsite, there is far less less people.
Have a packed lunch at the lake which feeds into Biely Potok stream.
Take your time walk through Tomášovská Belá as it is one of the most scenic and rewarding walks in the area.
The hike up from the entrance to Kyseľ to Kláštorisko is brutal.
Check out more information about Veľký Sokol on the official Nation Park Slovak Paradise website.
Food Options
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
🍽️ Ranč Podlesok
A rustic, family-friendly restaurant serving hearty Slovak mountain dishes such as goulash, fried cheese, grilled meats, soups, and dumplings.. Although it is more on the expensive side, the views of the Tatra Mountains during sunset more than makes up for it.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia PONIKLEC
A relaxed pub style restaurant serving traditional Slovak dishes such as bryndzové halušky, roasted meats, soups and huge burgers.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia Rumanka
A relaxed local restaurant conveniently located right at the entrance to the campsite. It serves traditional Slovak and Central European dishes such as goulash, schnitzel, grilled meats, soups, and dumpling-based meals in a casual, welcoming setting. All dishes comes with sides.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Cafe & Bufet u Orla
A casual café and buffet-style spot offering simple Slovak snacks, sandwiches, and quick hot meals like sausages and burgers. This is a great place for the budget conscious.
5-10 EUR
Prielom Hornádu,
Kláštorská Roklina and
Tomášovský Výhľad
Circular
4
7hr · 23.2km · 820m ascent
The Prielom Hornádu Gorge is a canyon hike in Slovak Paradise National Park following the Hornád River, featuring ladders and riverside walkways, and is one of the area’s most iconic and most visited site; Tomášovský výhľad viewpoint. This trail is loosely based on the Prielom Hornádu Educational Trail.
This route also includes Kláštorská roklina. It’s a scenic gorge featuring ladders, wooden walkways, and small waterfalls that connect the Hornád River area with the Kláštorisko plateau where you can stop for lunch.
Top Tips
This trail can get quite crowded especially during peak season. But don’t let this fool you. There are some sections which requires plenty of focus and concentration.
There is a bit of damage to some of the bridges half way through the trail. Ensure you follow all instructions such as only have 2 people on the bridge at any one time.
The walk alongside the northern banks of Prielom Hornádu is very warm and dry. Ensure you have enough water along this stretch.
Check out more information about Prielom Hornádu, Tomášovský výhľad and Kláštorská roklina on the official Nation Park Slovak Paradise website.
Food Options
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
🛖 Chata Kláštorisko
A great mountain hut located at the historic Kláštorisko plateau serving light Slovak meals like soups, sausages, schnitzel and fries.
1-10 EUR
🍽️ Ranč Podlesok
A rustic, family-friendly restaurant serving hearty Slovak mountain dishes such as goulash, fried cheese, grilled meats, soups, and dumplings.. Although it is more on the expensive side, the views of the Tatra Mountains during sunset more than makes up for it.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia PONIKLEC
A relaxed pub style restaurant serving traditional Slovak dishes such as bryndzové halušky, roasted meats, soups and huge burgers.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia Rumanka
A relaxed local restaurant conveniently located right at the entrance to the campsite. It serves traditional Slovak and Central European dishes such as goulash, schnitzel, grilled meats, soups, and dumpling-based meals in a casual, welcoming setting. All dishes comes with sides.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Cafe & Bufet u Orla
A casual café and buffet-style spot offering simple Slovak snacks, sandwiches, and quick hot meals like sausages and burgers. This is a great place for the budget conscious.
5-10 EUR
Veľký Kyseľ and
Malý Kyseľ
Circular
Via Ferrata Equipment Required
5
5hr · 14.6km · 630m ascent
Veľký Kyseľ and Malý Kyseľ are two connected canyon routes in Slovak Paradise, known for their remote atmosphere, dramatic waterfalls, and beautiful forest scenery.
These are among the park's most adventurous routes, with access to Kyseľ Gorge requiring via ferrata equipment.
Disclaimer
Please note that this is only a draft based on other sources and research - I have not personally completed this hike yet.
I do plan to return and hike it in the future. Stay tuned!
Top Tips
Via ferrata equipment can be rented from the reception at the campsite for 10 EUR for the day. This includes helmet, fall absorber and harness.
The decent towards Kyseľ from Kláštorisko is very steep. Best to take your time and use the chains where possible.
Check out more information about Veľký Kyseľ and Malý Kyseľ on the official Nation Park Slovak Paradise website.
Food Options
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
🛖 Chata Kláštorisko
A great mountain hut located at the historic Kláštorisko plateau serving light Slovak meals like soups, sausages, schnitzel and fries.
1-10 EUR
🍽️ Ranč Podlesok
A rustic, family-friendly restaurant serving hearty Slovak mountain dishes such as goulash, fried cheese, grilled meats, soups, and dumplings.. Although it is more on the expensive side, the views of the Tatra Mountains during sunset more than makes up for it.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia PONIKLEC
A relaxed pub style restaurant serving traditional Slovak dishes such as bryndzové halušky, roasted meats, soups and huge burgers.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Reštaurácia Rumanka
A relaxed local restaurant conveniently located right at the entrance to the campsite. It serves traditional Slovak and Central European dishes such as goulash, schnitzel, grilled meats, soups, and dumpling-based meals in a casual, welcoming setting. All dishes comes with sides.
10-20 EUR
🍽️ Cafe & Bufet u Orla
A casual café and buffet-style spot offering simple Slovak snacks, sandwiches, and quick hot meals like sausages and burgers. This is a great place for the budget conscious.
5-10 EUR
Other bits of Useful Information
All the things which might have been missed
🏕️ Wild Camping
Wild camping is officially prohibited in the Slovak Paradise National Parks due to the presence of bears. Please ensure you stay at one of the many official campsites in the area.
🚰 Water
There are plenty of natural water spots to refill on water. I normally carried between 2–3 litres and filtered more as I needed. You can also refill water at Chata Kláštorisko if you ask the staff nicely which is the half way point for make of the hikes.
🦟 Bugs
Definitely bring some insect repellant as flies and mosquitoes are pretty common in the Slovak Paradise. Mosquitoes are particular present around the campsite as dusk.
🍔 Map of Food Spots
Finding great places to eat while on the trail can sometimes be tricky, so I’ve put together all my recommendations in a Google Maps list called
It includes places I’ve personally visited as well as others that are highly rated by the local community.
💩 Toilets
The main set of public toilets can be found at the tourist center in Podlesok located near the start of Suchá Belá and at Chata Kláštorisko.
🚎 Public Transport Tip
Public transport in and around the Slovak Paradise is fairly infrequent. There are buses which run two or three times a day to get you to and from places like the trail head of Piecky and Hrabušice.
📶 Phone Reception
Phone reception in the gorges is very unreliable. Ensure you have the trails loaded for offline navigation. Fortunately, once you exit the gorges and are high up on the peaks, reception is generally quite good. There is also very good reception at Kláštorisko and around the tourist centre at Podlesok.
💶 Cash
All restaurants and campsites in the area accepts cards. I would still have a few Euros with me just in case their systems are down for whatever reasons.
Helpful Links
Slovak Rail - Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (zssk.sk)
Offical website for the train system in Slovakia. Not only can you buy tickets trains to other parts of Slovakia like Kosice, you can also purchase tickets for the Tatra Electric railway.
Cestovné poriadky (cp.sk)
The official site for the buses in the region.
National Park Slovak Paradise (npsr.sk)
Official website for the Slovak Paradise. You can find everything here including information about all the popular routes and entrance fees.
Tatry Mountain Resorts (vt.sk)
The official website for all the cable cars and funiculars in the High Tatra Mountains.
Mapy (mapy.com)
Great resource to see the official trails and the direction you can travel in.
SLOVAKIA TRAVEL (slovakia.travel)
The official Mountain Rescue App for the region. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get my account registered due to having a UK phone number.
Slovakation (slovakation.com)
Great guide on top 5 hikes in the Slovak Paradise.
Podlesok Slovak Paradise (podlesok.com)
Information about hiring a via ferrata kit.
Not sure on what to bring?
The complete long-distance
hiking kit list
Everything you need to pack — from blister-prevention basics to gear that's keeps you safe and comfortable on the trail.
Terms of Use
A quick but important note for all visitors: we do our best to share high-quality, accurate information, but it’s always possible that we’ve missed something or that conditions have changed. All GPS tracks (GPX files and maps) and route suggestions are meant to be used as general guidelines—not exact instructions.
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