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Low Tatras

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Overview

Nízke Tatry (Národný Park Nízke Tatry (NAPANT), "Low Tatras") is a national park in Central Slovakia.

Wikivoyage guide · 22 sections

▸Introduction101 chars

Nízke Tatry (Národný Park Nízke Tatry (NAPANT), "Low Tatras") is a national park in Central Slovakia.

▸Understand108 chars

The mountain range resides right in the central part of Slovakia, and belongs to Carpathian Mountains range.

▸Landscape607 chars

This lower "brother" of High Tatras stands across a grand valley. The length is 93 km and it's surrounded by rivers Váh and Hron.

The peaks of the range are much less pronounced than those of High Tatras, but the height difference from foot of the mountains to the top is approx. 1200m. The most "important" peaks (west to east) include:

1 Veľká Chochuľa. 1753 m, see also South-Western Liptov (updated Nov 2016)

2 Chabenec. 1955 m. (updated Nov 2016)

3 Dereše. 2004 m. (updated Nov 2016)

4 Chopok. 2024 m. (updated Nov 2016)

5 Ďumbier. 2043 m. (updated Nov 2016)

6 Kráľova hoľa. 1948 m. (updated Nov 2016)

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Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia775 words

Introduction

Mountain range in Slovakia This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Low Tatras" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Slovak.  (August 2012) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Slovak article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must follow the LLM translation guideline, revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Slovak Wikipedia article at [[:sk:Nízke Tatry]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|sk|Nízke Tatry}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation. (Learn how and when to remove this message) Blue trail of Chopok Location of the Low Tatras in Slovakia (in gray) Mount Ďumbier (right) and Mount Chopok (middle) The Low Tatras or Low Tatra (Slovak: Nízke Tatry; Hungarian: Alacsony-Tátra) is a mountain range of the Inner Western Carpathians in central Slovakia. It is located south of the Tatras proper, from which it is separated by the valleys of the Váh and Poprad rivers (the Liptov-Spiš abasement). The valley formed by the Hron River is situated south of the Low Tatras range. The ridge runs west-eastwards and is about 80 km long. The Čertovica pass divides the range into two parts. The highest peaks of the Low Tatras are located in its western part. Ďumbier is the highest mountain at 2,042 m AMSL. Its neighbour Chopok (2,024 m) is accessible by a chairlift, and it is the most visited place in the Low Tatras. Other peaks in the western part include Dereše (2,004 m) and Chabenec (1,955 m). The highest peak in the eastern part is Kráľova hoľa (1,946 m). The best viewpoints in western part are Veľká Chochuľa, Salatín, Chabenec, Skalka, Chopok, Ďumbier, Siná, Poludnica and Baba. Several karst areas are situated in limestone and dolomite strata at the southern and northern edges of the main ridge, which is composed of granite and gneiss. Among many discovered caves, Bystrianska Cave (Bystrianska jaskyňa), Cave of Dead Bats (Jaskyňa mŕtvych netopierov), Demänovská jaskyňa Slobody, Demänová Ice Cave (Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa), and Važecká Cave (Važecká jaskyňa) are open to the public. The biggest canyon is Hučiaky under Salatín in Ludrová valley near Ružomberok (7 caves - not open for public), suitable for canyoning. The highest waterfall is under Brankov near Ružomberok - Podsuchá (55 m high), reachable by green marked footpath from Podsuchá (20 min). The biggest tarn is Vrbické pleso in the Demänovská dolina Valley. The mountains are densely forested and their rich fauna includes bear, wolf, and lynx. The alpine meadows are the habitat of chamois.

More in sights0

In the summer months (mid-July - August), there are plenty of blueberries and cranberries on some of the hills and on nearby hike trails (but don't expect to find them near the cable cars).

▸Summer255 chars

For most one-day tourists, "Chopok" peak is the destination - and thus they arrive from north ("Demänovská dolina" valley) or south ("Bystrá dolina" valley) and go up by cable cars.

There are other hikes possible, for possible entry/exit points see below.

▸Winter114 chars

Have snow chains ready if you arrive by car and there is some chance of driving even 100 meters off the main road.

▸Fees and permits128 chars

National park rules are similar to those in High Tatras, though much less enforced. No permits or fees are required for walking.

▸Winter920 chars

Ski lifts of all types close for entry at 15:30. Snow groomers massively enter the slopes around 16:00.

Evening skiing is available only at 13 from Biela Put between 6pm and 9pm, which is most practical if your accommodation is nearby.

Southern and northern sides of the hill are not connected by ski bus, unlike most ski resorts in Alps. Allow enough time to return before lifts close.

If you miss last cablecar on the southern side, your only options to get back to the north from Krupova station are:

asking your friends to drive you back on their car; round trip from Lucky to Krupova is 2:30 to 3 hours

ordering a taxi, which is around €90 per car

All offices and shops at Krupova close at 16:00. A bus serving resort empoyees to Brezno (a nearest town on southern side) can ride you to Kuria na Taloch hotel and restaurant, where you can wait for friends or taxi to come. The bus departs from Krupova about 16:30.

▸See985 chars

Magnificent views to surrounding mountains is possible from each peak.

Multiple accessible caves:

1 Demänovská freedom cave (Demänovská jaskyňa slobody). The most visited cave in Slovakia, 2150m and 1150m long excursions available. Temperature inside is around 6°C. €4-15 only payable in cash. (updated Oct 2016)

2 Demänovská ice cave (Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa). Approx. 650-m long excursion to a cave, where the temperature is around 0°C all year long. €4-8 only payable in cash. (updated Oct 2016)

3 Cave of dead bats (Jaskyňa mŕtvych netopierov) (Easiest access route is from Trangoška, nearby the south cable car base station of Jasná. Go on the path towards M. R. Štefánik, you should see the branch towards the cave in about 1h.). 1050 m-1750 m long excursions available (priced according to that). €4-34. (updated Oct 2016)

4 Brankov waterfall (Brankovský vodopád) (Easy access from Ruzomberok). Highest waterfall of the mountain range, esp. nice in winter. (updated Nov 2016)

▸Alpine ski and snowboarding213 chars

1 Jasná ski center (Accessible from both north via Liptovský Mikuláš, and south via Brezno or Banská Bystrica.). This ski center around the peak Chopok is said to be the biggest one in Slovakia. (updated Oct 2016)

▸Ski rental190 chars

Rent can be up to 4 times cheaper if you drive few minutes from the skiing main entry points like Lucky or Biela Put.

Ski rental shop Intershop just next to Lucky chairlifts is open 8am-4pm.

▸Skiing schools134 chars

The largest ski school in the area is Tatry Motion (office at Lucky open 8am-4pm daily). Their school for kids is branded as MaxiLand.

▸Ski passes844 chars

There are two ways of purchasing ski passes:

purchase physical card from GoPass kiosk (8am-2pm daily); recharge it with ski passes online at one of self-service GoPass terminals, from mobile app or with web browser

from a traditional cash desk (8am-3:20pm daily)--roughly 9% more expensive than the self-service way

Read price calendar at gopass.sk carefully: if there is price drop in the middle of your skiing period, sometimes it is wiser to purchase two smaller periods instead of one covering them both. Online way supports some form of advance purchase, with logistics of card delivery/pickup yet to be researched.

Passes are non-transferable, enforced with some video technology. Multi-day ski passes do not cover evening skiing. You can change a full day of riding with a 1-day ticket valid at Tatralandia and Bešeňová the water parks.

▸Pistes and skilift details974 chars

Chopok: the station and all pistes starting there (1C, 32, 33a, 34c) are most exposed to strong winds

Northern side

piste #13 is most popular with beginners: wide, straight and gently sloping; free of bumps most of the time

piste #10: great choice for intermediate riders: much less crowded than nearby 10; scenic and varied segment types

piste #14: upper part gets full of bumps really quickly (e.g. by lunchtime in early January)

piste #12: one of the most scenic and varied among reds

the upper part of B4 chairlift, up to Lukova (and therefore upper parts of pistes ##1a, 5a), is much more exposed to strong winds than Rovna Hola and lower stations

Southern side:

as large part of 34C is nearly horizontal (which is quite challenging for less experienced riders), only 20 meters height change between Chopok and Derese for a really long "walk", and both alternatives from Chopok are black, it may be smarter to reach Kosodrevina by cable car and start riding from there.

▸Uphill skiing211 chars

The entire Jasna resort is popular with ski mountaineering practitioners: several dozens of them can be seen in early January; there is even a dedicated equipment rental shop for it at Lucky, open 8am-4pm daily.

▸Hiking814 chars

Hiking is probably the most common sport around. Mostly done in the warm months - but with proper equipment, also winter ski-alpinism is possible.

A beautiful and not too demanding multi-day hike is possible through the whole mountain range, from Donovaly all the way to Telgárt, or the other way around. Depending on the start and end, the hike can take anywhere from 1 to approx. 5 days.

Common starting/exit points:

1 Donovaly, accessible by bus from Banská Bystrica or Ružomberok

2 Korytnica, a former spa area. Nowadays, you can at least find mineral water streams and a small restaurant.

3 Liptovská Lúžna, bus stop "Nocovňa SAD", direct connection from Ružomberok

4 Liptovský Ján (hike trail to Chata M.R.Štefánika), bus to Liptovský Mikuláš. A spa village also with some restaurants.

5 Čertovica

6 Telgárt

▸Trivial hiking315 chars

While not as satisfactory as walking for days with heavy backpack, it's possible to take cablecar almost to the top of Chopok. It's one few minutes hike up from there, also done in ski shoes in the winter.

Ďumbier peak is approx. an hour away from there - probably the most visited peak apart from the previous one.

▸Eat321 chars

The manned huts usually provide small refreshments, soups and similar. Also the ski centers provide the usual range of (fast) foods.

Hotel Druzba. Its ski-in restaurant has some of the most interesting menu that you can find for lunch near pistes; for nearly the same prices as in more regular places. (updated Jan 2019)

▸Sleep234 chars

In the villages around Jasná, there are many lodgings available also for big groups of people. This article only lists the separate (alpine) huts, where one can sleep during hike across the mountain range (in order from west to east).

▸Lodging917 chars

1 Útulňa Ďurková pod Chabencom (Ďurková pod Chabencom refuge) (A few houndred meters off the main path.). Sleeping in own sleepbag, simple foods (some soups etc.), beer and other beverages available. Fresh water steam nearby, dry toilet is outside. €4. (updated Oct 2016)

2 Kamenná chata pod Chopkom (Right under the top cable car station.). Sleeping in bunk beds, warm food, beer and other available. €20-23. (updated Oct 2016)

3 Chata M.R.Štefánika. Sleeping in bunk beds, showers, warm food, beer and other available. €13-21. (updated Oct 2016)

4 Útulňa Ramža. A small refuge, sleeping in own bags, drinkable water is nearby. No service or personnel. (updated Dec 2016)

5 Útulňa Andrejcová. A refuge at altitude of 1410 m. Sleeping in bags for 15 persons, drinkable water is nearby. No service or personnel. Free. (updated Oct 2016)

6 TV tower at Kráľova hoľa. An emergency sleep room available. (updated Dec 2016)

▸Stay safe566 chars

There are few fatal accidents happening yearly, most commonly heart problems, fall from a cliff or ski accidents.

The whole range is very exposed to weather. In summer you should be prepared for a quick descent in case of thunderstorms. In winter, strong winds and heavy snow can make riding really challenging, and frequently leads to closing some skilifts and pistes.

During strong winds, the cablecar in Jasná can stop operating - be sure to check the weather forecast before skiing, or you may be left stranded on the wrong side of the hill (more in Get around).

▸Go next222 chars

Central Liptov for thermal water parks (operating all year round), or some culture in Liptov.

Banská Bystrica also provides for cultural and shopping needs.

National parks: Tatra National Park, Great Fatra, Slovak Paradise

National Park

[edit] Most of the Low Tatras is protected by the Low Tatras National Park (Národný park Nízke Tatry; abbr. NAPANT), established in 1978. The area of the National Park is 728 km2 (281.08 mi2) and the buffer zone takes 1,102 km2 (425.48 mi2); 1,830 km2 (706.56 mi2) together.

Tourism

[edit] Tourism is very popular in the Tatras. During the winter there are several ski resorts in Low Tatras, for example Jasná, Mýto pod Ďumbierom, and Tále. Not only are these hubs of hiking and cross-country skiing trails, but Jasna is the largest ski resort in Central Europe and is served by the tourist town of Liptovsky Mikulas. Liptovsky Mikulas also offers a range of summer activities such as rafting, kayaking, boating on the lake, fishing, a hot springs aqua park and hiking. There are many places to stay, restaurants and bars in the town. The steep northern slopes of the range are popular with climbers. Other attractions include an 18-hole golf course near Tále. The Path of the heroes of Slovak national uprising follows the axis of the mountain range. At the very top there are several huts or hotels that can offer refuge to those who want to traverse the entire range from east to west. Low Tatras are also a popular destination for Czech tourists.