Jánošík Gorges – Short Loop

From the Biely Potok (575 m) trail junction, right by Hotel Diery, follow the blue trail marker. After just a few minutes, the first rock formations begin to appear, and almost immediately you enter a beautiful narrow gorge that forms the gateway to the Jánošík Gorges. This lower section is called Dolné diery, and near its beginning you will reach the Ostrvné (640 m) junction.

Nové diery

At the junction, turn left onto the yellow-marked trail heading into Nové diery. Nové diery was the last section to be opened to visitors, and it features several very narrow passages, metal footbridges, and a few waterfalls that you cross by ladders. This part of the Jánošík Gorges is not long, so you soon leave the gorge behind and start climbing through the forest to a viewpoint overlooking the valley and the cliffs opposite.

Beyond the viewpoint, an easy forest path leads to the Podžiar (715 m) junction, where you can relax in the grass in the sun and, in season, buy refreshments at a small wooden hut.

Descent through Dolné diery

You will descend on the blue trail through Dolné diery, following a stream that forms many cascades and several small waterfalls here. The descent is not demanding; you just need to watch your footing on slippery sections. All of the more difficult parts are bridged by footbridges, and here and there you will also come across short metal steps. The trail leads you back to the Ostrvné (640 m) junction, from where you already know the way back to Hotel Diery.

Video

Useful info

Transport

From Žilina, take a bus via the center of Terchová to Hotel Diery (“Terchová,,B.Potok h.Diery”). However, more than half of the buses do not continue all the way to Hotel Diery, so you will need to change in the center of Terchová (stop “Terchová,,centrum”) or walk the remaining two kilometers.

Search connections

By car from Žilina, follow road no. 583 to Terchová and then continue toward Zázrivá to the Biely Potok area. You can park in the paid parking lot by Hotel Diery on the right-hand side of the road.

Itinerary

Biely Potok Ostrvné (0:25) Podžiar (1:10) Ostrvné (1:30) Biely Potok (1:50)

Water and refreshments along the way

refreshments at the Podžiar junction

Alternatives

• If Nové diery felt easy and you have enough time and energy, you can continue from the Podžiar junction into the more demanding and more scenic Horné diery, where there are many more waterfalls and ladders. See: Jánošík Gorges – Long Loop
• From the Podžiar junction, you can continue on the yellow trail with a short climb to the Vrchpodžiar saddle (0:10), then descend to Štefanová in Vrátná Valley (0:35). From there, regular buses run to Terchová and onward to Žilina.