Malý Kriváň and a lesser-known side of the Malá Fatra

Ascent to Malý Kriváň

From the bus terminus, follow the green trail as it climbs gently through the village past the parking area, then cross a bridge beyond it. A short distance after the bridge, turn left and cross the stream again on a concrete footbridge. Above the village, the route cuts across a broad meadow to the forest, where a steeper climb begins through Repišská Valley.

After 300 metres, you cross a forest track and immediately after that a stream flowing directly across the path, then continue climbing more steeply up to around 700 metres elevation, where you will find a shelter and a spring. The shelter is a good place for a short break — from here, a steep ascent continues all the way to the hut below Klačianska Magura (1,115 m).

Above the shelter, cross another forest track and climb up below the former ski slope. The marked trail first runs through the forest along its left side, but you can also walk straight up the slope itself and rejoin the marked trail near the top. Then come several switchbacks in a beech forest and a short, gentle forest track that leads directly below the hut.

Through primeval forest to Suchý

Continue on the green trail to Sedlo pod Suchým (1,303 m). Just past the hut, you will come to a spring, though it is often dry by late summer. The walk to the saddle takes about an hour and involves no major climbs, making it more of a restful section of the hike; in its second half, you pass through ancient forest full of ferns and old-growth trees.

By contrast, the climb from the saddle to the summit of Suchý (1,468 m) is quite steep and will make you work for it. The effort is rewarded with beautiful views of Žilina and the surrounding villages, as well as the ridge with the peaks of Biele skaly, Stratenec and Malý Kriváň. You can also clearly see Veľká Fatra and the prominent Martinské hole in the Lúčanská part of the Malá Fatra.

From Suchý, continue along the undulating red-marked trail, which follows a narrow path cut through dwarf pine. As you make your way over Biele skaly (1,448 m) and Stratenec (1,513 m), short climbs alternate with descents, and here and there you will need to cross a few minor rocky sections. There is nothing to worry about, though — none of it is especially difficult. From Stratenec, descend to the broad grassy Priehyb Saddle (1,452 m), an ideal place to relax in the grass before the final climb to Malý Kriváň (1,671 m).

Malý Kriváň

The climb up from the saddle is not very steep, but after everything already behind you, it may feel long. When you finally reach the summit, you will see a concrete pillar and a stone wall used mainly as an emergency bivouac shelter. If it is windy, it also makes a good spot to shelter while having a snack.

From Malý Kriváň, the views open up in every direction: you will see Veľký Kriváň, Malý and Veľký Rozsutec, the section of ridge you came along, Veľká Fatra, and in good visibility also Veľký Choč, Babia Hora and the ridges of the Low Tatras and the Western Tatras.

For the return, descend back to Priehyb Saddle and turn left onto the yellow trail, which traverses grassy slopes below the peaks of Stratenec and Biele skaly to Sedlo pod Suchým. From there, follow the green trail again back to the hut below Klačianska Magura and descend the same way to Turčianske Kľačany.

Useful info

Transport

By train: travel to Vrútky. In front of the station building, turn right and then immediately left onto K. Kalacsaya Street to the local bus stop (“Vrútky autobusová stanica”). From there, take bus no. 27 to the terminus in Turčianske Kľačany (stop “Turčianske Kľačany”).

Search connections | Martin public transport

By car: From Žilina, follow the E50 road to Vrútky, then turn left right at the beginning and continue via Lipovec to Turčianske Kľačany. You can park for free in the parking area at the edge of the village, which the marked trail to the hut below Klačianska Magura passes by.

Itinerary

Turčianske Kľačany hut below Kľačianska Magura (2:30) Sedlo pod Suchým (3:30) Suchý (4:00) Biele skaly (4:20) Stratenec (4:35) Priehyb Saddle (4:45) Malý Kriváň (5:30) Priehyb Saddle (6:00) Sedlo pod Suchým (7:00) hut below Kľačianska Magura (8:00) Turčianske Kľačany (9:30)

Water and refreshments along the way

spring in Repišská Valley, hut below Klačianska Magura, possibly the spring behind the hut, spring below Priehyb Saddle

Alternatives

• Continue from Malý Kriváň further along the red trail via Veľký Kriváň (1:45) to Medziholie Saddle (2:15), then descend from there — or take the cable car — to Vrátna Valley (3:45).
• Continue from Malý Kriváň further along the red trail and combine it with a hike to Veľký Kriváň, or stay overnight at the hut below Chleb and continue on the ridge traverse.
• Descend from Malý Kriváň on the newly marked blue trail to Sučany (3:30). From there, take a train or bus back to Žilina (or to Vrútky and Kľačany if you left your car there).
• If this hike is too demanding for a single day, you can stay overnight at the hut below Klačianska Magura and enjoy the night view over Martin.