Malý Rozsutec: ascent via Jánošíkove diery

Jánošíkove diery - Nové and Dolné diery

The hike up Malý Rozsutec starts at Hotel Diery, from where you follow the blue-marked trail upstream along Hlboký potok. After about one kilometre you reach the first gorge of the Dolné diery (Jánošíkove diery is divided into three sections: Dolné, Horné and Nové diery) and its beautiful world of waterfalls, cascades, iron footbridges and ladders.

Right after the first gorge, which you cross on a footbridge, you come to the Ostrvné (640 m) junction, where we recommend turning onto the yellow trail through the Nové diery. This section of Jánošíkove diery has more footbridges and ladders than if you continue on the blue trail through the Dolné diery. Whether you choose the more interesting Nové diery or the easier Dolné diery, both routes lead to the Podžiar (715 m) junction.

At Podžiar you briefly leave the gorges and waterfalls behind, but you soon return to them in the Horné diery, about 200 metres beyond the junction. From here to the Medzirozsutce saddle, the route is the same as on the hike to Veľký Rozsutec.

Jánošíkove diery - Horné diery

You continue climbing on footbridges and ladders through the Horné diery up to the pod Pálenicou (900 m) junction, where the valley widens. Then follow the blue trail with a gentle ascent to the pod Tesnou Rizňou (935 m) junction, where you turn right into a smaller valley and once again cross several ladders and rope-secured sections. After about an hour and a half and 250 metres of ascent through Tesná Rizňa, the climb eases and you emerge from the forest onto a meadow with beautiful views of Malý Rozsutec.

A moment later you pass the Pod Tanečnicou (1,184 m) junction, then continue through the forest for a few more minutes until you reach a second meadow. Here there is a not very well-marked turn-off to a spring, just a few metres to the left of the trail, reached by a worn footpath. The spring is not very strong, and in late summer and early autumn it is best not to rely on it too much. From the spring it is only a little over 100 metres to the broad Medzirozsutce saddle (1,200 m).

Ascent of Malý Rozsutec

At the saddle, turn left onto the green-marked path, which climbs gently across a meadow to the Zákres saddle (1,230 m). There the route turns left again and begins climbing towards the summit of Malý Rozsutec (1,344 m). The final ascent is spiced up by one rocky section fitted with chains. But anyone who managed the footbridges and ladders in Jánošíkove diery should have no trouble here either.

From the small summit of Malý Rozsutec you can admire the rocky crown of nearby Veľký Rozsutec, and to the right of it part of the ridge with peaks such as Poludňový Grúň, Chleb, Malý Kriváň and Veľký Kriváň. To the left you may spot the ridge of the Low Tatras, Veľký Choč and the Western Tatras.

Descend from the summit on the green-marked trail, which is fairly steep at first. The slope then eases a little, followed by a descent of almost 500 vertical metres, first through dwarf pine and later through forest, to the hamlet of Podrozsutec. Here the steeper descent ends and the green trail continues right along a wide, almost flat farm track.

At the junction about a quarter of a kilometre from the hamlet, keep left. After another 200 metres, ignore the turn-off to the right and continue straight on towards the forest. After half a kilometre of walking through the woods, the track bends right, passes a solitary cabin, and descends across meadows dotted with scattered trees back towards Biely Potok (575 m), which is now not far away.

Useful info

Transport

From Žilina, take a bus via the centre of Terchová to Hotel Diery (stop “Terchová,,B.Potok h.Diery”). More than half of the buses do not continue as far as Hotel Diery, so you need to change in the centre of Terchová (stop “Terchová,,centrum”) or walk the remaining two kilometres. By car from Žilina, follow road no. 583 to Terchová, then continue towards Zázrivá to the Biely Potok area. Paid parking is available at the Hotel Diery car park on the right-hand side of the road.

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Itinerary

Terchová, Biely Potok Ostrvné (0:25) or Podžiar (0:50) pod Pálenicou (1:35) pod Tesnou Rizňou (1:40) Pod Tanečnicou (2:10) Medzirozsutce saddle (2:20) Zákres saddle (2:30) Malý Rozsutec (2:50) Terchová, Biely Potok (4:35)

Water and refreshments along the way

spring before the Medzirozsutce saddle, refreshments at the Podžiar junction, spring below the Medzirozsutce saddle

Alternatives

• If the ascent of Malý Rozsutec has not tired you out and you have enough time, you can return to the Medzirozsutce saddle (0:20) and continue on to Veľký Rozsutec (1:30). Descend via the Medziholie saddle (2:30) to Štefanová (3:45) and take a bus back to Terchová (see the hike to Veľký Rozsutec).