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Sivý vrch – an easygoing ascent through a rock city

Moderate physically demanding Moderately difficult technical
05:30
Walking time
9 km
Distance
875 m
Elevation gain
Loop
Moderate physically demanding Moderately difficult technical

Hike description

Sivý vrch is not one of the highest peaks, but the ascent through the Radové skaly rock city, where you’ll occasionally use your hands, has an unforgettable charm.


Ascent to Sivý vrch

From the bus stop, follow the road toward Zuberec until you reach the Biela Skala ranger station on the left side of the road, just beyond a long right-hand bend. Opposite it, at the edge of the forest, there is a shelter with information boards and a hiking signpost. From there, head into the woods on the red trail along a wide forest track that climbs gently at first.

The red trail leads you through several forest-road junctions and soon starts climbing steeply through the woods, across a large windthrow area and back into the forest, eventually bringing you below the first rocky outcrops – the summit of Biela skala (1,316 m).

After a few metres, you will come across an unmarked but well-trodden footpath that lets you make a short detour to the summit cross. The views from there are much better than from the trail itself, not only over the nearby area but also toward the Veľká Fatra and Malá Fatra.

Radové skaly rock city

As you continue uphill on the red-marked path, the forest gradually thins out and gives way to dwarf pine and rock formations. The trail winds gently among them until you find yourself in a true rock city known as Radové skaly. Here you will come across a few spots where you may need to use your hands. At two places near the summit, the rock is fitted with a chain, which is not really necessary for the ascent but can be useful on the way down or in wet weather. There is no need to worry about dangerous or highly exposed sections – you won’t find any on the route to Sivý vrch.

Sivý vrch – views

Sivý vrch rewards the climb with views of several other peaks in the Western Tatras, such as Ostrá, Osobitá, Salatín, Spálená, Pachola, Baníkov and Baranec. In other directions, you can also see the more distant Veľký Choč, Babia hora, Pilsko, and other mountain ranges – Veľká Fatra, Malá Fatra and the Low Tatras.

The shortest descent follows the same route back.

Video

Useful info

The quickest option is to take a train to Liptovský Mikuláš. Right next to the railway station there is also a bus station, where you can catch a bus to the “Huty,,Javorinský potok” stop, the first stop after about 20 minutes of climbing through the switchbacks. You can also reach the same stop several times a day from Zuberec, the main tourist hub of the Western Tatras.

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If you are coming by car, you can choose between two approaches:
  • Drive toward Liptovský Mikuláš, leave the motorway at Bešeňová, continue past Liptovská Mara, and head on toward Zuberec.
  • Turn off at Kraľovany toward Trstená, drive through Dolný Kubín, past Orava Castle, and in Podbiel turn for Zuberec. From Zuberec, continue for about 5 km toward Liptovský Mikuláš.
Parking is by the bus stop and wherever you can find space – there is no large car park here.

Biela Skala ranger station cervena Sivý vrch (3:00) cervena Biela Skala ranger station (5:30)

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If you do not want to return the same way, you can continue descending on the red trail along a fairly steep path at first, with some scree in places, to Pálenica Saddle. There, turn left onto the yellow-marked trail, which leads first through dwarf pine, later through forest, and finally across meadows to the edge of Zuberec. The descent is 8 km long and takes about 3 hours.

Hikes in the Western Tatras and Roháče

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