Views from Veľký Choč

Ascent of Veľký Choč

From the center of Valaská Dubová (665 m), follow the blue trail along a gently rising paved road, which just beyond the village turns into a stony track climbing gradually through meadows. Not far above the village, views of the surrounding hills begin to open up. After a while, you will see a shelter on the right where you can refill fresh water from a spring.

Beyond the shelter, the wide track turns into a path leading into the forest, where the climb becomes a little steeper between increasingly steep slopes. After passing below a scree field topped by the limestone wall of Soliská, the trail climbs even more steeply into a short, narrow canyon. Beyond the canyon, the path turns right and continues uphill through the forest to the wide pastures of Stredné polany (1,250 m).

Choč Shelter

Right at the edge of the pasture, beneath a solitary tall tree, there is a signpost pointing you onto the green-marked trail to Veľký Choč. A few dozen meters beyond the signpost, hidden below a short descent, stands Choč shelter – a wooden mountain hut with a fireplace inside and plenty of space to sleep, whether on the ground floor or on a raised wooden platform. Much of the floor is just packed earth, the roof leaks, and the walls let in the weather, so spending the night here is a real adventure. There is also a spring about a ten-minute walk from the shelter, but it is very weak and should not be relied on too much; especially in late summer and autumn it may be dry.

From the junction, continue on the green-marked path, at first along the edge of the pasture and later climbing again through the forest. Here you will come to a short rocky section where you may need to use your hands. Don’t worry, it’s neither difficult nor dangerous. The forest then gradually gives way to dense dwarf pine reaching all the way to the rocky summit, and the first views of the surrounding ranges begin to appear. The climb from Stredné polany to Veľký Choč takes about an hour. At the summit, you can sign the summit register and enjoy breathtaking views of the Western Tatras, Low Tatras, Veľká Fatra and Malá Fatra, Kubínska hoľa and many other peaks, as well as the Liptovská Mara reservoir.

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Useful info

Transport

By train to Ružomberok. Opposite the railway station is the bus station, from where buses to Valaská Dubová run frequently (direction Dolný Kubín or Komjatná).

Search connections

By car, drive via Ružomberok towards Dolný Kubín and turn off to Valaská Dubová. There is no designated parking area; people usually park in the village center.

Itinerary

Valaská Dubová Stredná polana (2:00) Veľký Choč (3:00) -> and back (total 5:00)

Water and refreshments along the way

spring by the shelter just above the village, or a spring near Stredné polany

Alternatives

• From Veľký Choč, you can descend on the red-marked trail to the village of Lúčky (2:30) and visit the local waterfall. During the descent, you will come across a shelter with a loft shortly beyond the Žimerová junction (1,100 m), suitable for an overnight stay. From Lúčky, you can take a bus to Ružomberok.
• Descent to Ružomberok. Return to Stredná polana, then follow the blue trail to the Spuštiak saddle and continue on the red trail past Likava Castle to Ružomberok (4:00).