The Falcon Dale Big Loop

Dogs No Dogs

Features Cave · River/Creek · Waterfall

Klastorisko is the highest point with some nice view of High Tatras and some history of archeological ruins of a 13th century monastery that long served a place of refuge from wars and raids.

Some canyons are remote with no people especially before and after high season. Slovakia has excellent cell phone coverage even in the canyons. Bring a phone if something comes up to call Mountain Rescue Service. By paying the park entry fee, you can also pay for a mountain rescue fee which covers even an excellent helicopter rescue (if needed) for not even for one American dollar! Highly recommended.

Leave the car at Podlesok or you could also take a train to the train station called Vydrnik. It takes less than one hour to hike from it on the paved road.

This beautiful route covers two narrow canyons with waterfalls. It features steel ladders that climb one-way from the bottom to the top.

The loop starts at the Hornad River, hiking along the bank in a shaded forest. After leaving Hornad Canyon, the hike enters the first narrow canyon called Monastery Gorge with several waterfalls ending on the top of the hill called Klastorisko.

From Klastorisko the trail comes down to Falcon Dale, which works its way along the river before heading up to reach four beautiful waterfalls. The final waterfall is the longest at 75 meters!

After this waterfall, you'll experience some difficult climbing with two bridge crossings the waterfall. In addition, there is an exposed ladder. It's scary but safe.

The Falcon Dale Canyon ends on the top of the hill with trail covering deep shady forest by hiking out to Podlesok where the hike began.