What to do in Slovak Paradise – Suchá Belá (The most romantic gorge)

I have always wanted to visit Slovak Paradise, one of the most beautiful areas of Slovakia and the Spiš region. This unique piece of nature got its name due to its rare natural values and beauties. It consists of preserved karst plains, deeply cut river canyons, gorges and gorges with magical waterfalls like Suchá Belá or Kyseľ, the vast underground world of caves and abysses likewise the richly represented fauna and flora.

In this blog post, I will focus mainly on one of the most romantic gorges of Slovak Paradise. The history of the tourist discovery of Suchá Belá begins in 1900 and up today is still looking gorgeous (no pun intended). Keep reading and find out more.

Suchá Belá – The most romantic gorge

The history of the tourist discovery of Suchá Belá begins in 1900 when the group of prof. M Roth got to Bowl waterfalls (Misové vodopády). 8 years later, they modified and marked a tourist path. In the winter of 1910, A. Mervaya’s group underwent entire distress for the first time. However, the entire gorge was opened to the public much later, in 1957 by members of the Mountain Service.

Today, however, we can easily visit her and admire her beauty. It offers us several waterfalls. In the order of crossing the valley we can see: Bowl waterfalls (Misové) – 29.5 m, Window waterfall – 12.5 m, River waterfall – 8.5 m, Side waterfall – 8 m. Probably the biggest attraction in this gorge is the second in order – Window waterfall. He earned his name thanks to the rock window through which the stream that forms the gorge flows.

The route leads so that you have to climb through this window to continue. But of course, the highest waterfalls of this gorge – Bowl waterfalls (Misové) – cannot go unnoticed. These are of a cascading character, under each cascade there is a water-excavated pit – a bowl, from which their name is derived. Above these waterfalls is the narrowest point of the gorge, the so-called A gorge where an adult has something to do to get “crammed” there.

What to expect

Despite the fact that some of the ladders in the photos look quite menacing and you will say that I probably went crazy when I write at the beginning that the children can handle the route, no, they didn’t go crazy. Appearances sometimes deceive, and when you climb the ladders you feel like you are going up the usual stairs, so I think it is one of the few options for a trip with children in this area. Of course with a dose of attention and caution. So hop on hiking boots and move on the hike.

From Podlesok to Suchá Belá peak

In my opinion, this route is probably the most suitable choice for older children as well. It does not contain such high ladders and there are not as many of them as in other gorges in the Slovak Paradise, so they could handle it. The elevation is also smaller than on other routes, only 455 m at a distance of 9.4 km is the right route to tire your children.

Beginning of gorge

The route through the Suchá Belá gorge is relatively simple, it contains only 3 colors and 4 signposts, which is a record low for the conditions of routes in the Slovak Paradise. So let’s start in Podlesk in the paid parking lot. From here we follow the directional arrows Suchá Belá, which will easily take us to the beginning of the route. At the beginning of the route, we will have to pay € 2 to enter the gorge, they take care of this valley and maintain it for this fee.

Bowl waterfalls (Misové vodopády)

We continue along the banks and streams of the stream, in several places using footbridges, to the beginning of the gorge Misové waterfalls. We pass through them using ladders, risers, and footbridges.

Window waterfall (Okienkový vodopád)

Behind them again a footpath in the riverbed to the narrowest point of the gorge called Roklina, followed by Okienkový waterfall. We cross the waterfall with a ladder and through a rock window. The gorge continues to expand a little to the riverbed.

Side waterfall (Bočný vodopád)

Behind him, on the left side, the tributary creates a Side Waterfall. We continue again with a narrowed section of the Cascades, also made accessible by artificial aids. Furthermore, the stream flows through the forest. When the valley branches off with the right branch, in some places we ascend with the submerged flow of the stream to the well below the road to Rumanová. The well is one of the springs of Suchá Belá. From the well diagonally up to the road and through it to the orientation column on Glacká road, at the top of Suchá Belá.

Suchá Belá – conclusion

At the top of Suchá Belá, you can borrow bicycles on which you can ride and from the bottom in less than half an hour if you are not afraid to ride. The road is well-groomed, but you need to watch out for large stones. You are down with the children within the hour. First, you follow the yellow sign and then the red one to Podlesk. Bicycle rental costs about € 10 per person without helmets.

The hike is not difficult or long at all. We were back in Podlesok at two o’clock after lunch and we stood and took photos many times along the way. This tour is very beautiful and I recommend that you do not catch many people in the gorge and enjoy it to the fullest in its entire beauty, so go as soon as possible in the morning. Hope you will enjoy the hike as I did, see you in another blog post.

Here is the map of our half day trip.

You can make your own hike More photos from my journeys here More stories from Slovakia here

What to do in Slovak Paradise – Ferrata HZS Kyseľ (What to expect)

Are you also looking for other activities and tours to spend the next days in the Slovak paradise? Read about the most famous ferrate in Kyseľ gorge.

In this blog post, I will focus mainly on a very popular trail in Slovak Paradise named Ferrata HZS Kyseľ. How to get there, what is good to take with you and how to prepare for this challenging tour. Keep reading and enjoy it.

What to do in Slovak Paradise – Ferrata HZS Kyseľ