I am convinced that Sucha Bela (Dry Bela) is the most stunning valley in Slovak Paradise. Its fascinating legend and captivating beauty draw countless tourists to this spot. I can tell you that, during peak season, up to 1,000 people visit daily! The valley is characterized by a rocky gorge with a stream flowing through it, which adds to its allure. If you want to avoid long queues for the ladders, it’s best to arrive early in the morning.
- Parking fee: 3 €, Entry to Slovak Paradise: 1.5 €
- Starting point: Podlesok camping
- Consider insurance – it’s easy to get injured
- Trail through Sucha Bela is one-way
- Find more practical information about Slovak Paradise Here
Useful Tips for Your Adventure
If you’re here for just a day, I suggest combining your trek through Sucha Bela with a return trip through the Hornadu Gorge. You can tailor the route length to your preferences and available time, ranging from 5 to 8 hours. Make your final decision at the trail junction in a place called Klasztorisko. Be aware that during high season, crossing times can be significantly longer due to queues for the ladders.
Keep in mind that stones and metal shelves on the trail can be slippery, so it’s quite easy to get injured. Insurance is essential. If you haven’t bought insurance yet, don’t worry – you can purchase one-day coverage for € 0.2 (Union) in the parking lot where you pay for parking and park entry. Note that not all trail entry points in Slovak Paradise offer the option to buy insurance. In 2019, for example, there was no such possibility at the entrances to the Roklina Piecky and Velky Sokol trails.
Exploring the Sucha Bela Valley Trails
Time: 1h 43 min, Distance: 3.9 km, Ascent: 429 m + Return about 1.5 h
To begin your adventure in Sucha Bela, you’ll need to cross the asphalt road over the bridge and turn right at the small roundabout from the car park. If you turn left, you’ll find yourself at the Hornad Gorge after a 20-minute walk. Don’t worry about getting lost, as there are large arrows and signs to guide you.
Right behind the roundabout, you’ll find tourist information, Podlesock camping, and, during the season, a grocery store and restaurant. Green trails also start from here. A small asphalt path runs along the fence with the campsite, while the trail heads diagonally to the left and ventures deeper into the thicket. Like most local trails, it is a one-way trail.
For a long time, this rocky gorge, like other parts of Slovak Paradise, was surprisingly inaccessible. It wasn’t until 1900 that Martin Róth, a mountaineer and local tourist activist, made the first attempt to traverse the valley. The expedition reached the Bowl Waterfall, which was insurmountable at the time, and only a decade later was the trek completed.
As you make your way through the valley, you’ll often find yourself walking in the middle of the stream, so good shoes are a must. In trickier spots, ladders and footbridges come in handy. At times, the gorge walls narrow dramatically, creating an awe-inspiring experience. After an hour of walking, you’ll reach the Bowl Waterfall, the highest in Sucha Bela at 29.5 meters tall.
Now, prepare yourself for the most spectacular part of the entire valley. First, you’ll climb up the left side of the waterfall, and then a system of ladders will lead you into the unknown. As you navigate between the ladders, you’ll come across the first metal shelves, the so-called stúpačky, which are characteristic of Slovak Paradise. The route is ingeniously designed in this area, and without the stupacks and ladders, conquering the gorge would be impossible.
Chasing Waterfalls and Window Rock
But wait, there’s more! The Bowl Waterfall isn’t the only one you’ll encounter in Sucha Bela. Just 15 minutes after the first cascade, you’ll find a slightly shorter ladder leading to the beautiful Waterfall. Water cascades down from a height of 12.5 meters, and you’ll climb up its left side. At the end of the ladder, you’ll find a short chain. It’s not too difficult; you’ll only need to traverse a short section to the right and then pass through a rock window(!) before continuing on your way.
The last waterfall on the route is the Korytowy Waterfall, which flows down three cascades from a height of about 10 meters. The gorge narrows once again, but this marks the end of the trail’s highlights. You’ll also pass by the less impressive Side Waterfall.
From Korytove, it’ll take you just under an hour to reach the end of the Valley. Keep in mind that you’ll need to add the return trip to your calculations. If you’ve had enough excitement for one day, you can return to your car using a combination of yellow and red trails in about 1.5 hours.
However, I encourage you to extend your return route to Klasztorsko and make your way back to the starting point through the enchanting Hornad Gorge. You can opt for the longer version via Tomasovsky Vychlad, though this route will take you about 7 hours in total (including the trek through the Sucha Bela valley). Check out the map for more information.
If you decide to skip Tomasovsky Vychlad and head down to the Hornad Gorge along the yellow trail, you’ll still see most of the interesting spots, and the route will only take you about 5 hours. Another option is to follow the red trail to the river, which will make your whole trip approximately 6 hours long. For more details on the Hornad Gorge trail, click here.
Reference:
- http://www.slovenskyraj.sk/strediska/sbela/en.html
- https://slovakia.travel/en/the-sucha-bela-gorge-slovensky-raj
