Haligovské skaly, Pieniny
Explore mystic world of limestone towers and cavities in Haligovské skaly (Haligovce rocks).
Not difficult, half-day long hike will lead you in the middle of their natural beauties.
Great views to valleys and further to High Tatras are guaranteed, best season for hike is colorful autumn or spring when rocks are all in bloom.
Hike here is very popular especially for photographers, but also for geocachers and waymarkers.
Mountains
Haligovské skaly is slovak name for group of limestone rock formations, towering high above village Haligovce in far north of Slovakia.
Rocks belong to mountain range and National Park
Pieniny. Border with Poland is just few kilometres northwards.
In typical reef relief are mainly on the ridge and on the southern and south-western slopes the groups of bizarre rocky towers and rocks (
Biela, Cervená, Sovia, Koncistá, Hrubá),
gutters, water-karst valleys (
Široká, Hlboká) and limestone debris.
In the rocks is a number of passages, cavities and caves. The most famous cave is
Aksamitka in
Cervená Skala (Red Rock),
Brestová Diera (White Elm hole) in the rock,
about 30 meters long cave
Zbojnícka (Outlaw’s) under
Hrubá Skala (the Rough Rock), famous by 5 metres high rock window called
Outlaw’s Gate.
Smaller cavities and caves are remnants of larger underground spaces, which are swamped. Caves were known to the local population in early Middle Ages.
About hike
It is best to park your car up in the mountain pass, called Lesnícke sedlo early in the morning.
You may be lucky like us to see countryside waking up from morning mists into warm and sunny day. Parking is for small fee, or free in case you’ll by refreshment in nearby buffet.
Then just follow marked hiking path (red signs) westwards. Trail will lead you through large meadow to forest without any notable climb, terrain is quite flat and comfy.
After few hundreds metres you will find yourself in between various rock formations. Don’t be afraid to turn from your path to explore some of great lookout-spots from the reefs.
You can find your own ways to explore all hidden beauties of these rocks.
We followed green marked trail from crossroad and descended to find Outlaw’s Gate and Cave. They are stunning!
As well as all the views till we came there. We returned back the same way.
You can check and download GPS tracklog, in case you’d like to follow our steps.
More pictures from our hike can be found on my Flickr account.
May your day be great like ours was.
Scenic hike facts
| Duration | 3-5 hours (or longer if you wish) |
| Terrain characteristics | comfy forest paths, some parts on the edge of the reefs |
| Lenght of the scenic hike | up to 10 kilometres |
| Total Ascent | 415 metres |
| Total Descent | 415 metres |
| Elevation range | 705 - 860 metres ASL |
| Equipment needed | solid hiking boots and poles - to be surefooted on rocky parts |
| Water availability | no water on trail, can be purchased on parking lot |
| Season | all year round, but best in spring and autumn (mid October!) |
Map
You can view (or print) hiking map of the area from wandermap.net or mapy.hiking.sk, or download the tracklog.
Parking / transport
Parking for small fee is available in Lesnícke sedlo (mountain pass).
Better options of public transport (buses) are for village Haligovce, where you can alternatively start and finish your hike.
Overnight
This is half- or one-day hike, but in case you’d like to spend more days in National Park Pieniny,
most accomodations can be found in Cervený Kláštor or Stará Lubovna.
Alternatives
You can start from village Haligovce and take green-marked trail to the rocks.
Or continue with red-marked trail to Cervený Kláštor, that is the most famous place of National Park with picturesque Dunajec river.
Gallery
Visit requirements
Please, log a short story from your hike with few pictures. At minimum, one from any favourite place on the trail, it is up to you!
Wish you a wonderful hike!
Other references
sources: pieniny.sk, own visit and photos