Červené piesky waterfall in the Prosiecka valley

Červené piesky is a 15-metre waterfall in a side valley of the Prosiecka dolina in the Chočské vrchy of northern Slovakia, above the village of Prosiek in the Liptov region. It is the largest waterfall in this part of the Chočské vrchy. The water falls down a steep limestone wall in a narrow side valley that branches off the main valley to the north-west near the place called Vidová, below the Kubín hill with its 150-metre Sokol rock.

The Prosiecka valley itself is one of the most representative karst valleys in the Western Carpathians: 3.5 km long, it cuts right across the range from the Liptov basin to the meadows of Svorad. It was carved by the Prosiečanka stream into the limestones and dolomites of the Choč nappe. At the bottom is the narrow Vráta gorge (Tiesňava Vráta), only a few metres wide, with vertical walls; above it the stream emerges from two large karst springs. Higher up the valley widens and is dry for most of the year, and the slopes are dotted with rocks called "Jánošík", "the Bear", "the Camel" and "the Owl". Readers of the magazine Krásy Slovenska voted the Prosiecka the most beautiful valley in the country. Thanks to frequent temperature inversions, cold-loving and even alpine plants survive here – including the alpine edelweiss, and the rock speedwell has been found at about 700 m, its lowest site in Slovakia. Since 1967 the whole valley has been protected as the Prosiecka dolina National Nature Reserve (376 ha).

What to see and do

• The Červené piesky waterfall – the main goal of the valley: a tall ribbon of water on a reddish-grey rock face, fullest in spring during the snowmelt and after rain.
• The Vráta gorge. Right at the start the path follows wooden footbridges over the stream between white walls; a low step is secured with a chain.
• The Sokol ladders. In the upper branch of the valley is a narrow gorge with several steps and potholes; steel ladders have stood here since 1964, and a chain secures the traverse above them. A wooden walkway on steel brackets once stood here, used in winter to bring hay down from Svorad by sledge; it was destroyed by the war in 1944–1945 and the flood of 1976, but the notches for its beams are still visible in the rock.
• The educational trail "Prosiecka and Kvačianska valleys" with information boards runs through the valley and on over Svorad to the Kvačianska valley.

How to get there

From the village of Prosiek a blue trail runs the whole length of the valley (Prosiek – Oblazy, junction). A short side path leads from the Vidová junction, by the Sokol rock, into the Červené piesky side valley to the waterfall. The whole crossing from Prosiek via the Sokol ladders to the junction on Svorad takes about 2 hours, and from there to Veľké Borové about another 50 minutes (Polish guidebook data per pl.wikipedia); descending the ladders in the opposite direction is not recommended. You can also walk to the waterfall and back through the lower part of the valley without climbing the ladders. From Svorad you can continue on the green trail to Liptovská Anna (Liptovská Anna – Dolina Borovianky, junction) or to the Kvačianska valley. A moderate hike: manageable with school-age children, but a pram will not get beyond the start of the gorge.

Season and safety

The best time is May to October. In floods the water covers the whole floor of the Vráta gorge, and the Sokol ladders are occasionally damaged by high water and winter avalanches; in wet weather the limestone steps are slippery, so wear shoes with a good tread. In the national nature reserve walk only on marked trails; do not pick plants or light fires. Mountain Rescue Service – 18 300, general emergency number – 112. Information as of October 2026.

Nearby

To the south, in the Liptov basin, are the Liptovská Mara reservoir and the Lúčanský vodopád (Lúčky Waterfall); above Liptovská Mara stands Liptov Castle (ruins).

Photos: Pudelek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Branork, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Michal Jakubský, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; MBi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jan Starec, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.