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Chvalová – Budikovany

Start: Budikovany
Range: Slovak Ore Mountains
Hiking routes of the Slovak Carpathians
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16.9 kmLength
389 mAscent
387 mDescent
399 mMax. altitude
222 mMin. altitude

Trail map

Route, springs and shelters: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · elevation: Copernicus DEM © DLR e.V., © Airbus DS · Data & licences

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About the trail

Route Chvalová – Budikovany. Has green marking (regional route №5489, KST). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Officially marked regional tourist route No. 5489. The marking is green, the sign is a horizontal stripe on a white background. Marked and maintained by: KST. The length of the route is 16.9 km. Location: mountain range — Slovak Rudohorie, Slovakia.

At a glance

A one-day route of 16.9 km with 389 m of ascent from Chvalová to Budikovany. Estimated walking time: about 5 h, not counting stops. Difficulty: moderate. Waymarking: green.

How we estimate walking time

By Naismith's rule, used by mountain clubs and guidebooks: an average hiker walks 4 km an hour on the flat and needs one more hour for every 600 m of ascent. For this trail: 16.9 km ÷ 4 = 4.2 h + 389 m ÷ 600 = 0.6 h, about 5 h of walking in total.

  • Breaks, snacks and photos: add 20–30 %.
  • A heavy pack, children, snow, a wet path or windfall add more; a long steep descent also takes time, especially for the knees.
  • The height of the Carpathians (up to 2,655 m) hardly changes the pace — on the ridges wind, fog and weather slow you down.
  • Limits: up to 9 h is one day; 9–13 h is a very long day or two; over 13 h means several days with overnight stays.

Route stages

  1. 0–4 kmClimb of 170 m (up to 395 m)
  2. 4–10 kmGentle ups and downs at 270–400 m
  3. 10–12 kmClimb of 110 m (up to 382 m)
  4. 12–17 kmGentle ups and downs at 220–390 m

Steepest kilometre: km 10–11, a climb of 90 m (≈9%).

Water and overnight stays

Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 2.5 l).

When to go

The route can be walked most of the year; it is most comfortable from April to October.

Getting there

Start: Chvalová. This is a one-way route: the finish is 7 km from the start in a straight line, so plan your way back in advance.

Directions to the start in Google Maps

FAQ

How long does the route take?
Estimated walking time: about 5 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 2.5 l).
Walk this route in 3DReal terrain, satellite map, Carpathian forests Play

Comments and trail condition

Travellers’ experience: reports, tips, questions.

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Wildlife along the route

All
Blackthornfruit nowEdibleBlackthornPrunus spinosaA spiny bush that turns white with flowers in spring before the leaves appear. The tart blue-black fruits sweeten after the first frosts.
St John's wortin seasonIn season nowSt John's wortHypericum perforatumYellow inflorescences on dry meadows and forest edges; leaves appear to be pierced with a needle. Blooms from June to August; a traditional herb for tea.
Eurasian beaverIn season nowEurasian beaverCastor fiberThe largest rodent in Europe is returning to the rivers of the Carpathians: its gnawings and dams can be seen in the foothills of Zakarpattia.
European beechEuropean beechFagus sylvaticaA tree with light gray smooth bark that forms the Carpathian primeval forests — a UNESCO World Heritage site. It grows up to a height of about 1400 m.
Yarrowin seasonIn season nowYarrowAchillea millefoliumWhite clusters of small flower heads and feathery leaves on every meadow — from the village to the polonyna. Blooms from June to September.
Common hornbeamCommon hornbeamCarpinus betulusA tree with a ribbed silvery-gray trunk. In the Carpathians, it grows in the foothills and lower parts of the mountains alongside beech and oak.

Based on naturalists’ records nearby (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude, habitat and season. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Trails nearby

All trails
Teplý vrch – SelceHardOne-dayMarkedTeplý vrch SelceElevation profile215–502 m28.3 kmascent 628 m≈ 8 h walkingMária Széchy Trail: Holcková – FiľakovoHardTwo-dayMarkedMária Széchy Trail: Holcková FiľakovoElevation profile191–1 121 m66.2 kmascent 783 mSinec, Iron Table – Rimavské Brezovo – KlinovéEasyOne-dayMarkedSinec, Iron Table Klinovévia Rimavské BrezovoElevation profile270–909 m9.5 kmascent 261 m≈ 3 h walking

Craft nearby

All craft places
Salaš pod Maginhradom: Gemer sheep’s cheese and the Mitrovanie feastCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš pod Maginhradom: Gemer sheep’s cheese and the Mitrovanie feastVeľké Teriakovce11 km from the trailAcross the road rises Maginhrad hill: in the 15th century a castle stood there that served as a Hussite fortress, and the Romantic poet Ján Botto dedicated a ballad to...Čučoriedková záhrada: pick-your-own blueberries and aronia juiceEco farmsČučoriedková záhrada: pick-your-own blueberries and aronia juiceRatkovské Bystré17 km from the trailHere in 2010 the owners’ family planted the first Canadian blueberry bushes on a small plot — and gradually grew them into the Čučoriedková záhrada (Blueberry Garden).Číž spa: iodine-bromine water, baths and summer poolsWater parks & thermal poolsČíž spa: iodine-bromine water, baths and summer poolsČíž24 km from the trailČíž is a spa with natural iodine-bromine water in southern Gemer, in a village in the Rimava basin not far from Rimavská Sobota, at about 170 m.Salaš Zbojská: sheep’s cheese, bryndza and žinčica on the passCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Zbojská: sheep’s cheese, bryndza and žinčica on the passTisovec34 km from the trailThe Zbojská pass lies at about 740 metres in the forests between Brezno and Tisovec, on the edge of the Hron valley and the Muránska planina plateau.Kaltenecker Brewery, Rožňava: Gemer craft beer from the sourceCraft beer & breweriesKaltenecker Brewery, Rožňava: Gemer craft beer from the sourceRožňava37 km from the trailThe modern Kaltenecker brewery was founded in 1997, and from the start it took a different path from the big breweries of the day: instead of one-size-fits-all beer, a...Gemer Craft Fair at Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka below Krásna HôrkaMarkets & fairsGemer Craft Fair at Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka below Krásna HôrkaKrásnohorská Dlhá Lúka39 km from the trailKrásnohorská Dlhá Lúka is a village below Krásna Hôrka castle, a few kilometres from Rožňava. In 2002 the Association of Gemer Craftsmen (Združenie gemerských...