Čierna hora

Čierna hora ("Black Mountain") is a 1094 m summit in the Choč Mountains (Chočské vrchy) in northern Slovakia. It lies above the village of Veľké Borové, about 11 km north-west of Liptovský Mikuláš, in the north-eastern part of the range – the Prosečné sub-unit. It belongs to the Liptovský Mikuláš District of the Žilina Region and extends into the cadastres of Veľké Borové and Kvačany. The nearest villages are Veľké Borové at the north-western foot (about 1.4 km), Kvačany (2.6 km), Liptovské Matiašovce and Malé Borové (over 4 km); further away lie Huty, Liptovská Sielnica, Prosiek and Malatiná.

Čierna hora is the eastern end of the Prosečné group: it stands on a ridge running north-east from Prosečné (1372 m), from which it is separated by the Ostruhy (Ostruky, about 1085 m) saddle. Together with Hrádková (1206 m) it forms the western slopes of the Kvačianska valley, while its northern and north-western slopes frame the Borovianka valley. Its farthest north-eastern slopes fall to the Oblazy meadow with historic water mills that still work. Around it lie Machy, Kopec, Polianky and Súšava to the north, Diel and Heliaš to the west, Prosečné and Hrádková to the south, and Babky (1566 m), Ostrý vrch and Holica to the east. The Kvačianka drains the east and its tributary the Borovianka the north, both in the Váh basin.

How to get there / routes

A green-marked trail traverses the summit:

• from the north – from Veľké Borové via the Dolina Borovianky junction;
• from the west – from the Svorad junction in the Prosiecka valley via Prosečné (1372 m).

The whole section from the Borovianka valley junction over Čierna hora and Prosečné to Svorad takes about 3 h (2:50 h back).

What you can see from the top

Sparse forest covers the summit, so views are limited. From open spots you can see the neighbouring Choč peaks, the Western Tatras, the Skorušina Mountains, the Orava Highlands, the Orava Magura, the Lesser Fatra and the Low Tatras.

Nature and history

The mountain is completely forested, but the Kvačianka and Borovianka streams have steeply undercut the lower slopes, creating outcrops, crags and rock towers; a large rock tower also stands on the ridge. Much of the slopes belongs to the Kvačianska dolina nature reserve, whose boundary runs along the ridge. This national nature reserve in a karst valley was declared in 1967 (last amended in 1993); it covers 462 ha and protects the Kvačianka gorge. The two wooden mills at Oblazy, where the Kvačianka meets the Borovianka and the Ráztocký stream, are technical monuments.

Safety, season and rules

The trail runs through forest; the crags above the valleys have steep drops – do not leave the marked path. In the reserve stay on marked trails. In winter snowshoes are needed. Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS): 18 300 (+421 18 300); general emergency number 112.

Interesting facts

• Below the mountain, on the Oblazy meadow, old water mills are still at work.
• The boundary of the Kvačianska dolina reserve runs along the ridge of Čierna hora.

Photos: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.