Háj waterfalls in the Slovak Karst

The Háj waterfalls (Hájske vodopády, Hungarian Áji vízesések) are a cascade of travertine waterfalls in the Háj valley in the Slovak Karst National Park (Slovenský kras), close to the Hungarian border. They lie between the villages of Háj (Hungarian Áj) and Hačava in the Košice-okolie district. The Háj valley with its karst gorge runs for about 6.5 km and separates the two easternmost plateaus of the Slovak Karst — the Zádiel plateau and the Jasov plateau. The Háj stream, about 14 km long, rises below Jelení vrch (947 m) and flows into the Turňa stream; over a section with a height difference of about 300 m it forms rapids and a system of ten waterfalls from 1 to 7 m high.

According to Hungarian Wikipedia, the largest of them (from the bottom up) are: the Lower fall (about 5 m, 329 m above sea level), the Big fall (about 7 m, 373 m), the Middle fall (5.9 m, 387 m) and the Upper fall (5.3 m, 396 m); between them are several smaller ones, including the Emerald fall. The travertine steps are partly man-made: small travertine quarries and stone pits once operated in the valley. The narrowest point of the valley is the Devil’s Bridge (Hungarian Ördöghíd): rocks 100–150 m high close in on a passage just 10 m wide, widened by blasting for the road to Hačava, which Italian soldier-labourers built in 1912. Thanks to the inversion of vegetation zones, rare plants grow on the cool valley floor, and the stream, fed by karst springs, supplies the village of Háj with drinking water. Slovak Wikipedia lists several separate falls in the Háj valley — the Háj fall above the bridge and the Big, Middle and Upper Háj falls.

What to see and do

• The Big Háj waterfall (sign No. 2 on the road) — the highest, with a shelter, benches and fireplaces beside it.
• The Middle and Upper falls (signs No. 3 and 4) — the Upper one can only be seen from the road, from under the bridge.
• In winter the falls often freeze into ice walls; in summer it is cool in the shade of the trees by the stream. The amount of water depends on rainfall.

Getting there

The village of Háj lies near the town of Turňa nad Bodvou, where a side road branches off the I/16 Zvolen – Rožňava – Košice road; the nearest railway station is also in Turňa. From the village, the yellow trail and a red cycle route lead up the valley to Hačava on the asphalt road (route Turňa nad Bodvou, station – Osadník). It is 15–20 minutes to the first trail sign «Hájske vodopády» (360 m); a footpath runs along the stream parallel to the road, by which you can reach the Big waterfall in 15–20 minutes from the last houses. There is free parking behind the village office; in the valley itself there is a small lay-by between waterfall signs No. 1 and No. 2 and room to stop at the Devil’s Bridge (stopping at sign No. 1 is prohibited). It is an easy walk for families with children, but the path by the stream is narrow and slippery in places. Another approach is the route Drienovec, stop – Háj.

Season and safety

The waterfalls are accessible all year and entry is free. They lie in the Slovak Karst National Park: protect the vegetation, do not pollute the stream or disturb animals, and light fires only in designated places. Cars use the road through the valley — walk on the path along the stream. In winter icy rocks are dangerous. Mountain Rescue Service — 18 300, general emergency number — 112. As of October 2026.

Nearby

Routes to Jasov and the Zádiel valley cross the valley and the neighbouring plateaus — Turňa nad Bodvou, station – Jasov; further south, along the Hungarian border, runs the route Jaskyňa Domica – Dvorníky-Zádiel, stop.

Photos: Patrik Kunec, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; PeterWiki56, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Stepan Hasek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Pavouk, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jan Starec, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.