Jánošík's Holes (Jánošíkove diery)

Gorges below Rozsutec

Jánošíkove diery (Jánošík’s Holes), or simply Diery, is a system of narrow gorges and canyons in the Krivánska Malá Fatra near the village of Terchová, birthplace of the legendary outlaw Juraj Jánošík. The gorges lie in the Rozsutec National Nature Reserve below the 1,610 m peak of the same name. They were carved by the Hlboký potok stream and its tributaries in limestone and dolomite, so there are more than twenty waterfalls, potholes and bizarre rock formations, while the damp, cool air of the gorges shelters rare plants and animals. The narrow rock corridors stay cool even on hot days, and in spring the ice melts slowly, so the upper sections can remain impassable for several months.

The Diery have three parts. The Lower Holes (Dolné diery) are the most visited section, between Biely Potok and Podžiar, roughly from 640 to 750 m above sea level. The New Holes (Nové diery) are a side branch along a smaller stream with several small waterfalls and the largest number of footbridges. The Upper Holes (Horné diery) lie between Veľký and Malý Rozsutec: the most demanding and, many say, the most beautiful part, with tall waterfalls and long metal ladders (some 12–15 m high). Since 2013 the civic association Diery has been gradually replacing the old rusty structures with new wooden and galvanised footbridges and ladders.

What to see

• The Diery nature trail – a 4.9 km loop with 290 m of ascent, about 2.5 hours, eight stops with information boards; opened in 1974 and renewed in 2000.
• The waterfalls of the Upper Holes, climbed on ladders right beside the falling water.
• Chains and footbridges above the stream in the narrow rock corridors of the New Holes.
• Views of Veľký Rozsutec from the Podžiar meadow.

Practical information

The most convenient start is the car park above Hotel Diery in the Biely Potok part of Terchová; another starting point is the hamlet of Štefanová in the Vrátna valley. From Biely Potok the blue trail reaches the Ostrvné junction in 25 minutes; from there it is about 25 minutes more through the Lower Holes to Podžiar, or about 35 minutes on the harder variant through the New Holes. From Podžiar a blue trail climbs through the Upper Holes to the Medzirozsutce saddle (about 1,200 m). Seeing all the sections takes 4–5 hours.

Entry is free and there are no tickets, but Malá Fatra National Park rules apply: stay on marked trails, from 16 April to 31 October between 6:00 and 21:00 and in winter between 7:00 and 18:00, and keep dogs on a lead. The route suits school-age children, but you need sturdy shoes with a good grip and care: ladders and logs are wet and slippery. The Upper Holes are closed after heavy rain and when frozen; in winter the Upper and New Holes should only be walked with a guide and crampons, while the Lower Holes are relatively safe. From 1 March to 15 June the red trail over the summit of Veľký Rozsutec is closed. Weekends are busy – come on a weekday or early in the morning.

Nearby

Very close is Vrátna dolina with its cable car to Chleb and the Tiesňavy gorge. In Terchová itself stands the Jánošík statue, and beyond the ridge is the Šútovo waterfall.

Official website: slovakia.travel

Photos: Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Vegetator, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.