Vajskovský vodopád (Vajskovský Waterfall)

Vajskovský vodopád is a cascading waterfall in the upper part of the Vajskovská dolina on the southern side of the Low Tatras, within the Low Tatras National Park (NAPANT) and the Skalka national nature reserve. The valley, about 9 km long, runs from north to south from the main ridge of the Ďumbierske Tatry: it begins below Krížske sedlo (1,774.8 m) between the peaks of Kotliská (1,937 m) and Poľana (1,890 m) and opens into the Hron valley near the Črmné forester's lodge, north of the village of Dolná Lehota, to whose cadastral area it belongs.

The waterfall is formed by the Vajskovský potok. According to the Polish Wikipedia it is a system of successive cascades with a total height of about 9 m: the water tumbles over a jumble of huge boulders – remnants of post-glacial deposits from the younger Pleistocene that fill the valley floor. The fall lies at about 1,300 m, near the upper tree line, and is thickly overgrown with shrubs and tall herbs. It is not a sheer wall of water but a picturesque chain of steps among rocks – it looks best during snowmelt and after rain.

The Vajskovská dolina is considered one of the most beautiful valleys of the Low Tatras. It has been declared a quiet zone; lighting fires, camping and picking forest fruits are banned here, all for the sake of nature protection. This valley is where the first chamois in the Low Tatras, brought from the High Tatras, were released into the wild.

What to see and do

• The cascades of the waterfall with several steps – up close you can see the stream rolling over enormous boulders.
• A long walk through a quiet valley along the stream: spruce forests, glades and, higher up, views of the Ďumbierske Tatry ridge.
• Bike + hike. Cycle route no. 8599 runs up the valley and ends at the Pálenica junction; from there you continue to the fall on foot only.

How to get there

A green hiking trail leads to the fall from Dolná Lehota: Dolná lehota – Vajskovský vodopád, about 13.5 km, roughly 4 h 20 min uphill according to the Polish Wikipedia. The Slovak Hiking Club (KST) signpost by the fall (1,260 m) gives the times downhill: to Pálenica 0:45, to Črmné 2:05, to Dolná Lehota 3:20. The trail ends at the waterfall: the former continuation to Krížske sedlo is closed for nature protection (until the 1980s the markings led all the way to the ridge). So it is a long but technically easy forest walk, returning the same way; for families with children it is better to cycle to Pálenica and walk the last section. Driving on the national park's forest roads is prohibited.

Season and safety

The best time is from late spring to autumn. Under NAPANT rules (park administration website, as of October 2026) you may walk the trails in the park only between one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset; dogs must be on a lead and muzzled; leaving marked trails is prohibited. This green trail is not among the NAPANT sections closed seasonally (1 October – 30 June). In winter the valley is snowbound and it is a long way from Dolná Lehota: plan for daylight. Mountain Rescue Service HZS: 18 300; general emergency number: 112. Entry to the national park is free.

Nearby

From Črmné starts the route Črmné – Kotliská (partly closed seasonally). On the other side of the ridge, in the Demänovská valley, are the Demänovská Cave of Liberty and the Demänovská Ice Cave.

Official website: napant.sk

Photos: Pe3kZA, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.