Kohút

Kohút (Slovak for "rooster"; Hungarian Kakas) is the second-highest peak of the Stolica Mountains (Stolické vrchy), part of the Slovak Ore Mountains, at 1409 m. Only Stolica (1476 m), about 5 km to the north-east, is higher. Kohút lies in the northern, highest part of the range, on the main ridge that runs south-west via Faltenov vrch (1338 m). It rises above the village of Muránska Zdychava, about 6 km north-east of the town of Revúca. The summit carries the border between the Banská Bystrica and Košice Regions and the Revúca and Rožňava Districts, and extends into the cadastres of Revúca and Čierna Lehota. Around it lie Muránska Zdychava to the west (about 3 km), Revúčka and Revúca to the south-west, Mokrá Lúka, Revúcka Lehota, Chyžné and Magnezitovce to the south, Čierna Lehota and Slavošovce to the east, Rejdová to the north-east and Muránska Huta to the north-west.

A side ridge runs south-south-west from the summit and ends in the broad, branching top of Dachov diel (933 m). Indistinct at first, it later forms a clear ridge with rock outcrops. About 1 km from the main summit lies the flattening of Malý Kohút (1192 m), crossed by broad forest roads and hiking trails.

How to get there / routes

The summit can be reached from all sides:

• Green trail – the Pavol Jozef Šafárik Trail: from the north from Stolica via Faltenovo sedlo, from the south from Jelšava via sedlo Kohúta; another green trail leads from the village of Chyžné via sedlo Kohúta.
• Blue trail: from the south-west from Revúca via sedlo Kohúta; from Revúčka via the junction by the Parajka hut; from the east from Čierna Lehota via Faltenovo sedlo.
• Red trail: from Muránska Zdychava via Faltenovo sedlo, then green.

What you can see from the top

The summit is covered with sparse forest through which part of the surroundings can be seen. In good conditions you can see many peaks of the Stolica Mountains, the Volovské vrchy, the Revúca Highlands, the Spiš-Gemer Karst, the Low Tatras and part of the High Tatras. The best view is from Klepaná skala on the southern spur, less than 100 m below Malý Kohút: this rock step looks south, west and north-west towards Tŕstie, Klenovský Vepor, Fabova hoľa and the rocky southern slopes of the Muránska planina plateau, dominated by Kľak. It has a metal Slovak double cross and a wooden shelter with a table and bench.

Nature and history

Kohút is completely forested. Slightly below the summit on the southern slopes there used to be a large mountain pasture, now overgrown with young forest. The rare annual stonecrop (Sedum annuum) grows in the massif. The western slopes drain via the Pstružný and Zdychavský streams to the Zdychava, the eastern ones via the Jakuška and Lazárka to the Štítnik river, all in the Slaná basin. The summit is part of the Stolica protected area.

Safety, season and rules

The routes to Kohút are long and wooded, and there are no services on the summit – carry water, food and a map or navigation. After windstorms the paths may be blocked by fallen trees. In winter the forest is deep in snow, so snowshoes or skis are needed. In the protected area stay on marked trails. Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS): 18 300 (+421 18 300); general emergency number 112.

Interesting facts

• The same green Pavol Jozef Šafárik Trail continues via Faltenovo sedlo to the highest peak of the range, Stolica (1476 m).
• The mountain's name means "rooster" in both Slovak and Hungarian.
• Klepaná skala with its double cross is the best viewpoint of the massif.

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