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Prešov – Cemjata mineral spring

Start: Prešov · 5 km
Range: Zemplén Mountains
Hiking routes of the Slovak Carpathians
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12 kmLength
355 mAscent
478 mDescent
502 mMax. altitude
237 mMin. altitude

Trail map

Route, springs and shelters: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · elevation: Copernicus DEM © DLR e.V., © Airbus DS · Data & licences

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About the trail

Route Prešov – Cemjata mineral spring. Has yellow marking (regional route №8701, KST). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Officially marked regional tourist route No. 8701. The marking is yellow, the sign is a horizontal stripe on a white background. Marked and maintained by: KST. Length of the route — 12 km. Location: mountain range — Zemplén, Slovakia.

At a glance

A one-day route of 12 km with 355 m of ascent from Prešov to Cemjata mineral spring. Estimated walking time: about 3.5 h, not counting stops. Difficulty: moderate. Waymarking: yellow.

How we estimate walking time

By Naismith's rule, used by mountain clubs and guidebooks: an average hiker walks 4 km an hour on the flat and needs one more hour for every 600 m of ascent. For this trail: 12 km ÷ 4 = 3 h + 355 m ÷ 600 = 0.6 h, about 3.5 h of walking in total.

  • Breaks, snacks and photos: add 20–30 %.
  • A heavy pack, children, snow, a wet path or windfall add more; a long steep descent also takes time, especially for the knees.
  • The height of the Carpathians (up to 2,655 m) hardly changes the pace — on the ridges wind, fog and weather slow you down.
  • Limits: up to 9 h is one day; 9–13 h is a very long day or two; over 13 h means several days with overnight stays.

Route stages

  1. 0–3 kmGentle ups and downs at 360–460 m
  2. 3–5 kmClimb of 120 m (up to 486 m)
  3. 5–7 kmDescent of 240 m to TSMP Borkút Hut
  4. 7–9 kmClimb of 110 m (up to 365 m)
  5. 9–10 kmDescent of 130 m (down to 239 m)
  6. 10–12 kmGentle ups and downs at 230–260 m

Steepest kilometre: km 6–7, a descent of 160 m (≈16%), near TSMP Borkút Hut.

Water and overnight stays

Springs near the trail: at km 0, 3 and 7.

Huts and shelters near the trail: Kvašná voda Hut (km 3), TSMP Borkút Hut (km 7), Sheriff Hut (km 8).

When to go

The route can be walked most of the year; it is most comfortable from April to October.

Getting there

Start: Prešov. This is a one-way route: the finish is 5 km from the start in a straight line, so plan your way back in advance.

Directions to the start in Google Maps

FAQ

How long does the route take?
Estimated walking time: about 3.5 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
Springs near the trail: at km 0, 3 and 7.
Where can I stay overnight?
Huts and shelters near the trail: Kvašná voda Hut (km 3), TSMP Borkút Hut (km 7), Sheriff Hut (km 8).

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Kyselka Captured Spring, 360 mkm 0.1 from the start · 40 m off the path · Not verified · 360 m
  2. Kvašná voda Hutkm 3.1 from the start · 60 m off the path · Not verified · 360 m
  3. Kvašna voda Springkm 3.2 from the start · Not verified · 343 m
  4. TSMP Borkút Hutkm 6.9 from the start · Not verified · 277 m
  5. Popík Springkm 7.2 from the start · Not verified · 255 m
  6. Sheriff Hutkm 7.6 from the start · 110 m off the path · Not verified · 236 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

Walk this route in 3DReal terrain, satellite map, Carpathian forests Play

Comments and trail condition

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Wildlife along the route

All
Yarrowin seasonIn season nowYarrowAchillea millefoliumWhite clusters of small flower heads and feathery leaves on every meadow — from the village to the polonyna. Blooms from June to September.
Eurasian jayIn season nowEurasian jayGarrulus glandariusA colorful forest bird with a blue 'mirror' on its wing. Its creaky call is the first to warn the forest about a human.
Common ravenCommon ravenCorvus coraxThe largest passerine bird, whose deep 'caw-caw' echoes over the polonynas and peaks of the Carpathians.
European beechEuropean beechFagus sylvaticaA tree with light gray smooth bark that forms the Carpathian primeval forests — a UNESCO World Heritage site. It grows up to a height of about 1400 m.
Pedunculate oakPedunculate oakQuercus roburA mighty, long-lived tree of the foothills and lowlands. Acorns sit on long stalks, and the leaves are almost without petioles.
Castor bean tickCastor bean tickIxodes ricinusThe most common tick in the Carpathians, a carrier of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis. How to protect yourself and what to do after a bite.

Based on naturalists’ records nearby (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude, habitat and season. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Trails nearby

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Craft nearby

All craft places
Farma Kamenica — Family Sheep Farm and Cheese Dairy in ŠarišCheese dairies & pasturesFarma Kamenica — Family Sheep Farm and Cheese Dairy in ŠarišKamenica29 km from the trailKamenica is a village in northern Šariš, in the valley of the Kameničanka stream, at about 483 m above sea level.ÚĽUV Craft Centre Košice: craft workshops and folk-art shopCrafts & workshopsÚĽUV Craft Centre Košice: craft workshops and folk-art shopBaška29 km from the trailÚĽUV (Ústredie ľudovej umeleckej výroby, the Centre for Folk Art Production) is a state institution that has looked after Slovak folk crafts since 1945: it keeps a...Macák Pottery on Košice’s Craft Lane: ceramics and coursesCrafts & workshopsMacák Pottery on Košice’s Craft Lane: ceramics and coursesHrašovík30 km from the trailHrnčiarska Street in Košice old town is known as the "Craft Lane" (Ulička remesiel): craftspeople work in small houses below the walls of the former town fortifications.Spišský salaš below Spiš Castle: Spiš cooking since 1964Koliby & Hutsul cuisineSpišský salaš below Spiš Castle: Spiš cooking since 1964Spišská Kapitula32 km from the trailBetween Spiš Castle and Spišská Kapitula, at the edge of the plain below the travertine mound of Sivá brada, stands the wooden Spišský salaš.Herrenwald craft brewery, Malá Ida: tour with the brewerCraft beer & breweriesHerrenwald craft brewery, Malá Ida: tour with the brewerMalá Ida34 km from the trailThe Herrenwald brewery stands in its Panský les ("Lords’ Wood") quarter, from whose German name it takes its own.Bardejovské Kúpele: Wellness Spa Ozón and summer poolWater parks & thermal poolsBardejovské Kúpele: Wellness Spa Ozón and summer poolBardejov39 km from the trailBardejovské Kúpele is one of Slovakia’s oldest spas, a part of the town of Bardejov about 5 km from its centre, in a valley under the Magura massif that shelters it...