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Zvolen – Banská Bystrica

Start: Zvolen
Range: Slovak Central Mountains
Hiking routes of the Slovak Carpathians
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27 kmLength
653 mAscent
588 mDescent
704 mMax. altitude
294 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 Zvolen – Banská Bystrica. Has blue marking (regional route №2651, KST). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Officially marked regional tourist route No. 2651. The marking is blue, the sign is a horizontal stripe on a white background. Marked and maintained by: KST. Length of the route — 27 km. Location: mountain range — Central Slovakian Mountains, Slovakia.

At a glance

A one-day route of 27 km with 653 m of ascent from Zvolen to Banská Bystrica. Estimated walking time: about 8 h, not counting stops. Difficulty: hard. Waymarking: blue.

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: 27 km ÷ 4 = 6.8 h + 653 m ÷ 600 = 1.1 h, about 8 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. 0–15 kmGentle ups and downs at 290–460 m
  2. 15–18 kmClimb of 140 m (up to 544 m)
  3. 18–20 kmGentle ups and downs at 500–550 m
  4. 20–21 kmClimb of 190 m (up to 694 m)
  5. 21–27 kmDescent of 320 m to Banská Bystrica

Steepest kilometre: km 20–21, a climb of 150 m (≈15%).

Water and overnight stays

A spring near the trail: at km 12. There are no springs between km 12 and 27 — carry at least 2.5 l of water.

When to go

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

Getting there

Start: Zvolen. This is a one-way route: the finish is 17 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 8 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
A spring near the trail: at km 12. There are no springs between km 12 and 27 — carry at least 2.5 l of water.

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Medokýš Spring, 338 mkm 12 from the start · Not verified · 338 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

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

Comments and trail condition

Travellers’ experience: reports, tips, questions.

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Wildlife along the route

All
St John's wortin seasonIn season nowSt John's wortHypericum perforatumYellow inflorescences on dry meadows and forest edges; leaves appear to be pierced with a needle. Blooms from June to August; a traditional herb for tea.
Blackthornfruit nowEdibleBlackthornPrunus spinosaA spiny bush that turns white with flowers in spring before the leaves appear. The tart blue-black fruits sweeten after the first frosts.
Wild boarWild boarSus scrofaWild boar is a common inhabitant of the Carpathian forests. A female with piglets can be dangerous: do not approach.
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.
Great titIn season nowGreat titParus majorThe largest and most common tit: black head, white cheeks, yellow belly with a black stripe. It lives in the Carpathians all year round.
Great spotted woodpeckerIn season nowGreat spotted woodpeckerDendrocopos majorA black-and-white woodpecker with a red undertail. In spring, its drumming is the loudest sound in the forest.

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

Trails nearby

All trails
Sliač – HrončekHardTwo-dayMarkedSliač HrončekElevation profile301–1 138 m43.4 kmascent 1 362 m≈ 13 h walkingBanská Bystrica – PodrybaEasyOne-dayMarkedBanská Bystrica PodrybaElevation profile353–569 m6.1 kmascent 398 m≈ 2 h walkingBanská Bystrica – UrpínEasyOne-dayMarkedBanská Bystrica UrpínElevation profile361–510 m4.8 kmascent 278 m≈ 1.5 h walking

Craft nearby

All craft places
Kováčová: thermal spa and Holidaypark aquapark near ZvolenWater parks & thermal poolsKováčová: thermal spa and Holidaypark aquapark near ZvolenKováčová4.1 km from the trailKováčová is a spa village on the south-western edge of the Zvolen Basin, 4 km west of Zvolen at the foot of the Kremnica Mountains; the village centre lies at 303 m.Sliač spa: warm carbonated water and a thermal swimming areaWater parks & thermal poolsSliač spa: warm carbonated water and a thermal swimming areaSliač4.3 km from the trailSliač is a spa in the Zvolen Basin above the Hron valley, between Zvolen and Banská Bystrica. The spa quarter with its 46-hectare park lies on a slope above the former...Zvolenská Slatina bryndza dairy: the oldest, since 1797Cheese dairies & pasturesZvolenská Slatina bryndza dairy: the oldest, since 1797Zvolenská Slatina9.5 km from the trailBryndza with more than 220 years behind it Zvolenská Slatina is a large village in the Podpoľanie region, a few kilometres from Zvolen, at the foot of the volcanic...Urpiner brewery in Banská Bystrica: tour and beer from the tankCraft beer & breweriesUrpiner brewery in Banská Bystrica: tour and beer from the tankBanská Bystrica14 km from the trailBanská Bystrica is the centre of Central Slovakia and grew rich on copper mining in the 14th–16th centuries.ÚĽUV Banská Bystrica: folk-craft shop and craft schoolCraft shopsÚĽUV Banská Bystrica: folk-craft shop and craft schoolBanská Bystrica17 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...Sklené Teplice: Parenica cave steam bath and thermal bathsWater parks & thermal poolsSklené Teplice: Parenica cave steam bath and thermal bathsSklené Teplice20 km from the trailSklené Teplice is a small spa in a wooded valley of the Štiavnické vrchy hills, a few kilometres from the Hron valley and about 8 km from Banská Štiavnica.