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Zlatovce – Veľká Skalka

Start: Trenčín
Range: Strážov Mountains
Hiking routes of the Slovak Carpathians
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6.6 kmLength
147 mAscent
121 mDescent
358 mMax. altitude
210 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 Zlatovce – Veľká Skalka. Has yellow marking (regional route №8539, KST). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Officially marked regional tourist route No. 8539. The marking is yellow, the sign is a horizontal stripe on a white background. Marked and maintained by: KST. Length of the route — 6.6 km. Location: mountain range — Strazovske Mountains, Slovakia.

At a glance

A short route of 6.6 km with 147 m of ascent from Zlatovce to Veľká Skalka. Estimated walking time: about 2 h, not counting stops. Difficulty: easy. 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: 6.6 km ÷ 4 = 1.7 h + 147 m ÷ 600 = 0.2 h, about 2 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. 0–4.5 kmGentle ups and downs at 210–220 m
  2. 4.5–6 kmClimb of 130 m (up to 351 m)
  3. 6–6.5 kmDescent of 110 m to Veľká Skalka

Steepest kilometre: km 4.5–5.5, a climb of 140 m (≈14%).

Water and overnight stays

Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 1 l).

When to go

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

Getting there

Start: Zlatovce. This is a one-way route: the finish is 4 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 2 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 1 l).
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
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.
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.
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.
European moleEuropean moleTalpa europaeaA subterranean hunter of earthworms, indicated by mounds of soil — molehills. It does not hibernate and digs tunnels all year round.
MallardIn season nowMallardAnas platyrhynchosThe most common wild duck: the male with a green head and a white 'collar'. It lives in the rivers, lakes, and ponds of the Carpathian valleys.
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
Hrad Devín, parking – Horná Poruba, U BrdárovHardMulti-dayMarkedHrad Devín, parking Horná Poruba, U BrdárovElevation profile146–965 m190.1 kmascent 7 200 mZlatovce – Žitková ReservoirModerateOne-dayMarkedZlatovce Žitková ReservoirElevation profile210–613 m20.2 kmascent 633 m≈ 6 h walkingZlatovce station – Nad Juríkovcami (saddle)EasyOne-dayMarkedZlatovce station Nad Juríkovcami (saddle)Elevation profile209–508 m7.5 kmascent 299 m≈ 2.5 h walking

Craft nearby

All craft places
Trenčianske Teplice: the Hammam and sulphur thermal bathsWater parks & thermal poolsTrenčianske Teplice: the Hammam and sulphur thermal bathsTrenčianske Teplice11 km from the trailTrenčianske Teplice is one of Slovakia's oldest spas, squeezed into a narrow wooded valley of the Strážov Mountains not far from Trenčín.Salaš Beckov: 100% sheep’s cheese and bryndza dumplingsCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Beckov: 100% sheep’s cheese and bryndza dumplingsBeckov17 km from the trailA sheep salaš beside one of the Váh valley’s finest castles Beckov is a village in the Váh valley between Nové Mesto nad Váhom and Trenčín, overlooked by the ruins of...Salaš Pružina: 100% sheep’s bryndza in the Strážov HillsCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Pružina: 100% sheep’s bryndza in the Strážov HillsPružina36 km from the trailPružina is a village in a picturesque valley of the Strážov Hills (Strážovské vrchy) west of Považská Bystrica.Nimnica: a mineral-water spa above the Nosice reservoirWater parks & thermal poolsNimnica: a mineral-water spa above the Nosice reservoirNimnica36 km from the trailNimnica is one of Slovakia's youngest spas, in the Váh valley between Púchov and Považská Bystrica. Its spa houses stand at about 300 m on a wooded spur of the...Piešťany: the Spa Island, sulphur mud and thermal bathsWater parks & thermal poolsPiešťany: the Spa Island, sulphur mud and thermal bathsPiešťany37 km from the trailPiešťany is Slovakia's best-known spa, spread out in the Váh valley between the Považský Inovec and the Little Carpathians.Salaš Orlové near Považská Bystrica: cheese, bryndza, žinčicaCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Orlové near Považská Bystrica: cheese, bryndza, žinčicaPovažská Bystrica40 km from the trailOrlové is a part of the town of Považská Bystrica on the left bank of the Váh, at the foot of hills that rise into the Strážov Hills.