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Sivá Brada, hut – Žehra

Start: Žehra
Range: Levoča Mountains
Hiking routes of the Slovak Carpathians
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8.7 kmLength
313 mAscent
298 mDescent
596 mMax. altitude
419 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 Sivá Brada, hut – Žehra. Has yellow marking (regional route №8768, KST). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Officially marked regional tourist route No. 8768. The marking is yellow, the sign is a horizontal stripe on a white background. Marked and maintained by: KST. Length of the route — 8.7 km. Location: mountain range — Levoča Mountains, Slovakia.

Attention: part of the route has not yet been mapped in OpenStreetMap, so the line on the map has gaps. On the ground, orient yourself by the marking signs.

At a glance

A short route of 8.7 km with 313 m of ascent from Sivá Brada, hut to Žehra. Estimated walking time: about 2.5 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: 8.7 km ÷ 4 = 2.2 h + 313 m ÷ 600 = 0.5 h, about 2.5 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. 0–1.5 kmClimb of 170 m (up to 590 m)
  2. 1.5–2.5 kmGentle ups and downs at 560–590 m
  3. 2.5–3.5 kmDescent of 140 m (down to 435 m)
  4. 3.5–8.5 kmGentle ups and downs at 430–520 m

Steepest kilometre: km 2.5–3.5, a descent of 130 m (≈16%), near Spiš Castle.

Water and overnight stays

A spring near the trail: at km 4.

When to go

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

Getting there

Start: Sivá Brada, hut. This is a one-way route: the finish is 3 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 2.5 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
A spring near the trail: at km 4.

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Rumpálová Well, 435 mkm 4.9 from the start · 180 m off the path · Not verified · 435 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
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.
Common buzzardCommon buzzardButeo buteoThe most numerous bird of prey in Ukraine. It circles over the polonynas and meadows with a mournful 'ki-ya' and hunts for voles.
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.
Norway spruceNorway sprucePicea abiesNorway spruce is the main coniferous tree of the Carpathians: a dark sharp crown, prickly needles, and long cones that hang downwards. It grows up to the forest boundary.

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

Trails nearby

All trails
Spišské Podhradie, square – OľšavicaModerateOne-dayMarkedSpišské Podhradie, square OľšavicaElevation profile432–850 m15.9 kmascent 234 m≈ 4.5 h walkingSpišské Vlachy, square – Slovinky, chapelModerateOne-dayMarkedSpišské Vlachy, square Slovinky, chapelElevation profile377–926 m11 kmascent 606 m≈ 4 h walkingRichnava, stop – SľubicaHardOne-dayMarkedRichnava, stop SľubicaElevation profile352–1 129 m20.5 kmascent 1 420 m≈ 7.5 h walking

Craft nearby

All craft places
Spišský salaš below Spiš Castle: Spiš cooking since 1964Koliby & Hutsul cuisineSpišský salaš below Spiš Castle: Spiš cooking since 1964Spišská Kapitula5.3 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.Farma Kamenica — Family Sheep Farm and Cheese Dairy in ŠarišCheese dairies & pasturesFarma Kamenica — Family Sheep Farm and Cheese Dairy in ŠarišKamenica28 km from the trailKamenica is a village in northern Šariš, in the valley of the Kameničanka stream, at about 483 m above sea level.Štós spa: climatic cure, speleotherapy and poolWater parks & thermal poolsŠtós spa: climatic cure, speleotherapy and poolŠtós29 km from the trailKúpele Štós is a climatic spa in south-eastern Slovakia, in the settlement of Štós-kúpele a few kilometres north of the mining village of Štós, where the Volovské...Thermal Park VrbovWater parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov29 km from the trailThermal Park Vrbov is one of the best-known thermal baths in the Spiš region, on the southern edge of the village of Vrbov, about 6 km (as the crow flies) from...Ranč u Trapera, Podlesok: Horse Rides in the Slovak ParadiseHorse ridingRanč u Trapera, Podlesok: Horse Rides in the Slovak ParadiseHrabušice30 km from the trailA little away from the main tourist bustle, below the forest, stands the family-run Ranč u Trapera, run by the Salaj family.Spišská Pálenica, Stará Ľubovňa: distillery tour and Spiš borovičkaCraft producersSpišská Pálenica, Stará Ľubovňa: distillery tour and Spiš borovičkaStará Ľubovňa36 km from the trailSpiš boasts perhaps the oldest history of distilling in Europe: at the hillfort of Myšia Hôrka near Spišský Štvrtok, part of a distillation vessel from around 1500 BC...