Skok Waterfall

Skok (Vodopád Skok) is one of the most beautiful waterfalls of the Slovak Tatras. Here the Mlynica stream drops over a rock step that blocks the middle part of the Mlynická dolina valley above Štrbské Pleso. The water falls 25–30 m (sources differ), and the upper edge of the step lies at about 1,789 m. The name "skok" means waterfall in Slovak and in the Podhale dialect, and a rock step in South Slavic languages.

Skok changes a lot. It is most impressive at the start of the Tatra summer, in June, when on average about 880 litres of water per second pass over it, compared with only about 54 l/s in March. During the great flood of 1958 about 30,000 litres per second rushed down, rolling large stones. When the water is high, the stream breaks at the upper edge of the step and flies forward like a veil — hence the German name Schleierwasserfall ("veil waterfall").

What to see and do

• The waterfall itself — from the area at its foot you can see the water sliding down smooth granite slabs.
• Two tarns: Pleso pod Skokom below the step and Pleso nad Skokom above it, which feeds the waterfall.
• Mlynická dolina — a wild high valley with dwarf pine, granite boulders and views of the peaks above Štrbské Pleso. It is a national nature reserve.
• For experienced hikers: the yellow trail continues past the waterfall up to the Bystrá lávka saddle and on into the Furkotská valley. The steepest exposed spots by the waterfall are secured with chains, and the granite slabs are slippery.

Practical information

Getting there. The starting point is the resort of Štrbské Pleso, reached from Poprad by the Tatra Electric Railway and from Štrba by the rack railway. From Štrbské Pleso a yellow trail leads along the floor of Mlynická dolina to the waterfall: about 1 h 30 min up and 1 h down. It is a proper mountain walk on a rocky path with some climbing, so you need good footwear and reasonable stamina; it is fine for school-age children used to walking, but not for pushchairs.

TANAP rules. Under the Tatra National Park visitor regulation, the trail from the Skok waterfall to the Bystrá lávka saddle is closed from 1 November to 31 May — so in winter and spring you cannot go above the waterfall. The trail from Štrbské Pleso to the waterfall is not on that list, but in winter there is snow in the valley and avalanches are possible, so check the Mountain Rescue Service information before setting out. Hiking is allowed only in daylight, and leaving marked trails is prohibited. Dogs are banned in some zones of the park — check the boards at the trailhead.

When to go. Best from June to September; in June the waterfall carries the most water. The park rules set no fee for the trail.

Nearby

• Štrbské pleso — the emblematic lake of the Slovak Tatras at the start of the route.
• Popradské pleso and the Symbolic Cemetery — east along the Tatranská magistrála.
• Veľké Hincovo pleso — the largest and deepest tarn of the Slovak Tatras.
• Kmeťov waterfall in the Kôprová valley.

Official website: tanap.sk

Photos: Topperis, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Michal Jakubský, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Rafał Kozubek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Koco C., CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Ing.Mgr.Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.