Slodičovský vrch

Slodičovský vrch (Polish Słodyczowski Wierch) is a 1167 m summit on the main ridge of the Spišská Magura in northern Slovakia. It lies above the village of Ždiar, about 15 km north-west of Spišská Belá, in the central part of the range – the Repisko sub-unit. The summit lies on the boundary of the Kežmarok and Poprad Districts of the Prešov Region and extends into the cadastres of Malá Franková and Ždiar. The nearest villages are Ždiar at the southern foot (about 2 km), Malá Franková to the north (3 km), Jezersko to the east (4 km), and further Veľká Franková, Reľov and Lendak.

On the ridge, Slodičovský vrch lies between Magurka (1193 m) and Bukovina (1176 m); further west rise Repisko (1259 m) and Havran (2152 m) in the Belianske Tatras. It is an indistinct, almost flat top that barely stands out from the ridge, but it is the junction of two side ridges. A short ridge runs north, flanked on both sides by the headwaters of the Frankovský potok; a longer ridge with Vršík (990 m) runs south to the Ždiar valley, separating the Mlynárska and Blaščadská valleys. The northern slopes drain via the Frankovský potok to the Osturniansky potok in the Dunajec basin, the southern ones via tributaries of the Biela to the Poprad. The ridge carries the boundary of the buffer zones of the Pieniny and Tatra National Parks.

How to get there / routes

Two marked trails cross at the summit, where an iron cross stands:

• Blue trail along the main ridge of the Spišská Magura (also a cycling route): from Strednica in Ždiar via Magurka to Slodičovský vrch and on via Malá poľana and Smrečiny to the Magurské sedlo – the whole ridge takes about 6:15 h.
• Green trail from Ždiar via Slodičovský vrch, Malá poľana and the junction below Bukovina, past the Jezerské jazero lake to the village of Jezersko – about 2:20 h (2:40 h back).
• Yellow trail via Malá poľana – from the south from Ždiar through the Bachledova valley, from the north from Malá Franková.
• Red trail via neighbouring Magurka – from Ždiar or from Malá Franková.

The nearby Bachledova valley with its lift up to the ridge also makes the ridge easier to reach.

What you can see from the top

The summit is covered with sparse, broken forest. On the north side there are windthrow clearings with a panorama of the Spišská Magura, the Pieniny and the Gorce. Open spots also show the neighbouring Belianske Tatras, the Levoča Hills and many border hills of southern Poland.

Safety, season and rules

The ridge trails run through forest and are easy, but after windstorms they may be blocked by fallen trees. In winter the ridge is deep in snow, so snowshoes or skis are needed. Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS): 18 300 (+421 18 300); general emergency number 112.

Interesting facts

• In Poland the summit is known as Słodyczowski Wierch.
• An iron cross stands at the trail junction on the summit.

Photos: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.