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Vlkanová – Horná Mičiná

Start: Vlkanová
Range: Kremnica Mountains
Hiking routes of the Slovak Carpathians
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8.6 kmLength
201 mAscent
89 mDescent
509 mMax. altitude
318 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 Vlkanová – Horná Mičiná. Has yellow marking (regional route №8453, KST). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Officially marked regional tourist route No. 8453. The marking is yellow, the sign is a horizontal stripe on a white background. Marked and maintained by: KST. Length of the route — 8.6 km. Location: mountain range — Kremnické hory, Slovakia.

At a glance

A short route of 8.6 km with 201 m of ascent from Vlkanová to Horná Mičiná. 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: 8.6 km ÷ 4 = 2.2 h + 201 m ÷ 600 = 0.3 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. 0–4 kmGentle ups and downs at 310–400 m
  2. 4–6.5 kmClimb of 110 m (up to 500 m)
  3. 6.5–8.5 kmGentle ups and downs at 430–510 m

Water and overnight stays

A spring near the trail: at km 8.5. There are no springs between km 0 and 8.5 — carry at least 1.5 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: Vlkanová. This is a one-way route: the finish is 6 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 8.5. There are no springs between km 0 and 8.5 — carry at least 1.5 l of water.

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Spring below Stráž (west slope)km 8.6 from the start · 160 m off the path · Not verified · 432 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.
Tinder fungusin seasonIn season nowTinder fungusFomes fomentariusGray 'hoof-shaped' fungus on the trunks of beeches and birches. Inedible, but it was once used to make tinder for fire.
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.
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.

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

Trails nearby

All trails
Hrochoť – Horná MičináModerateOne-dayMarkedHrochoť Horná MičináElevation profile421–642 m12.8 kmascent 432 m≈ 4 h walkingZvolen – Banská BystricaHardOne-dayMarkedZvolen Banská BystricaElevation profile294–704 m27 kmascent 653 m≈ 8 h walkingDolná Mičiná – PoníkyEasyOne-dayMarkedDolná Mičiná PoníkyElevation profile387–659 m8.5 kmascent 234 m≈ 2.5 h walking

Craft nearby

All craft places
Urpiner brewery in Banská Bystrica: tour and beer from the tankCraft beer & breweriesUrpiner brewery in Banská Bystrica: tour and beer from the tankBanská Bystrica4.3 km from the trailBanská Bystrica is the centre of Central Slovakia and grew rich on copper mining in the 14th–16th centuries.Sliač spa: warm carbonated water and a thermal swimming areaWater parks & thermal poolsSliač spa: warm carbonated water and a thermal swimming areaSliač6.5 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...Kováčová: thermal spa and Holidaypark aquapark near ZvolenWater parks & thermal poolsKováčová: thermal spa and Holidaypark aquapark near ZvolenKováčová7.4 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.ÚĽUV Banská Bystrica: folk-craft shop and craft schoolCraft shopsÚĽUV Banská Bystrica: folk-craft shop and craft schoolBanská Bystrica7.4 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...Zvolenská Slatina bryndza dairy: the oldest, since 1797Cheese dairies & pasturesZvolenská Slatina bryndza dairy: the oldest, since 1797Zvolenská Slatina15 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...Kremnica gingerbread: the Haurík family bakery since 1922Craft producersKremnica gingerbread: the Haurík family bakery since 1922Kremnica17 km from the trailKremnica is an old mining town in the Kremnica Mountains where coins have been struck for more than six centuries.