Závojový waterfall in Sokolia dolina

The Závojový waterfall (Závojový vodopád) is the highest waterfall in the Slovak Paradise National Park: 75 m according to Slovak and Polish Wikipedia, 78 m according to the park’s tourist portal, which calls it the second highest in Slovakia. The name means «veil waterfall»: thin streams spread over the rock face like a bridal veil. It lies in Sokolia dolina (Falcon Valley) — a deep, winding gorge cut into the Glac plateau that opens into the valley of the Biely potok near Tomášovská Belá. The mouth of the gorge is at 569 m and its end at about 1,000 m; the marked passage is 2.5 km long with 437 m of ascent. It is one of the steepest and most exposed gorges in the park.

The whole valley belongs to the Kyseľ reserve — the largest within the national park (949.97 ha), with the highest, fifth level of protection. Besides Závojový there are the Bočný (Side, 8 m), Skalný (Rock, 3.5 m) and Vyšný (Upper, 15.5 m) waterfalls. Sokolia dolina was among the last gorges opened to hikers: it was first explored in April 1910 by two groups led by Alexander Mervay (with L. Rokfalussy) — one from Glac, the other from the Hornád gorge. The first winter crossing took place in January 1912, and the trail was marked in 1913 (Polish Wikipedia gives 1911). For a long time the path bypassed the Závojový waterfall; only in 1979–1981 did the Mountain Service rescuers install metal ladders and footbridges beside it, making the passage safer and gentler on nature.

Waterfalls and what to see

• The Skalný waterfall — about 45 minutes from the entrance, immediately followed by Závojový.
• The Závojový waterfall — about 80 m of ladders, footbridges and rungs have been built beside it; the ladders take you up a wall about 100 m high next to the falling water.
• The Vyšný waterfall — the last in the chain; at the end of the valley there is a wooden shelter for a rest.

In summer droughts the streams can be thin; the falls look most impressive in spring and after rain. The gorge lies almost in the centre of the Slovak Paradise, so there are fewer visitors than in Suchá Belá.

Getting there

Several approaches lead to the mouth of Sokolia dolina (according to the park portal): the easiest is from Čingov via the mouths of Lesnica, Biely potok and Kyseľ, about 1 h 45 min; from Podlesok via Kláštorisko about 2 h 20 min; from Letanovce via Letanovský mlyn and Kláštorisko about 2 hours. The car parks in Podlesok and Čingov are paid. The yellow trail Sokolia dolina, ústie – Sokolia dolina, záver leads through the gorge, upstream only, in about 2 hours; at high water or in bad weather it takes longer, as in places the path follows the stream bed. The shortest way back to Podlesok: Pod Biskupskými chyžkami — Glac, Malá poľana — end of Suchá Belá — Pod Vtáčim hrbom, about 2 h 15 min; it takes as long to Píla. Altogether this is a 6–7-hour day: a route for those without a fear of heights, not for small children.

Season and safety

The valley is accessible all year; on 26 October 2026 the park listed it as open with a warning about the risk of falling trees. In winter the ladders ice over — crampons are recommended. Turning back through the gorge is not allowed. Before entering you pay the fee for using the technical facilities: €3 (aged 15–65), €2 (children 6–15 and people over 65), under 6 free. Dogs must be on a lead and muzzled in the park, but a dog cannot climb the ladders. Mountain Rescue Service — 18 300 or 112. As of October 2026.

Nearby

Above the valley stands Kláštorisko – Carthusian Monastery Ruins; close by are the Suchá Belá Gorge, the Kláštorská Gorge and the Hornád River Gorge (Prielom Hornádu); west of Glac lies Veľký Sokol.

Official website: npsr.sk

Photos: Ivan Judak, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Not2bad, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons; Andy.vac, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.