The Low Tatras National Park covers 1,101 square kilometres of central Slovakia and is home to the longest cave system in the country, over 300 kilometres of marked hiking trails, and the year-round ski resort of Jasná, the largest ski area in Slovakia and one of the most important in Central Europe. Designated as a protected landscape area in 1978 and upgraded to national park status in 2002, Nízke Tatry runs approximately 80 kilometres east-west between the valleys of the Váh and Hron rivers, forming the largest mountain range in Slovakia. The park protects a remarkable diversity of habitats, from the alpine meadows and glacial lakes of the Ðumbier Ridge (the highest section, reaching 2,043 metres at Ðumbier peak) to the deep limestone gorges and caves of the ňížne Tatry foothills, including the famous Demänovská Ice Cave and the Demänovská Cave of Liberty.
Quick Facts: Low Tatras National Park
- Best time to visit: June to September for hiking, mountain biking, and climbing; December to March for skiing and winter sports at Jasná. May and October are quieter but weather is unpredictable with snow possible above 1,500 metres even in late May
- Getting there: The main gateway is the town of Liptovský Mikuláš, approximately 60 km from Ƈilina and 260 km from Bratislava by car. Direct train and bus connections run from Bratislava and Košice. From Liptovský Mikuláš, local buses reach the trailheads and Jasná ski resort
- Top hiking routes: The ridge trail across the main spine (Ðumbier to Chopok, approximately 8 hours); the Demänovská Valley trail to the ice caves (3-4 hours round trip); and the Bystrá Valley, a glacial valley with the largest population of marmots in the park
- Wildlife: Brown bears, wolves, Eurasian lynx, chamois, golden eagles, and the endemic Tatra marmot. The park holds one of the densest brown bear populations in Central Europe, over 80 individuals
When it comes to visiting Slovakia, there are two major mountain ranges that are common travel destinations within the country. While these mountain ranges share similarities in name, they are very different destinations to visit. While the High Tatras are some of the tallest mountains in Europe, the Low Tatras are commonly considered smaller brother.
The Low Tatras National Park can be found in the innermost part of Slovakia. It is here where you will find the valley of the Váh, the Hron River as well as the Poprad River. And although not as tall as its larger sibling, the tallest peak that can be found within the Low Tatras, Ďumbier, still stands at more than 2042 meters above sea level. This is followed in close by the summit of Chopok which is 2024 meters above sea level.
Blue trail of Chopok, Low Tatras National Park, Slovakia by Pudelek (Marcin Szala)
Unlike its larger brother, there are a number of excellent caves that can be found within the Low Tatras which are open to the public. Some of the most popular of these caves is that of the Bystrianska Cave, Cave of Dead Bats as well as the ice Cave. As of currently, there are only seven caves in the mountain range which are not open to the public.
For those who prefer canyoning, the largest canyon in the entire mountain range is that of Hučiaky under Salatín which is situated within the Ludrová Valley just outside of Ružomberok. Not too far away is where you will also find the largest waterfall within the mountain range. The 55 meter tall Brankov waterfall can be found at the western part of Low Tatras and is easily reachable thanks to a well marked footpath that runs from the village of Podsuchá.
Dumbier, Low Tatras, Slovakia by milan.kvetko
For the most part, the Low Tatras are protected by the Low Tatras National Park which is a biological reserve that was established back in 1978. Unfortunately, there are sections of the mountain range which are not within the preserve. However, the portions that are within the reserve are home to some of the rarest of alpine animal species, including the extremely rare chamois.
The Low Tatras are known as a popular skiing destination within Slovakia. There are a number of excellent resorts that can be found throughout the mountain range including Mýto pod Ďumbierom, Jasná as well as Tále. Jasná is also one of the largest ski destinations in all of central Europe and is accessed via the town of Liptovsky Mikulas. Of course there is a lot more to do than just skiing in the Low Tatras as there is also kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, golf as well as numerous Hot Springs that can be found situated throughout the mountain range. There are two popular thermal parks that you can visit nearby – Tatralandia and Bešeňová.
Vrbické pleso, Low Tatras, Slovakia by Jiri Brozovsky
All in all, the Low Tatras offer lots of attractions, entertainment as well as recreational options to choose from; which is why it is considered to be one of the most popular parks not just in Slovakia, but in all of central Europe.
