Kmeťov vodopád (Kmeť’s Waterfall) is the highest waterfall in Slovakia — a spectacular 80-metre cascade in the remote Kôprova Valley (Kôprová dolina) of the High Tatras, plunging down a near-vertical granite wall in one of the Tatra National Park’s most pristine and less-visited valleys. Named after the Slovak botanist and ethnographer Andrej Kmeť, this waterfall is the centrepiece of one of the High Tatras’ most rewarding but demanding day hikes — a full-day expedition through unspoilt mountain wilderness that rewards with a genuinely wild waterfall experience far from the more crowded Tatra trails.

Quick Facts: Kmeťov Waterfall, Slovakia

• Best time to visit: Late May–October (the Kôprova Valley trail opens after the spring closure, typically from mid-June); spring for maximum water volume from snowmelt — the waterfall is at its most powerful then
• Height: Approximately 80 metres (the exact height varies by measurement methodology) — the highest waterfall in the Slovak High Tatras
• How to get there: Trailhead at the Kôprova Valley junction on the Cesta Slobody (Freedom Road) between Štrbské Pleso and Podbanské; ~4 hours from Bratislava by car; the hike to the waterfall is approximately 3–4 hours each way from the trailhead
• Difficulty: Moderate to demanding — good fitness required; the valley trail is well-marked but remote; no mountain huts beyond the entrance
• Best for: Dedicated hikers seeking a quieter Tatra experience away from the popular tourist trails

Kmeťov waterfall is approximately 80 meters high and it is therefore the tallest waterfall in Slovakia, located in Koprova valley in the High Tatras. The waterfall has two steps, which fall through a crack rock threshold. The waterfall is created by Nefcerský stream, which is above it at an altitude of 1245 m and is 1.5 m wide. The highest waterfall can be seen during the trip through Koprova Valley.

Koprova valley is a 12 km long valley with numerous side valleys. It is situated between the Western and High Tatras under the western slopes of the dominant peak Kriváň (one of the Slovak symbol). Koprova valley and the surroundings of the peak Krivan do remember the old mining tradition, especially associated with gold mining activities.

Hiking trails along Koprova valley allow tourists to admire the waterfalls and lakes. It is possible to ascend to the saddles and to the Kôprovský peak. At the lower part of the forested valley, the trail is created alongside the Kôprovský stream.

View Kmeťov waterfall in Kôprova valley – the highest waterfall in Slovakia in a larger map

Have you hiked to Kmeťov Waterfall or discovered the quieter valleys of the High Tatras? Share your Slovak waterfall discoveries in the comments! 🌊

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