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Hard Hiking Trails in Slovakia

There are 197 hikes in Slovakia in our database that fit. They average 74.5 km and 1,502 m (4,928 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 755 km.

That is 23 percent of the 856 routes we map in Slovakia. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 74.5 km against 21.0 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,502 m (4,928 ft) on average versus 432 m (1,417 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

This media shows the protected monument with the number 603-160/2 CHMSK/603-160/2 , CHMSK/603-160 ( other ) in the Slovak Republic.
Expert

Cesta hrdinov SNP

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
737 km
/ 458 mi
Elevation gain
7,003 m
Typical duration
185 hr
  • Mountain
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), Malé Karpaty , Slovakia
Expert

Štefánikova magistrála

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
113 km
/ 70.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,417 m
Typical duration
30 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

St. Mary's Trail

Tatra National Park · Region of Žilina

Distance
26.7 km
/ 16.6 mi
Elevation gain
587 m
Typical duration
6 hr 47 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Tatranská magistrála

Tatra National Park · Region of Prešov

Distance
50.1 km
/ 31.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,103 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Veľkofatranská magistrála

Veľká Fatra National Park · Region of Žilina

Distance
42.0 km
/ 26.1 mi
Elevation gain
925 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cesta Márie Széchy

Ochranné pásmo národného parku Muránska planina · Region of Banská Bystrica

Distance
15.7 km
/ 9.7 mi
Elevation gain
344 m
Typical duration
3 hr 48 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Rudná magistrála

Muranska planina National Park · Region of Banská Bystrica

Distance
23.4 km
/ 14.6 mi
Elevation gain
516 m
Typical duration
5 hr 55 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Via Slovakia (Domica - Kechnec)

Slovak Karst National Park · Region of Košice

Distance
86.9 km
/ 54.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,911 m
Typical duration
23 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Via Slovakia (Ubľa - Dukla)

Poloniny National Park · Region of Prešov

Distance
139 km
/ 86.1 mi
Elevation gain
3,050 m
Typical duration
37 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Tatranská magistrála

Tatra National Park · Region of Žilina

Distance
22.2 km
/ 13.8 mi
Elevation gain
488 m
Typical duration
5 hr 34 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Východokarpatská magistrála

Ochranné pásmo národného parku Poloniny · Region of Prešov

Distance
25.9 km
/ 16.1 mi
Elevation gain
570 m
Typical duration
6 hr 35 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sidzina - Jabłonka

Babia Góra National Park · Region of Žilina

Distance
74.3 km
/ 46.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,634 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
B-S 14 Duna casemate, Bratislava, Slovakia
Hard

ST201 Bratislava - Čunovo

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
20.6 km
/ 12.8 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
4 hr 31 min
  • Long-distance path
Two danubes
Hard

ST202a Čunovo - Lipót

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
34.9 km
/ 21.7 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
7 hr 53 min
  • Long-distance path
931 01 Šamorín, Slovakia
Hard

ST202b Čunovo - Bodíky

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
29.5 km
/ 18.3 mi
Elevation gain
36 m
Typical duration
6 hr 38 min
  • Long-distance path
Smerovník v cieli náučného chodníka na Kačíne
Hard

Chodník Jurka Szomolanyiho

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
19.2 km
/ 11.9 mi
Elevation gain
752 m
Typical duration
5 hr 15 min
  • Waymarked route
Public transport bus in Bratislava, SK
Hard

Mariánska cesta

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
507 m
Typical duration
4 hr 20 min
Kopáčsky ostrov
Hard

Mariánska cesta

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
22.4 km
/ 13.9 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
4 hr 54 min
Expert

Via Carpatica Vulcanica

Region of Košice · Slovakia

Distance
85.6 km
/ 53.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,882 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
V sedle Skalka sa križujú červeno značená Štefánikova magistrála s modrou značkou
Expert

Trnavská stovka

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
91.0 km
/ 56.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,891 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Buková , vodná nádrž na potoku Hrudky, obec Buková, západné Slovensko .
Expert

Železný pútnik

Region of Bratislava · Slovakia

Distance
38.6 km
/ 24.0 mi
Elevation gain
721 m
Typical duration
9 hr 50 min
  • Mountain
Expert

Beskid Way of St. James

Region of Prešov · Slovakia

Distance
291 km
/ 181 mi
Elevation gain
6,403 m
Typical duration
78 hr
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Cesta Márie Széchy

Region of Banská Bystrica · Slovakia

Distance
66.2 km
/ 41.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,457 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Czech Trail

Region of Trenčín · Slovakia

Distance
96.3 km
/ 59.8 mi
Elevation gain
2,118 m
Typical duration
25 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Czech Trail

Region of Žilina · Slovakia

Distance
117 km
/ 73.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,583 m
Typical duration
31 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
European long distance path E8 - part SlovakiaRegion of Bratislava755 km7,650 m190 hrExpertJune to October
Cesta hrdinov SNPRegion of Bratislava737 km7,003 m185 hrExpertJune to October
European long distance path E3 - part Slovakia (west)Malá Fatra National Park204 km4,490 m54 hrExpertApril to October
International friendship trail Eisenach–Budapest (Slovakia west)Protection zone of the Little Fatra National Park213 km4,686 m57 hrExpertApril to October
Štefánikova magistrálaRegion of Bratislava113 km2,417 m30 hrExpertApril to October
Mária-út, M02-18 (Liptovská Osada-Staré Hory)Veľká Fatra National Park24.0 km529 m6 hr 4 minHardApril to October
St. Mary's TrailTatra National Park26.7 km587 m6 hr 47 minHardApril to October
Tatranská magistrálaTatra National Park50.1 km1,103 m13 hrExpertApril to October
Veľkofatranská magistrálaVeľká Fatra National Park42.0 km925 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Cesta Márie SzéchyOchranné pásmo národného parku Muránska planina15.7 km344 m3 hr 48 minHardApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with European long distance path E8 - part Slovakia, Cesta hrdinov SNP, European long distance path E3 - part Slovakia (west). Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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