Cross-country skiing in the Slovak Paradise and its surroundings is one of the most unforgettable winter experiences. The region offers kilometres of regularly groomed cross-country ski trails from which you can admire the beauty of the Slovak Paradise. The altitude of the region also plays into the hands of cross-country skiers, guaranteeing favourable snow conditions almost throughout the whole winter.
Recommended cross-country skiing areas
In our region you can discover several cross-country skiing areas. These are mainly well-maintained areas of the Forest Sports Complex Grajnár and Snow Park Ľadová. When there is enough snow, there is also a lower area near Spišská Nová Ves – the Schurlerloch Multifunctional Area and a groomed track between Hrabušice and Letanovský Mlýn, or a track between Iliašovce and Harichovce. There is also running on the frozen surface of the Palcmanská Maša dam near the village of Dedinky. Equally popular is the area outside the scope of our OOCR, the Levoča Nordic Centre between the villages of Uloža and Vyšné Repaše (locality Krúžok (970 m above sea level). A very nice area was in the part of Mlynky – Biele Vody. However, it is not regularly maintained at the moment. The popular cross-country skiing through the frozen Hornád Pass is nowadays more of a wishful thinking than a reality due to the constant warming.
Grajnár Forest Sports Complex (1 024 m.n.m.)
The Grajnár sports complex is located 17.5 km from the town of Spišská Nová Ves in the direction of Rožňava, southeast of the Grajnár saddle. It can be found on the left side of the state road (II/533) between Spišská Nová Ves and Mlynki. In good snow conditions there are 22 km of groomed cross-country ski trails for classic cross-country skiing. From the Grajnár saddle it is also possible to follow the marked backcountry trail (BC) to the Geravy plain, 12.3 km long, and if there is enough snow, continue to Kláštorisko (another 13.3 km). Car parking is possible on both sides of the state road in the Grajnár saddle.
All tracks in the area are one-way for safety reasons. The entrance to the trails can be found from the orientation map of the resort on the left. There are eco-toilets and a shelter around the orientation map. Refreshments are occasionally provided by a mobile Buffet Grajnár.
In addition to good access to the area by car, it is accessible by regular buses in the direction of Spišská Nová Ves – Mlynky. The timetable can be found here: SNV – Mlynky.
You can also get to the area on skis from the top of the ski slope of the Mraznica ski resort at Hnilčík, where after about 1.1 km you can connect to the black circuit (counterclockwise). You can also ascend to the tracks from the Winter Valley on Hnilčík to the orange circuit.
Description of tracks:
The basic circuit is the red circuit. It measures 8 km. and is one-way. From it there are always branches to the right of the direction of movement, which allow to shorten the length of the 8 km circuit to a shorter distance. These are colour-coded and form three circuits: yellow 3 km, blue 5 km, green 6 km. After a short clutch, you get back on the red circuit, after which you continue clockwise to the finish at the parking lot of the Grajnár saddle, the same place where you started.
In addition to the aforementioned 3, 5, 6 and 8 km long circuits, there are two more circuits that can be reached by turning left from the red sign. It is an orange 7.5 km and a black 4 km long circuit.
| Circuit colour | Circuit length | Elevation on the circuit |
| Red | 8 km | 230 m |
| Yellow | 3 km | 80 m |
| Blue | 5 km | 150 m |
| Green | 6 km | 170 m |
| orange | 7.5 km | 215 m |
| Black | 4 km | 136 m |
You will be directed to the orange circuit by the first crossing of the tracks about 800m from the car park, where you turn left. At the beginning you will find a steep descent, which requires excellent snow conditions, but also an experienced skier. This descent is followed by an easy, very nice circuit. With beautiful views of Hnilčík and the High Tatras. There is also an access to the miniferatka, after which you can enjoy beautiful views of the Hornád valley and the High Tatras. The circuit will lead you back to the red marker, but at a different place than you came down from the red one. If you don’t dare to take the initial descent, then get on the trail from the small parking lot below the Grajnár saddle. At the turn off the main road there is a cycle signpost called HLINISKO. From this point, the orange trail is suitable for complete beginners and after completing the loop, you return back to your car, you do not need to continue on the red loop. It is the lowest trail in the area.
The black circuit is also very nice. It offers beautiful views and is the highest circuit. It can be reached after 3.3 km on the red circuit in Priehyba Zelená Hora, where you turn left. The Green Mountain Pass is a major junction where you can continue on the red 8 km circuit, turn right on the green 6 km circuit, or left on the black 4 km circuit which will bring you back to the Pass. There is a challenging climb at the start of the black circuit, but then you will find yourself at the highest points of the area and heading towards the top of the burn. At the meadow below Pálenica you turn left and traverse through the forest undergrowth to the meadows, from where you will have wonderful views of Spiš Castle and the High Tatras. You turn sharply to the left and after a short descent there is a climb, at the end of which you will find yourself back in the Priehyba Pod Zelenou Hora.
If you turn right at the sharp left turn, you will reach the top of the Mraznica lift on Hnilčík.
The red circuit will provide beautiful views of the Hnilec valley after Priehyba (after 3.5 km) and later, after about 5 km, views of the village of Hnilec and Kráľova hoľa. The shorter circuits are not as interesting in terms of views as the three circuits mentioned above. But each of them has its own charm.
By combining these circuits, each visitor can mix and match the track according to his or her abilities, fitness or current conditions.
Cross-country skiing area Dobšinská Ice Cave (855 m.n.m.)
The area is situated in the local part of the village of Stratená, Dobšinská Ice Cave, in the open terrain on Samelová meadow and adjacent pastures and meadows southeast to southwest under the nature reserve Ostrá skala. The added value of the cross-country trails is their location in the beautiful nature of the Slovak Paradise National Park. The trails are easily accessible from the state road I/67 from local car parks, by train and by bus.
The administrator of the area – the civic association SNOW PARK ĽADOVÁ, arranges a wide variety of cross-country skiing trails suitable primarily for recreational cross-country skiers, but more demanding cross-country skiers or children will also find their own. The main starting point for the trails is in the area of the start and finish. For visitors there is a heated shelter, cross-country ski rental and several gazebos located around the trails with information and orientation maps of the area and surroundings, as well as refreshment services at the Ranch under the Sharp Rock, or in the Bistro at the parking lot. Directly in the area there is a children’s zone with several attractions and a snow slide for children and a unique opportunity to take advantage of horse riding or horse-drawn sleigh rides offered by local farmers.
The tracks are one-way and circular. This means that within the main 5.4 km longest circuit (red) there are additional circuits of shorter distances: 2.4 km (yellow link), 2.8 km (green link) and 4.3 km (blue link). The longest loop can be extended by a 1 km black loop at the Ranch under the Sharp Rock, from which it is also possible to board the trails. In addition, the resort offers a largely two-way backcountry (BC) trail (orange) of 1.4 km, which connects to the main cross-country ski trail. In case of favourable snow conditions, the BC trail is also machine groomed.
Coloured marking of tracks and their length:
| Circuit colour | Circuit length | Elevation on the circuit | |
| Red | 5.4 km | m | |
| Yellow | 2.3 km | m | |
| Green | 2.6 km | m | |
| Blue | 4.3 km | m | |
| Black | 5.4 km +1 km | m | |
| BC route orange | 1.4 km + 2.3, 2.6, 4.3, 5.4, 1 km | m | |
Recommended marked backcountry (BC) routes
Backcountry trails are marked with an orange diamond with a pictogram of a cross-country skier, which is glued on hiking and biking signs
Grajnár – Geravy – Kláštorisko
First part : Grajnár – Geravy
Length : 12.3 km
Total elevation: 425 m/ in the opposite direction 420 m/
Length of climbs: 5.2 km
Length of descents: 5.3 km
Lowest point 1014 m.n.m.
Highest point 1206 m.n.m
From the Grajnár saddle there is a marked backcounry route around the following tourist signposts: Grajnár -2,3 km – Malá Knola – 1,2 km – Pod Muráň – 1,9 km – Sedlo Pukanec – 2,2km – Sedlo Čertova hlava – 2 km – Zadný Hýľ – 0,5 km – Predný Hýľ 2,2 km – Geravy. Very nice, but challenging route. You can take it either from Grajnár Saddle or from Geravy. You can reach the Geravy plain either with cross-country skis on your shoulders through the Zejmarská gorge from Biely vody / winter hiking equipment is necessary / , or from Dedinki under the cable car, or by cable car.
The second part of Gerava – Kláštorisko
Length : 12.8 km
Total elevation: 269 m / in the opposite direction 529 m /
Length of climbs: 4, 2 km
Length of descents: 4, 7 km
Lowest point: 772 m.n.m.
Highest point 1054 m.n.m
From the Geravy plain there is a marked backcounry route around the following tourist signposts: Geravy – 2.8 km – Pod Suchym vrchom – 1.2 km – Glacká cesta – 1.3 km – Glac, former mining station – 2 km – Malá Poľany – 0.6 km – Glac, Malá Poľana – 0.9 km – Suchá Bela, the end – 1.8 km – Pod Vtáčim Hrbom – 2.2 km Kláštorisko. As this part runs at altitudes below 1000 m, the conditions for skiing are not always suitable during the winter. Also, sometimes in winter some of the paths are ploughed and sometimes gritted, which makes it difficult for cross-country skiers to get around.
Ski tourist – recreational route Závadka – Pod Svinským hrbom, Poráč.
Length : 11.4 km
Total elevation: 298 m / 324 m in the opposite direction
Lowest point 791 m.n.m.
Highest point 954 m.n.m
From the village of Závadka leads this marked route around the following cycling signposts: Závadka – 1.1 km – Lipy – 2.3 km – Smrečina – 2.8 km – Rovná lúka – 3 km – Pod Holým vrchom – 2.2 km – Pod Svinským Hrbom (on the state road in front of Poráč, possibility of parking). Very nice , rich in views route. Views of Kralova Hoľa, High Tatras, Hnilecka valley, Red Hills, Branisko, Levoča Hills. If there are good snow conditions, the route is also machine groomed.
According to the Visitor Regulations of the Slovak Paradise National Park, visitors may ski only in the permitted areas and on marked hiking, cycling and horse trails.
For all lovers of cross-country skiing we recommend to follow the interactive map, where you will find all the current information about the condition of cross-country skiing trails in the Slovak Paradise and its surroundings. You will get the necessary news about the modifications on the trails before you set off.