Smižany, Maša – Čingov – Owl Rock – Kosiarny briežok – Mother of God – Bear’s Head – Kvašné lúky – Spišská Nová Ves
The town of Spišská Nová Ves is known among tourists as an ideal starting point for hiking in the Slovak Paradise. It offers countless possibilities for accommodation, catering, cultural, sporting and social activities – in addition to hiking, and as an alternative program in case of bad weather. And the imaginary “gates” to the Slovak Paradise are literally within sight from here. There are several beautiful sightseeing spots of the Paradise within walking distance from the town. Today we will visit three of them – Owl Rock near Cingovo, Mother of God and Bear’s Head.
Smižany, Masha
Our trip starts in the locality of Smižany, Maša. From Spišská Nová Ves to Smižany there is regular public transport. We are guided along the blue marked hiking trail through the valley of the Hornád River. It is the shortest (and the most beautiful) connection between Smižany and the tourist resort of Čingov. Probably the most romantic corner of this hiking trail is the location near the Green Footbridge, where the Hornád River forges its way under a steep rock cliff. There are benches here where you can relax peacefully to the sounds of the flowing river. In a short while we arrive at the Ihla buffet, where, after some refreshments, we turn to the first view of the day.
Owl scale
At the buffet ihla turn left up the hill to the green hiking trail. After about 15 minutes of steep climbing we find ourselves at the Owl Rock lookout point. From here we can see the whole of Cingov in the palm of our hand. In the north-western direction, in good weather, we can also see the nearby village of Spišské Tomášovce, the undulating landscape of the Hornád basin and the peaks of the High Tatras. From Sova skala we continue along the green hiking trail, which leads us to the recreational area Košiarny briežok.
Shirtless deer
Recreational area Košiarny briežok is one of the most frequent destinations of walks of Spišskovov Vesec residents. On weekends and in good weather it is visited by many holidaymakers and cottagers. Refreshments outdoors in the air in the garden in front of the Novák’s Cottage buffet always go down well. There is also an artificial climbing wall with the possibility of renting climbing equipment directly in Novák’s chalet, a mini football pitch and a wide open meadow perfect for summer fooling around with friends or family. From Košiarneho briežka we turn onto the yellow hiking trail, which will lead us on a paved forest asphalt road after about an hour of climbing to Sedlo Medvedia hlava (Bear’s Head Saddle). The road is also a cycling route, so in order to avoid collision with cyclists, stick mainly to the less clear sections near the right edge of the road.
Mother of God
In less than half an hour of walking from the Saddle Medvedia hlava along the yellow tourist trail we come to another very attractive sightseeing hill called Matka Božia (Mother of God). It offers panoramic views westwards to the central part of the Slovak Paradise, especially to the Dubnica and Jabloň hills. In the distance, in good weather, the High Tatras also loom in the distance. On the top of the Mother of God there are benches, which are ideal for a short rest and refreshment before the next section of the trip.
Bear’s head
From the Mother of God we descended again to the crossroads at the Saddle Medvedia hlava, from where we follow the yellow hiking trail to the top of the hill Medvedia hlava. Medvedia hlava – the third lookout point of today’s hike – welcomes us with a south-facing view. In front of us is the Muráň massif (1 260 m above sea level), below us the Holubnica valley and the settlement of Rybníky belonging to the village of Novoveská Huta (a municipal part of Spišská Nová Ves). From the Bear’s Head we will descend to the locality Under the Bear’s Head. From here it is possible to take the blue trail through the Medvedia dolka valley to Novoveská Huta. However, we continue along the yellow hiking trail and through the so-called Kvašné meadows we descend slowly to Spišská Nová Ves, where we will end our trip.
Questions for smart observers:
- Apart from the Sova skala (Owl Rock), there is another much more famous and perhaps the most visited view in the Slovak Paradise near Čingovo. Do you know what it is called?
- At what altitude is the Mother of God viewpoint? The sign on the tourist signpost will tell you.
Who is the trip for?
This is a longer day trip that requires adequate physical fitness. You can also choose a shorter option and turn from Košiarne briezek back to Smižiany or Spišská Nová Ves.
Tip
Make sure to take sturdy hiking shoes, sports clothes, a waterproof jacket or raincoat in your backpack and enough food and fluids for the whole day.
How to get here
The starting point of the trip Smižany, Maša is located near the bus stop of public transport from Spišská Nová Ves. The name of the stop is “Smižany, underpass”. The distance from the town is about 4 kilometres, so you can also choose the alternative of walking along the path around the Hornád River. The town of Spišská Nová Ves has direct rail and bus connections with most towns and villages in the region.
Parking
Parking is available directly in the locality of Smižany, Maša, at the beginning of the hiking trail, at the foot of the ascent of the state road towards Spišské Tomášovce and Čingov.
More information
www.vraji.sk, www.slovenskyraj.eu, www.npslovenskyraj.sopsr.sk
Dining options in the surroundings
- Pension Stefani, Tatranská 1298/5, Smižany, tel.: 053/ 443 17 35, e-mail: penzion@stefani.sk
- Nostalgie Restaurant & Café, Letná 49, Spišská Nová Ves, tel.: 053/441 41 44, e-mail: nostalgie@nostalgie.sk
- Metropol Hotel Restaurant****, Štefánikovo námestie 2, Spišská Nová Ves, tel.: 053/417 47 00, e-mail: recepcia@hotel-metropol.sk
Accommodation options in the surroundings
- Pension Stefani, Tatranská 1298/5, Smižany, tel.: 053/ 443 17 35, e-mail: penzion@stefani.sk
- Hotel Metropol****, Štefánikovo námestie 2, Spišská Nová Ves, tel.: 053/417 47 00, e-mail: recepcia@hotel-metropol.skň
- Pension Resa, Fabiniho 10, Spišská Nová Ves, tel.: 0905 550 475, 0944 723 343, e-mail: info@penzionresa.sk
- PB Apartments, Zimná 178/43, Spišská Nová Ves, tel.: 0904 546 644, e-mail: reservation@pbapartments.sk
- Apartments Spiš, Spišská 3359/3, Spišská Nová Ves, tel.: 0907 378 522, e-mail: slavomira@vastusko.sk