Čingov – Tomášovská Bela – Sokolia dolina ravine – Kláštorisko – Čingov
Wild gorges and canyons full of beautiful waterfalls are among the main attractions for which thousands of domestic and foreign tourists and adventurers make their way to the Slovak Paradise National Park every year. Most often their steps are directed to the popular Suchá Bela gorge. Deeper in the bowels of the national park, however, there is also a lesser-known, but all the more charming gorge called Sokolia dolina (Falcon Valley). Its greatest jewel is the Veil Waterfall, which is not only the highest waterfall in the Slovak Paradise, but also the second highest waterfall in the whole of Slovakia. If you dare to test your courage, join us and climb the system of ladders and bridges to its top. On the way back from the Sokol valley, we will also visit the history-laden Kláštorisko with its 13th century Carthusian monastery and a symbolic cemetery dedicated to the victims of the Slovak Paradise.
Genghis
We will start and end our circular hiking trip in a well-known tourist resort in the northern part of the Slovak Paradise called Čingov. It is located only seven kilometres from the district town of Spišská Nová Ves, between the villages of Smižany and Spišské Tomášovce. There is plenty of parking space as well as a wide range of accommodation, catering and other services for tourists. If necessary, you can also find information about hiking opportunities or buy various maps, guidebooks and other useful items at the two tourist information centres.
From Čingovo we start along the blue marked hiking trail in the direction of Lesnica, the mouth and Biely potok, the crossroads. After about half an hour of walking we reach a smaller open meadow area, above which towers the massive gallery of the Tomášov view, popular with hikers, cyclists and rock climbers. From the crossroads at the White Stream we continue along the green hiking trail upstream of the White Stream through the picturesque valley of Tomášovská Bela. The first ascents, wooden bridges and other technical elements that raise the adrenaline in the blood await us here. Later we also pass the entrance to the Ferrata HZS Kysel, which we will visit another time. After a little over six kilometres of walking, we are greeted by a crossroads at the mouth of the Sokol valley, where the real adventure we have all been waiting for begins.
Falcon Valley
The Sokolia dolina gorge is often considered the wildest and most exposed gorge in the Slovak Paradise. And rightly so. On a four-kilometre long stretch, you can overcome an elevation of up to 450 metres. Crossing the gorge on the yellow hiking trail will take us about two hours in favourable conditions.
The increased humidity, the trail that disappears into the creek bed in places and the steep cliffs all around inspire respect and evoke the adventurous atmosphere characteristic of the gorges of Paradise. The first waterfall with a ladder to test our resolve is the Rock Waterfall with a height of about 4 metres. The trail climbs steeper and steeper, and the aforementioned and anticipated Veil Waterfall is already looming in the distance. We put our fear aside and climb up a set of ladders and bridges right alongside the falling waterfall to its very top. The gorge has the most beautiful atmosphere during the rainy season, when the waterfall has a greater flow and gives a truly majestic impression. Above the Veil Waterfall, there is the Higher Waterfall, which is particularly captivating in autumn, decorated with leaves of all colours. After crossing it, we soon reach the end of the gorge.
The gorge ends on the Glac plain, near the Biskupské Chyžky locality. There is a shelter with a sitting area, where we can have a nice refreshment after the hard work and regain strength for the return to Čingov. However, descending down the gorges from above is not allowed, so we gradually return along the summit route along the Glac plain, through the Biskupské chyžky; Glac, Malá Poľana; Suchá Bela, the end and Pod Vtáčím hump to Kláštorisko. We alternate between green, yellow, blue, yellow again and finally red hiking trail. We also pass the end of the gorges Veľký and Malý Kyseľ and Suchá Belá.
Monastery
We arrive at probably the most famous crossroads of hiking trails in the central part of the Slovak Paradise – Kláštorisko. Kláštorisko, once called the “Rock of Refuge”, for the people of the Spiš region for centuries represented a place of shelter from danger, whether it was war conflicts, devastating invasions of hostile nations, or spreading epidemics of deadly diseases. At the end of the 13th century, the Carthusian monastic order built a large monastery here on the foundations of an older fortification. It is from this monastery that the present name of the place derives. They believed that here they would have ideal conditions and peace for their spiritual contemplation and ascetic way of life. Despite its remote location, however, the monastery was later plundered several times. The ruins of the monastery can still be admired today, thanks to the painstaking work of the volunteers responsible for its reconstruction.
During the 20th century, Kláštorisko became a renowned destination for hiking and nature holidays. Today there is a restaurant and a refreshment buffet. In 2010, a Symbolic Cemetery for the Victims of the Slovak Paradise was built here, dedicated to the memory of all those who tragically lost their lives here, as well as to those who made a significant contribution to the development and protection of the national park. After a short rest from Kláštorisko, we continue along the blue hiking trail with a slight climb up to the hill Čertova sihoť, from where we descend steeply again to the site of Biely potok, the crossroads, where we have already been once today. We are almost at the finish. The last part of the trip along the Hornád River back to Čingov awaits us.
Questions for smart observers:
- What is the height of the Veil Waterfall in the Sokol Valley? The information board at the mouth of the gorge will tell you.
- In what year did the Carthusian monks complete their monastery at Kláštorisko? The year is indicated on the wooden roof on the facade of the monastery.
- Behind the meadow plain in the locality of Glac, Malá Poľana, looking southwest in the distance, there is a majestic rocky peak of one very famous hill in the Slovak Paradise, sought after for its beautiful views by many tourists. The best access to it is from the village of Stratená. What is the name of this hill?
Who is the trip for?
The trip is up to 21.5 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of more than 1000 metres and is one of the most demanding hiking trips for fit hikers who already have experience in the exposed terrain of the ravines of the Slovak Paradise. Definitely set aside a whole day for it and set off as early as possible in the morning so that you will be able to return before dark, even in case of difficult conditions or unexpected delays. The Veil Waterfall is probably the most exposed place in the standard hiking trails in the Slovak Paradise, so this hike is definitely not for people with a fear of heights.
Tip
Be sure to take high waterproof hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, spare dry socks in your rucksack, enough food and liquids for the whole day and other necessary equipment depending on the season and the current conditions. If you need to shorten the trip, it is possible to turn from the top of the Sokol valley to the locality Pod Bykarkou, descend to the Klauzy water reservoir and from there follow the White stream through the Tomášovská Bela valley back to Čingov.
How do you get here?
The tourist resort Čingov is very accessible by car and public transport from the nearby town of Spišská Nová Ves and the surrounding villages of Smižany and Spišské Tomášovce. Fitter tourists can also cover these distances on foot.
Parking
A large paid parking lot is located directly at the entrance to the resort of Cingov. There are also parking lots for guests at the adjacent accommodation facilities.
More information:
www.vraji.sk, www.slovenskyraj.eu, www.npslovenskyraj.sopsr.sk
Catering options
Pension Lesnica – Čingov 113, 053 11 Smižany, 053/449 15 18
Ihla tourist cottage – Čingov, 053 11 Smižany, 0907 956 396
Buffet Čingov – Čingov 113, 053 11 Smižany, 0918 344 830
Accommodation options in the surroundings
Pension Lesnica – Čingov 113, 053 11 Smižany, 053/449 15 18
Grand Hotel Spiš – Hornádska 1001, 053 01 Spišské Tomášovce, 053/449 11 29
Hotel Čingov – Čingov, 053 11 Smižany, 053/443 36 63
Park Hotel Čingov – Čingov, 053 11 Smižany, 053/442 20 22