Riverside walk by “Hron Meanders”
The “Hron Meanders” nature trail combines with the network of hiking trails and nature trails under the Kráľova hoľa hill. The trail is 9 kilometres long, enough for a daytrip which offers you new undiscovered views of the surrounding nature. The fauna of meadows and fields will speak to you, you will unveil the daily life of local farmers, and the mystery of the nature reserve of the meandering river Hron.
You can start the trail in the Telgárt Hotel located in the Telgárt village, or at the end of the “Dolina” Street in Šumiac. However, you will spot the first hiking trail signs on the central squares in both villages, where the first tourist signposts guide tourists on their trekking adventures. Simply follow the green and white hiking trail signs, which will lead you to an amazing experience.
The essence of your day may remind you of peaceful autumn days brimming with fragrant earth and the landscape with its thousand colours saying goodbye as it slowly prepares itself for the winter sleep. Or it turns to be a joyful spring walk saturated with the fragrance of rare meadow flowers. Your attention will be drawn to purple flowers of bird's-eye primrose (Primula farinosa) peeping among the green leaves. You will also be able to admire the funnel-shaped violet butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris). You will certainly notice the small white valerian flowers (Valeriana dioica L.), the shrubby rosemary willow (Salix rosmarinifolia), or the grey and green foliage of the silvery sedge (Carex canescens L.). Get surprised by the star sedge (Carex echinata) of appearance which resembles a star. All these godly plants like damp places or peaty bogs, so never forget to have proper shoes when wandering around. These will protect you even on rainy days, when you can easily get muddy in some places. But discovering the nature is sometimes just like that.
The trail crosses the Nature Reserve “Hron Meanders”, a unique reserve, managed by the Low Tatras National Park. The National Park has been assigned the Level IV Protection in 1980. The river created a system of bendy meanders across an extensive alluvial floodplain. The protected area spreads over incredible 1,038,167 m2. This beautiful corner of our country has so far been hidden from visitors, but the nature trail aims to contribute to the popularity of this area and to teach all of us why nature in this National Park deserves to be cared for and protected.
The trail is an ideal place for a full-day relaxing family walk, trail running training, or cross-country skiing in winter. Spring and autumn are the most ideal seasons to visit the area. The trail runs along field and meadow paths, it crosses two wooden footbridges over the Hron river, and if you are not sure how to follow the path, we recommend you to check out the tourist application http://bitly.ws/yUoN.
The magical nature, you will incessantly enjoy throughout the walk, attracts visitors with another unique natural gem. By visiting this place, you will be transported back to the times of farmers of Šumiac. You will pass by the legendary barn “Chamkova stodola”, the remnant of the double cropping exercised by Šumiac inhabitants. The barn is open to the public, it lures and welcomes all passers-by and invites them to look into the past and take a commemorative photo which the majestic Kráľova hoľa hill in the background.
When you cross the area nearby the meanders, remember how scarce they are and their Level IV Protection. It means you should follow the National Park (NAPANT) rules for visitors. Remember to always close the gate of the electric fence for animals behind you.
The nature trail was financed by the Environmental Fund under the Nature Protection Programme 2022, Project: “Hron Meanders Nature Trail”, with the financial support of the Ekopolis Foundation and Slovnaft a.s., as part of the Green Oases program.
GPS: R5G3+MX Šumiac
