Oravská Polhora: Moorland, Hiking and Culture

Oravská Polhora offers a range of reasons to visit: the Slaná voda moor, trails to Babia hora and Modralová, and literary and musical cultural sites. This lets you include nature, physical activity and culture in your plans.

Slaná voda Moor and Spring

Of the three protected moors in Oravská Polhora, Slaná voda is the best preserved and the most accessible to tourists via a nature trail. A wooden boardwalk leads through the moor. Sundews, orchids and dragonflies can be spotted there; the visibility of the species varies by season.

At the site of the former spa resort, the iodine-bromine Slaná voda spring is housed in a pavilion. It is freely accessible to visitors. Check local conditions before setting out. The former spa resort and the spring, which is accessible today, also give the name Slaná voda a historical dimension.

Hiking Trails to Babia hora and Modralová

A seven-hour circular hike to Babia hora starts and ends at Slaná voda. There is a bus stop and a car park at this access point. Allow plenty of time for the circular hike; mountain conditions can vary by season, so it is advisable to check local conditions before setting out.

The Slaná voda–Babia hora nature trail starts in Oravská Polhora at the Slaná voda chalet and has 13 stops. This provides two different ways to assess the routes to Babia hora: the circular hike is described as taking seven hours, while the nature trail is identified by its number of stops.

A moderately difficult hike to Modralová starts in the Píla district. A separate cycling route also leads to Modralová. The two options differ in activity and starting point; Píla is specified as the starting area for the hike. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

Literature, Bagpipe Culture and Local History

The Hájovňa pod Babou horou houses a literary exhibition by the Oravské múzeum about Hájnikova žena by Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav. Another literary exhibition there is dedicated to Milo Urban. Together, the two topics give this place a clear literary focus.

The Európske centrum gajdošskej kultúry in Oravská Polhora houses a museum dedicated to bagpipe music and its history. On display are various types of bagpipes and other related artefacts. The centre also provides space for cultural events, workshops, concerts and exhibitions that cover subjects beyond bagpipe music and culture.

The international GAJDOVAČKA festival in Oravská Polhora featured concerts, workshops, lectures, a gala programme and a solemn Mass with bagpipe music from various European countries from 19 to 21 September 2025. This edition shows how varied the musical and cultural programme can be. The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus also houses a 5.2-metre-high statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Modralová, also known as Gajdošská strunga, connects Orava, Silesia and Lesser Poland through their vibrant bagpipe traditions. Together with the museum and cultural events, it offers another way to explore the region’s musical heritage.

Winter Activities

SKI Oravská Polhora is a family-friendly ski area in the centre of the village, with five lifts and a total of about two kilometres of downhill runs. Activities on offer include ski mountaineering and cross-country skiing. Seasonal services also include ski equipment rental, a ski school, ski servicing, and rental of ski mountaineering equipment and e-bikes. Services and offers may change by season; check the latest information before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Oravské Veselé, Námestovo, Hruštín, Mútne, Bobrov, Oravská Lesná, Novot, Sihelne

For the broader travel overview: Okres Námestovo.