Hnilcik: Mining History and Mountain Trails

The municipality of Hnilčík is heavily forested and mountainous and belongs to the Slovenský raj recreation area. Mining history, churches and a variety of trails are among the themes you can consider when planning a stay. There is also the Mraznica ski and leisure sports centre and the OBRI V RAJI nature experience park.

Museum and Churches

The museum exhibition of Banský skanzen Hnilčík is housed in a former school building in the district of Jerohuta, near the municipal office. It covers the history of Hnilčík. If you are planning a visit, check the current visitor arrangements in advance, as they may change.

Two churches also offer different historical details. The parish church “Farský kostol povýšenia sv. Kríža Kristovho” in Hnilčík was first built as a wooden church in 1792. The branch church “Kostol Narodenia Panny Márie” in Jerohuta, also known as Dolný Hnilčík, began as a wooden bell tower in 1830. Its main altar bears a statue of the Virgin Mary by the woodcarver František Repčík from Spišská Nová Ves. The OBRI V RAJI nature experience park, built in a former quarry in Hnilčík, is connected with the local history in another way.

Mining History Along the Educational Trails

Banský skanzen Hnilčík includes four mining heritage trails: A Roztoky, D Údolím Železného potoka, C Grétla and B Bindt. The mining history trail is self-guided, follows footpaths and is accessible year-round. Routes A and D are linear, while B and C are loops. The four routes can be combined into a circular route of about 22 kilometres with more than 800 metres of elevation gain. This lets you choose between individual trail sections and a route linking the entire trail network; check trail conditions before setting out.

The Roztoky route leads from the Hnilčík, Zajac bus stop through the Ráztoky valley to the Ľudmila adit. Check separately for information about any possible access to the adit. The route description indicates the way there; it does not necessarily mean that you can enter the underground workings.

Loops, Viewpoints and Cycling

Hnilčík has three hiking loops with a combined length of 14 kilometres. They lead to a stone settlement, two viewpoints and a small via ferrata on Stangenberg-Hlinisko. An interesting, easy cycling route is also part of the trail network. These details offer different options for planning a trip, without requiring the routes to be combined into one.

The SR28 on the southern ridge of the Hnilecké vrchy offers another route perspective. It starts in Hnilčík at an elevation of 650 metres and offers panoramic views across the varied landscape of the Spiš region. The hiking loops, mining history trail and SR28 thus differ in their stated destinations, formats and landscape settings.

Winter in Mraznica

The Mraznica ski and leisure sports centre has three ski lifts and a total of 3,000 metres of artificially snow-covered slopes; the longest descent is 1,650 metres. The children's ski area includes a conveyor belt, obstacles, a rope tow and ski instructors. As facilities and the availability of services may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before planning your visit.

The Grajnár cross-country skiing area can be reached on foot from the centre; it can also be accessed from the top of the slope. Trail grooming and access may vary by season. If you plan to visit both areas, it is therefore worth checking these conditions in advance.

Landscape and Getting Around

The SR28 and the hiking loops showcase different aspects of the forested, mountainous landscape. Hnilčík’s connection to the Slovenský raj recreation area is also part of its description. When choosing a destination, you can therefore consider whether you would like to focus your stay primarily on mining history, loop trails, winter sports or historic buildings.

A regional transport register, valid from September 2025, lists eight bus stops in Hnilčík: cesta Bindt, chotár, Kira, kostol, Sekel, slobodáreň, Zajac and Zimná dolina. Check the current timetable for your journey. This makes the listed stops a useful reference point, without promising any particular connection.

Discover more destinations: Hrabušice, Teplička, Mlynky, Matejovce Nad Hornádom, Spišské Vlachy, Slovinky, Spišské Tomášovce, Smižany.

For the broader travel overview: Spišská Nová Ves District.