Vernár – Hiking Trails, Nature and Local History

Vernár combines hiking trails and mountain scenery with a multifaceted local history. If you are looking for a hotel, you can tailor your stay to the topics that interest you most: hiking, nature, winter sports or regional culture.

Hiking trails and views around Vernár

The Vernár–Kráľova Hoľa hiking trail is self-guided, linear and can be walked in either direction. It can be used in summer and winter. Ten information boards provide natural history and historical information about the region. A large part of the trail runs through open mountain pastureland; along the way, there are views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

A hiking trail from Vernár towards the Low Tatras is about 13 kilometres long. The route is said to take roughly five hours and has an elevation gain of 1,168 metres. These figures help put a hike into perspective in terms of time: it is a longer undertaking, not a short detour.

The viewpoint with a swing above Hotel Studničky also offers a view of Kráľova hoľa. The walk from the hotel is recommended to take about 30 to 40 minutes; the car should be parked at the hotel. This approximate duration differs considerably from the five-hour hiking trail estimate and can therefore be planned differently into the day.

Mountain meadows, rocks and karst

In the Vernárska tiesňava, species-rich mountain meadows stretch around striking rock cliffs. The Kopanecké meadows are also located in the cadastral area of Vernár: up to 54 higher plant species grow there in half a square metre. The meadows are maintained once a year through traditional hand mowing and hand raking. The high plant diversity and traditional maintenance methods show two different aspects of this landscape.

The Vernársky kras features karst phenomena such as springs and caves. Blajzloch is also located in the vicinity of Vernár: the small reservoir has an island that can be reached via a small bridge. Blajzloch is accessible by car or bicycle via an asphalt road.

The boundary between Slovak Paradise National Park and Low Tatras National Park runs through the cadastral area of Vernár. This means the names of two national parks meet within the municipality; local nature topics range from karst formations to species-rich meadows.

Local history and living culture

The Greek Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is a classicist building. It was built in 1824 and restored in 1899. The Tesnina memorial site is a natural formation at the entrance to Vernár from the direction of Poprad and was the scene of fighting during the Second World War.

The Partizánsky bunker educational site on Hronkova includes a restored bunker and a preserved fortification remnant from the Second World War. Two information boards cover the construction of partisan bunkers and the course of the Slovak National Uprising in Vernár and the surrounding area. The Memorial House is a former school building from 1930 that served as the headquarters of the Slovak National Uprising during the war.

The Vernár folklore group presents original songs, dances and customs from Vernár at various events in Slovakia and abroad. The Horehronský viachlasný spev, performed by the Vernár folklore ensemble, has been included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2017.

Winter sports and accommodation

The Vernár–Studničky ski area is about 500 metres from Vernár. Its easy and intermediate ski slopes are situated at elevations between 800 and 1,000 metres. Facilities include free parking, a ski school, ski equipment rental, basic ski servicing, storage and a buffet. For a different kind of descent, a lift takes riders in the mountain tricycle experience to the top of a 300-metre-long track with a gentle gradient. People under 15 can ride together with an adult.

In the southern cadastral area of Vernár is the Ranč pod Ostrou skalou agritourism farm, which offers accommodation and meals. Before booking, check whether the farm is currently open.

Discover more destinations: Hozelec, Batizovce, Velký Slavkov, Mengusovce, Zdiar, Vysoké Tatry, Liptovská Teplicka, Svit.

For the overview of the wider travel area: Okres Poprad.