Tourism
HIKING
Route 1:
Educational path to the Súľov Castle – 6 km, elevation: 252m, descent: 252m, time: 2 hours 15 minutes
The route starts from the car park near the Súľov Rocks. The red marked trail, footpath over forest road brings us over the Súľov village. We walk around the church, above the pine trees, on the left side we can admire the Owl rock formation. At the crossroads with the yellow mark, we continue along the red one. In the forest we are rising up to the pass(saddle) named At Indian (U Indiána). Here is the source of drinking water. On the ridge we turn back and continue on the green sign. On the left hand we pass(saddle) a rock formation which from one side looks like a glove – mitten, from the other side it looks like a male sexual organ, which stands here over million years. Over the ridge we continue and in the end we a steep climb under the Súľov Castle. We go into it through narrow entrance on a metal ladder. We can admire the panoramic view here. On the north dominates Brada (Chin) rock formation and from here we can see the whole ring of the basin. Deep below us is a village. From the castle we walk down on the green sign to the starting point of our hike. We have many beautiful views and we can admire rock formations known as: Gothic gate, Monk, Cat, Two mushrooms, Parrot and many others.
Route 2:
Climb to Brada - 7, 5 km, elevation: 416 m, descent: 416 m, time: 3 hours
On the tour we start from position called the Súľov gate. To the meadow below the Súľov Castle we walk as in the Route 1. We continue along the red sign to the pass(saddle) called Pod Bradou (Under Chin) (675m). On the top of this route, dominant of the Súľov Rocks, is still a short climb (815m). From here we descend to the pass(saddle) Roháč-Čiakov (803m). From here we continue along yellow sign down to the village. We walk nearby a 60m deep cave called Dragon hole. Then we walk on the meadow, where is a house built by filmmakers, when they shot the film Thomas the Falconer. Before continuing along the red mark we can admire formation called Rock Mushroom. And then we will return to the village.
Route 3:
Eastern ridge – 15 km, elevation: 474 m, descent: 482 m, time: 5 hours 30 minutes
We get a tour from the village Súľov. Along the blue tourist sign we walk up to the pass(saddle) called Roháčske sedlo(692m). Here we come to the green tourist sign and also on the eastern ridge. Here we turn to the south and alternating short climbs and descents slowly continue. From here we can see beautiful views. Then we slowly walk through the BOSMANICA (751m) and KEČKA (822m). We walk through two more dimensions to the PATÚCH pass(saddle). From here we just have to go down to the village Súľov.
Route 4:
Climb to ŽIBRID - 10 km, elevation: 467 m, descent: 467 m, time: 3 hours 30 minutes
We start from the Súľov village. Along yellow sign awaits us hard steep climb to the Patúch pass(saddle). In it we turn right and follow the green signs steeply walk up to the highest peak of the Súľov Rocks – the Žibrid(867m). From the top we can see the beauty of the Súľov Rocks. We return back the same way.
Route 5:
Go to the Hričov Castle - 10 km, elevation: 522 m, descent: 404 m, time: 3 hours 30 minutes
On the tour we go from the village Súľov along the yellow sign. There is a difficult way to climb into the pass(saddle) Roháč-Čiakov (803m). We walk along Thomas the Falconer´s little house and along the Dragon Hole. From there we have to join the red mark. First we walk down, and then walk up to the ruins of the Hričov Castle. After the tour we have a walk down through the forest, go around the rocks formation called Hričov mushroom. We finish our tour in village Hričovské Podhradie.
Route 6:
Tour to the HLBOCKÉ WATERFALLS - 9 km, elevation: 403 m, descent: 462 m, time: 3 hours
We start the tour from the village Súľov to the pass(saddle) Roháč-Čiakov. From here we continue along the green sign to HLBOKÉ. Then we slowly walk down to Hlbocké rocky town. Under the town is a HLBOCKÉ WATERFALLS. From there we continue walking down and end our tour in village called Hlboké.
Route 7:
Tour to the LIETAVA CASTLE - 15 km, elevation: 469 m, descent: 492 m, time: 5 hours 15 minutes
We start in the village Súľov. This tour will end in the village Lietavská Lúčka. We are before hard walk up (climb) to the pass(saddle) called Roháčske sedlo (692m). Then along the blue sign we walk down steeply into the Podhorie. Then we continue through the fields and forest to get to the LIETAVA CASTLE. Castle pops up at the end of the climbing. Castle is beauty and amazing. From the castle we have to walk back a little and then walk down along the blue sign to the village Lietavská Lúčka.
Route 8:
Tour around village VRCHTEPLÁ - 12 km, elevation: 280 m, descent: 280 m, time: 3 hours 15 minutes
The tour starts from the green sign near the stadium in the Súľov village. We walk around the south ridge. On the forest road we are going around village Vrchteplá. Here we join the red sign and the opposite way we will return. We will walk up to the pass(saddle) and then steeply walk down around cottages to the Súľov gate.
BIKING
Route 1:
Podhorie - Malá Čierna, blue, 15,5 km, elevation: 450, category: SPORT
This route is for mountain and trekking bikes. It starts with a slight elevation to the bus station in PODHORIE. From this side it joins the 1 km long yellow sign way, which leads to a crossroads with blue sign cycle route RAJEC – ŽILINA and a green sign cycle route around LIETAVA CASTLE. After 300 meters the asphalt turns into a dirt road. From the tree line is a nice view of the Lietava Castle. After less than a kilometer, joins to our route another route from Lietavská Závadka. Here begins the Cross Road – Calvary, which was ornate with woodcarvings in 1998. The elevation leads through forest canyon and ends in the pass(saddle) ROHÁČ PRI KRÍŽI, symbolizing the area on the border. From this point starts 3,5 kilometers long downhill through the forest and meadows to the Protestant church and cultural center in the Súľov village. From here we can see the whole circle of the Súľov Rocks. The route runs further down on the asphalt surface to the village Hradná and above the pass(saddle) Pod Markom (570m), where the border cross of Súľov land area is located. From this place last time we can see the Súľov Rocks. We continue on the wavy road around the third cross under the hill DUBICA (80m) and go above village MALÁ ČIERNA and after a short way on the meadow we can see the panorama of RAJECKÁ KOTLINA (Rajec basin). The basin is bounded by ridge of MALÁ FATRA. The following downhill on the dirt road takes us to the small village Malá Čierna and the route joins to the Rajec trail.
Route 2:
PREDMIER-ZBYŇOV, green, 16, 5 km, elevation: 320 m, category: SPORT
This route is designed for mountain and trekking bikes, even 2/3 of surface is asphalt. The route follows the old trade route from the valleys of river Váh to the town Prievidza. From the Váh river cycle route we have to turn down at the crossroads to village Mikšová and use the footbridge over river Váh and we get into Predmier (300m). When passing a level crossing it is necessary to be very careful. The route follows around the farm right to the Mlyn pod Hájom (Mill under Háj). At the place, where stands a cross is o border where the flood water stopped in 1959. The cross was built in honor of the Virgin Mary. Alongside the old motocross complex, where is only a tower for VIP visitors, we arrive to the village Jablonové. On the right side of the road is a modern catholic church. Right behind the village is the stone quarry. From this place we can see the massive of the Súľov Rocks.
The entrance to the Súľov gorge is impressive. Under the rock formation called ORGAN you can pass(saddle) through the bridge into a valley of Čierny potok (Black creek) towards village called Vrchteplá. In these places was a mill in the 50-ies. In the gorge we can find a commemorative plaque of famous Slovak geologist D.Štúr. He was a pionner in the field of research in the Súľov Rocks area. A few meters away begin an educational path through the Súľov Rocks. Today it is quite incomprehensible to us that in these places were once mining of limestone. Mining was stopped in 1955.
At the end of the village, at the top end, the cycle route continues in parallel with the blue route Podhorie – Malá Čierna. There is separated on the left side and after one kilometer begins the forest road, which leads us to the nature pass(saddle) called Patúch (621m), where there was a horse station in the past times. About 200 meters above the pass(saddle) is hidden one huge rock massive called BUDZOGÁŇ. Those who have a good imagination could see a human face in this rock formation. From this place to ZBYŇOV are only 3 kilometers. Last downhill section is through the water eroded stone path, so it is important to be careful. After we left the forest we can see fantastic and beautiful sceneries of Rajecká kotlina (Rajec basin). In Zbyňov it is possible to join the blue cycle route Rajec-Žilina.
Route 3:
SÚĽOV - VRCHTEPLÁ, yellow, 4,5 km, elevation: 200 m, category: REKREA
This route is designed for mountain and trekking bikes. It start in village Súľov (400m a.s.l.), on the square at the Lutheran church. We can find here the blue cycle path Podhorie-Malá Čierna and green cycle path Predmier-Zbyňov. From the beginning the route led by asphalt surface, which after 500m ends and we continue on the forest road. Through the Jedľovník valley after 2,5 kilometers of slight elevation we arrive to the pass(saddle) under the village Vrchteplá (600m a.s.l.). From the pass(saddle) we continue downhill to the village. At the municipal office we can join the green cycle path Vrchteplá-Dolina Čierneho potoka (Black creek valley), which leads around SNP memorial. Or later about 500m near the pub we can join the other yellow cycle path Prečín-Predmier.
Route 4:
Sedlo pri kríži (Pass(Saddle) near cross) - Bodiná, yellow, 2,5 km, elevation: 200 m, category: REKREA
This route is designed for mountain and trekking bikes. Route is a coupling between cycle path Podhorie-Malá Čierna, for which we join in a pass(saddle) under Mark (570m a.s.l.) above the village Hradná (370m a.s.l.). From the pass(saddle) we are going down on the forest road, which after 200 meters leads us to meadows and after about 500 meters we are again in the forest. From there on the paved road we can continue to village Bodiná.
Route 5:
PODHORIE – crossroad of paths, yellow, 1 km, elevation: 50 m, category: REKREA
The entire route has an asphalt surface and is a coupling between blue cycle path Podhorie-Malá Čierna and two cycle paths of Rajec valley: the blue cycle path Rajec-Žilina and the green cycle path around Lietava Castle.
Source:
