Description

Suchá Belá is the most visited gorge in the Slovak Paradise and is considered one of the most romantic gorges in the national park. It is one of the most easily accessible gorges, as its beginning is located directly in the tourist centre Podlesok.

There are several cafeterias and restaurants in this tourist centre, which you can visit after returning from Suchá Belá. There is also one of the five external defibrillators that you can use in case of an emergency. It is located at the entrance to the local reception.

In addition to the well-known Misové waterfalls, you will also find the magnificent Okienkový, Korytový and Bočný waterfalls. These waterfalls can be climbed with the help of a set of ladders and steps, which is a great experience in itself.

Suchá Belá is accessible all year round. Conditions in the gorge can change depending on the season or the weather. We therefore recommend a suitable selection of hiking clothing and equipment (sturdy shoes, spare socks, etc.). In the winter months, the ladders can be covered with ice, so we recommend bringing crampons.

You will also need to pay a visitor's fee when entering the gorge.

Parking

For parking you can use 2 paid parking lots in Podlesok. For more detailed information, see parking lots and parking fees.

Crossing the gorge

The Suchá Belá Gorge is marked by a green hiking trail and is passable only in one direction - upstream of the stream. The gorge is 3.7 km long with a gradient of approximately 420 m and a crossing time of approximately 2 hours.

As this gorge is very popular, during the summer hiking season we recommend hiking in the early morning hours to avoid the crowds, especially at the Misové waterfalls. In the worst traffic jams, you can wait for almost an hour at Misové waterfalls.

After crossing Suchá Belá, you can rest and recharge your batteries in the wooden gazebo at the top of the river. You have several alternatives for the return journey. The first one is to go directly back to Podlesok in the direction of Suchá Belá, záver > Pod Vtáčim hrbom > Nad Podleskom > Podlesok. This route takes approximately 90 minutes.

Another alternative is the route with a stop at Kláštorisko in the direction Suchá Belá, záver > Pod Vtáčim hrbom > Kláštorisko > Pod Kláštoriskom > Nad Podleskom > Podlesok. This route takes approximately 2 and a half hours.

Bicycle rental

If you want to make your trip back to Podlesok more pleasant, you can rent a bike from Cyklo Tour Spiš. You can rent a bike at the end of Suchá Belá or also at Kláštorisko. The price for the descent to Podlesok is 7,50 €.

History

The gorge probably got its name from the fact that its flow disappears in the gravel bedrock for most of the year a few tens of metres before it reaches the Veľká Biela voda - so the stream is dry.

The first exploratory hike was led by Martin Róth, which took them to Misové waterfalls in 1900. The hiking trail to them was built and marked only in 1908. The entire gorge was successfully traversed during a winter crossing in 1910 by a group led by Alexander Mervay.

In 1959, this gorge of the Misové waterfalls, which was and still is its most spectacular jewel, was fully opened to the public. This year is also significant because for the first time metal risers were used as a new access element for crossing the gorge.