Sivý vrch is the first prominent rocky hill in the main ridge of the Western Tatras (Západné Tatry). It is regarded as one of the most beautiful mountains in Slovakia, boasting an exceptionally rich flora that thrives on lime. The mountain is composed of limestones and dolomites, featuring many intriguing rock formations. Its elevation is 1,805 meters above sea level.
Tourist Routes to Grey Hill
There are several turistic routes that lead to the top of Sivy Vrch (Grey Hill). We started our journey at the mountain hut located beneath the White Rock, following the red trail. Right from the beginning, we were greeted with beautiful, sunny weather and a slight breeze. We anticipated a steep climb up a wide forest slope. After about twenty minutes, the path narrowed into a smaller forest trail. After navigating through the steep forest sections, we arrived at the White Rock area, where we took a short detour to explore.
Rocky Town
We continue along the forest paths until we reach the beginning of the route, which becomes quite interesting. The scenery features stunning limestone rock formations that take our breath away. One of the most unique experiences on Grey Hill is undoubtedly the passage through the expansive rock city known as the Radium Rocks.
As we enter this magnificent rock town, we are surrounded by tall formations of various shapes that are incredibly photogenic and truly captivating. Their unique appearance fascinates us, and there is much to admire. At times, we encounter sections where we need to use our hands to navigate, and there are also areas secured with chains for safety.
Just below the peak, right next to the hiking trail, we discover a narrow opening that leads to one of the deepest chasms in the Western Tatras, which drops 88 meters. This can be a dangerous spot, especially if a hiker doesn’t notice it in time. Nevertheless, it is very intriguing.
Sivý Vrch Climbing
The final ascent to the summit involves navigating a smaller chimney in the rocks, which is secured by an extended chain. Once we cross this section, we reach the top. From the summit, we are greeted with panoramic views of the Orava and Liptov hills. We can admire the majestic Mala and Veľká Fatra mountains, as well as a significant portion of the ridge of the Western Tatras.
Descent to Zuberec
After a longer break, we descended from the top in the opposite direction toward the Pálenica saddle. The terrain isn’t difficult, but it is quite rocky, and in some places, we had to descend with the help of chains. During the descent, we paused and turned around several times to admire the rocky peak we had just come from. The trail continues through an area affected by slash-and-burn techniques until we reach the saddle. From there, we have about two and a half hours to get to Zuberec. It’s important to be a bit noisier on that stretch, as we are passing through the habitat of our most sizable forest dweller. 🙂
Hiking Slovakia
We had a wonderful day in the mountains. The 17 km hike to Sivy vrch (Grey Hill) took us just over 8 hours at a completely relaxed pace. Sivý Vrch climbing was indcredible. We enjoyed beautiful autumn weather, allowing us to appreciate the stunning beauty of this part of our countryside in all its glory.
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