Jánošíkove diery: a complete guide to the route, ladders and waterfalls

In Terchová people just call them the diery, the holes. They are a system of canyons the Dierový stream has cut into the Rozsutce national nature reserve, and thanks to ladders, footbridges and steps you can walk through them on marked trails. This guide explains what is what, which route to choose and what to check before you go.

The three parts of the gorges

• Dolné diery (the Lower gorges) are closest to Biely Potok. You walk them at the end of the small loop, and they have two waterfalls.
• Nové diery (the New gorges) run from the Ostrvné junction to Podžiar. They have a great many ladders and wooden bridges and are one way only, walked from the bottom up against the flow of the stream.
• Horné diery (the Upper gorges) above Podžiar are the wildest. They have the most waterfalls and ladders, some ladders are 12 to 15 metres high, and the big loop runs through them.

Routes

• The small loop: Biely Potok, Ostrvné, Nové diery, Podžiar, Dolné diery and back to Biely Potok. Blue, yellow and green trails, 5 km, 210 m of ascent, two and a half to three hours. Hiking portals say families with young children and older walkers manage it too.
• The big loop: Biely Potok, Ostrvné, Nové diery, Podžiar and up through Horné diery to the Medzirozsutce saddle. The way back to Podžiar follows the green waymarks and avoids Horné diery, which are one-way, then continues down through Dolné diery to Biely Potok. 12 km, 768 m of ascent and about five hours.
• The nature trail from Štefanová: three kilometres with 185 m of ascent and ten boards about nature, entering the gorges from the Štefanová side.
• The extension to Malý Rozsutec: from the Medzirozsutce saddle it is 30 to 40 minutes to the summit with its chains; more in Malý Rozsutec.

Ladders and footbridges

The ladders, steps and footbridges are metal and timber, and in Nové and Horné diery they follow each other in quick succession. It is not climbing, but you will use your hands often, so wear your pack on your back and keep your hands free. Near the waterfalls everything is damp with spray. According to a hiking portal, the ladders and bridges have been renovated in recent years.

Where to start and park

Both loops start in Biely Potok at the paid car park in front of Hotel Diery, where there is also a bus stop called Terchová, Biely Potok h. Diery. In the main season and at weekends the car park fills up quickly, so come early. The second way in is from Štefanová, which also has a paid car park. Entry to the gorges themselves is free.

The gorges through the seasons

• Spring: the gorges are not part of the national park's spring closure, but there is a lot of water in them after the snowmelt.
• Summer: the most visitors, with waiting at the ladders. Come early in the morning.
• Autumn: quieter, but with wet leaves on the footbridges. Tips in Jánošíkove diery in autumn.
• Winter: the safety features and paths can be icy, and hiking portals recommend microspikes and poles. The upper sections can become impassable in winter and after heavy rain.

After the hike

From the car park in Biely Potok it is ten minutes by car to Chata Ranto in Nižné Kamence. The yard has parking for the whole group, so the cars stay right by the house.