Veľký Kriváň: the route from Vrátna, difficulty and a practical guide

Veľký Kriváň is the roof of the Malá Fatra and also the peak with the biggest gap between the easy way and the hard way. With the cable car you can be on top an hour after leaving the car; on foot from the valley it is a full-day hike with a big height gain. This guide compares the options and helps you choose.

Three ways up Kriváň

1. Cable car plus 40 minutes on foot. The gondola from Chata Vrátna takes you up to Snilovské sedlo, where the top station stands at 1,494 m. From there the red waymarks climb steadily to the summit, 40 minutes and 200 m of ascent. Back the same way. More about the cable car in The Chleb cable car.

2. A loop from the cable car via Chleb. Snilovské sedlo, Veľký Kriváň, Chleb, the saddle behind Hromové, Kopiská, Chata pod Chlebom and back to the saddle on the green waymarks. In total 7.6 km, 3 hours and 457 m of ascent; the resort lists it as suitable for children.

3. A full day on foot from Vrátna. The municipality recommends a loop from Vrátna via Chata Vrátna, Snilovské sedlo, Veľký Kriváň, the Bublen saddle, Chrapáky and Sedlo za Kraviarskym back to Vrátna. It is 11 km, takes about six and a half hours, and the municipality describes it as demanding, with a big height difference.

Waymarks on the full-day loop

1. From Vrátna to Snilovské sedlo on green.
2. From the saddle to Veľký Kriváň on red, 40 minutes.
3. Along the ridge on red to the Bublen saddle.
4. On yellow via Chrapáky.
5. On blue to Sedlo za Kraviarskym.
6. On green back to Vrátna.

You can shorten the climb to Snilovské sedlo with the cable car. According to the resort it saves about two hours of walking, turning the loop into a pleasant day of ridge walking and descent.

The long way from the south

You can also reach the main ridge from the opposite side, from Šútovo. A hiking portal gives 16 km, 1,292 m of ascent and six and a half hours for the hike from Šútovo to Chleb. It is an option for strong walkers who want to cross the whole Malá Fatra rather than just bag its summit.

Difficulty by option

• From the cable car there and back: a short hike with a gentle climb that most people can manage in sturdy shoes.
• The loop via Chleb: the resort gives it its lowest difficulty grade and recommends it for families too.
• On foot from Vrátna: a full day's effort with a big height gain, for fit walkers.

The whole ridge is open ground above the tree line. In good weather it is a walk with views; in fog and wind it is an easy place to lose your bearings.

When to go

The path from Snilovské sedlo to Veľký Kriváň is not among the national park's spring closures. From 1 March to 15 June a different section is closed, the blue route from Vendovka to Malý Kriváň. In winter the ridge is exposed to wind and avalanches and is only for experienced hikers with winter equipment.

Practical tips

• Check that the cable car is running on vratna.sk; it can stop in strong wind.
• Pack a windproof jacket, hat and gloves even in summer, as the ridge is colder than the valley.
• You can eat at the Panoráma restaurant by the top station and, on the loop, at Chata pod Chlebom.
• In summer start early; storms mostly come in the afternoon.
• The Slovak mountain rescue service, HZS, is on 18 300.

More routes from the valley are in Vrátna valley and in our overview of autumn hikes.

From the cottage

From Chata Ranto in Nižné Kamence it is 9.3 km to the cable car's valley station, about 18 minutes by car. If you see a clear sky above the ridge from the cottage in the morning, take it as your cue to go.