Tree Top Walk: Discover the National Park from Above

A small country in the heart of Central Europe hides an amazing place high above the ground. The Tree Top Walk is located in the mountainous area near the village of Malá Franková in the heart of the species-rich forests of the Pieniny National Park.

The unique wooden trail, which the region opened in 2017, leads directly through the crowns of the beech forest. It offers stunning views of the Belianske Tatras and the surrounding landscape of Bachledova Valley. It combines the natural beauty of the High Tatras with modern architecture to bring people closer to the surrounding ecosystem without interfering with its fragile structure.

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How to Get to Bachledova Valley and the Walk

This popular tourist spot is located in the Zamagurie region in northeastern Slovakia. Bachledova Valley falls under the Pieniny National Park with exceptional nature and a wide range of activities available throughout the year. One of the main attractions is the wooden tree top walk.

You can easily reach Bachledova Valley by car or public transport from Ždiar or Poprad. You can hike to the walk from the villages of Malá Franková and Jezersko. And in the winter season via the ski bus, which is free.

From there, you can take a cable car or hiking trail to the walk. The most comfortable and fastest way is the 10-person cable Bachledka Gondola. It departs from a paid parking lot in the valley where you can leave your car. The gondola takes you directly to the ridge of Spišská Magura, where the entrance to the tree top walk is located. The ride takes less than 10 minutes.

On foot, the hike will take you approximately 40 to 60 minutes depending on your pace and fitness. The starting point is the parking lot in Bachledova Valley. The trail leads through a marked forest road with views of the surrounding countryside.

The tree top walk is accessible year-round. However, always check the opening hours in advance, as they may vary depending on the season. Usually, it is open from 9:00 to 18:00 (17:00) in summer and until 16:00 in winter. At the top, you will find several buffets, restaurants and a peaceful environment.

The area around Bachledova Valley is a great place for families with children, couples and individuals who love being in nature. Here you will encounter unforgettable views in the embrace of Tatra nature.

Tree Top Walk

Surrounded by the Belianske Tatras, the wooden walk offers more than 1,200 meters of walking. It gradually rises to a maximum height of 24 meters above the ground. The tree top walk is barrier-free and accessible to everyone – including families with small children and people with limited mobility.

Along the way, you will find several educational panels that will tell you more about the local fauna, flora, and ecology.

The walk ends at a 32-meter high viewing tower, which provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the Belianske Tatras, Pieniny, and the wide surroundings. Like the walk, it also offers various educational stops. In the middle of the tower lies a net for adventurous spirits, from where you can see everything that is on the ground below you. You can quickly reach it from above via a long adrenaline slide.

The design of the walk and the viewing tower was created by engineers to interfere as little as possible with the natural environment of the diverse forests of the national park. Therefore, the construction mainly consists of natural materials like wood, which helps it harmoniously blend into the surrounding environment.

One of the main ideas of this project is to support biodiversity and protect the local fauna and flora. The tree top walk passes over forests with rare plant and animal species listed on educational panels along the route. From life at ground level to the treetops, where many birds and small animals live.

You can experience all seasons here. Surrounded by lush greenery, the autumn colors of deciduous trees, the winter fairy tale, and the awakening life in spring. The walk in Bachledova Valley also offers guided services for visitors who wish to delve even deeper into the mysteries of this area.

Other Activities You Can Experience in Bachledova Valley

Not only the Tree Top Walk but also several other activities make Bachledova Valley a great destination for various activities. The area covers several hiking and cycling trails popular especially during the summer and autumn months. The paths will lead you through majestic forests and colorful mountain meadows, where you will encounter an adrenaline bobsled track and a rope center, where both young and old can test their courage.

In the Bachledova Valley area, there is also one of the most famous ski resorts in the region – Bachledka Ski & Sun. The resort offers visitors more than 10 km of groomed slopes of varying difficulty. Organizers also consider trails for beginners, families with children and experienced skiers. Freestyle skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts will also find their place in the snowpark with obstacles and jumps. In winter, you can also explore Bachledova Valley on cross-country skis along trails leading through the Pieniny National Park.

The modern era of Bachledova Valley began in the 1980s, when the first lifts and slopes were built here. However, it quickly became a popular destination for winter sports and summer hiking. A significant milestone was 2017, when the region opened the suspended wooden walk and contributed to the development of tourism. Today, this place is known to visitors as a year-round destination with plenty of natural and sporting experiences.

Conclusion

The Tree Top Walk was created by builders who were inspired by similar projects abroad. They adapted the Bachledova route to the Tatra environment, creating the first work of its kind in Slovakia. It has its unique place in the region.

In Germany, the Baumwipfelpfad in the Bavarian Forest National Park is the first treetop walk in the world built above the treetops. The structure with innovative architecture was opened in 2009. Since then, it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. The Bavarian walk is 1.3 km long, making it one of the longest treetop walks in the world. Just like in Slovakia, it is dominated by a viewing tower 44 meters high. The spiral design allows for easy access for families with children, older visitors, and people in wheelchairs.

The well-known approach from the Bavarian Forest National Park is – “let nature be nature.” This means minimal human intervention. The Baumwipfelpfad maximally respects the natural environment with the aim of promoting tourism without damaging the forest. The route is lined with educational elements focused on raising awareness of the importance of protecting trees and biodiversity.

Since the Bavarian Forest National Park borders the Czech park Šumava, together they form the largest contiguous green area in Central Europe. It covers more than 100,000 hectares and this area is also called “The Green Roof of Europe.” From the Bavarian viewing tower, you can also see the Šumava Mountains and, in good weather, even the snowy Alps.