Zádiel Gorge

The Zádiel gorge cuts through the western edge of the Slovak Karst for about three kilometres, with limestone walls rising some three hundred metres and narrowing to about ten metres at the tightest point. A marked path runs the length of it beside the stream, past a rock pillar called the Sugar Loaf, and climbs out at the top onto the plateau, where the meadows are full of orchids in early summer.

What you'll find

• The narrows - walls three hundred metres high and ten metres apart at the tightest point.
• The Sugar Loaf - a free-standing rock pillar in the gorge.
• The stream path - a marked trail running the full length beside the water.
• The plateau meadows - orchid-rich grassland at the top of the climb.

When to go

April to October is the walking season, with orchids in May and June. The gorge is cool and shaded even in summer. Ice makes the path dangerous in winter.

What to expect

The path is rocky and involves stream crossings. The climb out onto the plateau is steep. Weekends bring crowds to a narrow path.

Nearby

The Slovak Karst runs south, and Kosice is northeast.