Location, area and activities

The cottage is situated in the Low Tatras National Park, 40 km from Banska Bystrica in the direction of Brezno, at an altitude of 760 m. Administratively it belongs to the Brezno district in the Banská Bystrica Region, in the Horehronie area of Slovakia.
Its location and the surroundings of Krpacovo offer our guests plenty of opportunities.

In summer the lake (the Krpacovo reservoir) can be used for water sports (swimming, boating, pedal boats, fishing). The surrounding mountains are great for hiking, cycling and mushroom picking – from Krpacovo you can walk all the way up to the main ridge of the Low Tatras. Nearby there is a golf course, a rope park (Tarzania), tennis courts, and in summer a cable car runs up to Mt Chopok.
In winter the nearest ski resort, Ski Krpacovo, is right in the settlement, 2 km from the cottage. Others are Tale, Myto pod Dumbierom, Certovica and Chopok South – the southern side of Jasna, the largest ski resort in Slovakia, with a shared ski pass and a cable-car link to the northern side.

Below you will find detailed trip tips as well as an overview of all the places and attractions sorted by distance. The brackets show the distance and the approximate driving time from the cottage.

Location Location Location Location

From the cottage on foot or by bike

Trips that need no car – they start right at the cottage or at the lake.

Samo Chalupka spring and Hradok (on foot from the cottage)

with kids A forest walk from the lake towards Tale takes you to an abundant mountain spring named after the poet Samo Chalupka, who worked in nearby Horna Lehota. A short way from it lies the Hradok knoll, an archaeological site with traces of prehistoric settlement – a kilometre-long educational trail about the Celts of Horehronie leads to it from the lake. All of it can be combined into an easy loop on foot or by bike.

Bear Path educational trail (5 or 8 km loop)

with kids A marked educational loop through the forests above Krpacovo, in two variants – the shorter one about 5 km, the longer 8 km. Information boards along the way describe the life of the bears that genuinely belong in these woods.

Krpacovo – Tale cycling loop (by bike)

An easy loop along the marked cycling routes 5552 and 8554: from the lake past the Samo Chalupka spring to the Hradok junction, then past the golf course to Tale and back. It follows mostly forest and gravel roads, manageable on a trekking bike; with stops it makes a relaxed half-day ride.

To the main ridge of the Low Tatras (full-day hike)

full-day Straight from Krpacovo you can climb marked trails all the way to the main ridge of the Low Tatras – rewarded with views of both sides of the range. It is a full-day hike for fitter hikers; plan the route on a hiking map in advance and be prepared for mountain weather.

Trip tips

Selected places worth visiting in the area – the tags suggest who each trip suits, the distance in brackets is by road from the cottage.

Tale educational trail (5 km)

with kids A kilometre-long trail at Tale introduces children to the animals and trees of the Low Tatras forests. Interactive elements such as a dendrophone or a forest memory game can be tried on the spot, with more hidden behind QR codes.

Ajax farm (Bystra, 8 km)

with kids A family farm in Bystra offers horse rides with views of the Low Tatras and ponies for children. Kids can pet and feed the animals in the paddocks – sheep, goats, rabbits and calves. It is best to book the riding in advance.

Bystrianska Cave (Bystra, 8 km)

with kids for a rainy day The most important cave of the Horehronie region, with remarkable underground spaces. The tour circuit is 580 m long, takes about 45 minutes and, with just 26 steps and almost no elevation gain, is manageable even for smaller children. The cave stays at a constant 6 °C – warm clothing comes in handy even in summer.

Mt Dumbier and Mt Chopok (Srdiecko, 12 km)

full-day From Srdiecko a marked trail climbs via the General M. R. Stefanik Chalet to Mt Dumbier (2043 m), the highest peak of the Low Tatras – a full-day hike for fitter hikers. A more comfortable alternative is the cable car to neighbouring Mt Chopok (running in winter and summer).

Predajna waterfalls (Predajna, 13 km)

with kids Two cascade waterfalls on the Celno stream, declared a natural monument, lie right below the Kelemen tunnel – a unique technical monument. An easy marked trail leads to them from Predajna, suitable on foot or by bike. They are most beautiful in spring, and in winter they turn into icefalls.

Horehronie rail bikes (Hronec, 17 km)

with kids Pedal-powered draisines on the tracks of the Ciernohronska railway – the first chance to “cycle on rails” in Slovakia. The four-seater draisine sets off from the centre of Hronec and rides through the Hronec valley all the way to Cierny Balog and back, 18 km in total.

Vampire Prdimucha escape room (Horna Lehota, 19 km)

with kids for a rainy day The legend of the only Slovak vampire comes alive in a wooden cottage full of spooky traps and riddles – whoever solves them in time frees the cursed Jan Lehotsky. The game takes about 20 minutes and is followed by a vampire-themed educational trail around the village.

Double Red Cars Museum (Brezno, 21 km)

for a rainy day The largest collection of sports and exotic cars in Slovakia – about seventy of them stand on the five floors of the museum. A dream for every fan of fast wheels and a reliable plan for a rainy day.

Horne Lazy lookout tower (Brezno, 21 km)

with kids The second tallest lookout tower in Slovakia – after 192 steps you stand almost 40 m above the forest with views from Kralova hola to Dumbier. An educational trail with wooden animal sculptures and a giant forest megaphone leads to it from Brezno, and entry to the tower is free.

Paddling down the Hron (Brezno, 21 km)

full-day Near Brezno the Hron is a calm river suitable even for complete beginners. Canoe and raft rentals provide the gear and transport, and trips range from half a day to several days.

Ciernohronska railway and the Vydrovo open-air museum (Cierny Balog, 27 km)

with kids full-day The historic forest railway carries visitors on steam and motor trains from Cierny Balog to the Vydrovo valley, where a forestry open-air museum awaits with an educational trail full of stops for children. You can easily spend a whole day here.

Lupca Castle (Slovenska Lupca, 29 km)

The medieval castle above the Hron has stood since the 13th century and hosted Hungarian kings. It is open to the public through guided tours, and in the courtyard grows the memorial linden of King Matthias, about 700 years old.

Zbojska sheep farm (Zbojska pass, 38 km)

with kids full-day The sheep farm below the Muranska planina plateau combines outlaw cuisine with a farmstead full of sheep and Hucul horses. Children can let off steam at the playground and with the animals, and the whole family will enjoy the lookout tower above the pass.

What you will find nearby

Krpacovo (2 km, 4 min)

Hotel Krpacovo (Sauna, Fitness), Snowmobile rental, Horse-drawn sleigh rides, Ski Krpacovo (2 ski lifts, 1.4 km of slopes with snowmaking, equipment rental and ski school), Tennis, Reservoir (Beach volleyball, Fishing)

Tale (5 km, 9 min)

Swimming pool (Stupka and Partizan hotels, salt-water pool at Stupka), Cross-country ski loops on the snow-covered golf course, Bowling and sports hall (Hotel Partizan), Golf course (18-hole championship Gray Bear + 9-hole academy with night play), Ski resort (night skiing, ski rental and service), Educational trail with interactive elements, E-bike rental (May – August), Tennis courts, Reservoir (Fishing), Tarzania (rope park with minigolf)

Dolna Lehota (7 km, 12 min)

Vajskovska Valley – one of the quietest valleys of the Low Tatras, with an educational trail and cyclable as far as Palenica, Vajskovsky Waterfall (9 m, green trail)

Bystra (8 km, 11 min)

Ajax farm (horse and pony riding, mini zoo), Bystrianska Cave, Fitness centre, Bowling, Church, Swimming pool, Minigolf, Tennis, Ski lifts

Myto pod Dumbierom (10 km, 14 min)

Bike park (chairlift running in summer), Cave of the Dead Bats, Horses, Swimming pool – hotel Myto, Ski centre, Tennis – hotel Myto

Chopok South – Srdiecko (12 km, 17 min)

Mountain carts (Kosodrevina – Krupova), Cable car to Mt Chopok (2024 m, running in winter and summer), Skiing in Jasna (Chopok South is the southern side of the largest resort in Slovakia, the ski pass is valid on both sides), Hiking (Mt Dumbier 2043 m – the highest peak of the Low Tatras, General M. R. Stefanik Chalet)

Predajna (13 km, 20 min)

Predajna waterfalls (a natural monument below the Kelemen tunnel, easy marked trail)

Podbrezova (13 km, 21 min)

Bowling, Beach swimming pool, Tennis

Hronec (17 km, 23 min)

Horehronie rail bikes (pedal-powered draisines on railway tracks), Ciernohronska railway stops (Hronec, Chvatimech)

Horna Lehota (19 km, 27 min)

Vampire Prdimucha escape room with a vampire-themed educational trail, Samo Chalupka memorial room and educational trail

Brezno (21 km, 28 min)

Historic town square with the town tower, Double Red Cars Museum (sports car collection), Horehronie Museum, Minigolf, Rafting on the river Hron (canoe and raft rentals), Synagogue (tours and cultural events), Horne Lazy lookout tower

Certovica pass (24 km, 28 min)

Ski Certovica (4 ski lifts, 5.5 km of slopes at 1,120 – 1,460 m), Starting point of ridge hikes (red trail to Mt Dumbier)

Cierny Balog (27 km, 36 min)

Dobrocsky primaeval forest, Forestry open-air museum, Medvedovo (Kram, Urbanov vrch – skiing), Ciernohronska railway (+ Museum)

Slovenska Lupca (29 km, 34 min)

Lupca Castle (guided tours)

Zbojska Pass (38 km, 47 min)

Salas Zbojska sheep farm below the Muranska Planina – outlaw cuisine, sheep and Hucul horses, children's playground, Lookout tower above the pass