There are more than 6200 caves including shorter caves of overhang character and Karst territories cover more than 2700 sq.km in Slovakia.
The majority of registered caves is in the Slovak Karst, Low Tatras and Spiš-Gemer Karst (Slovak Paradise, Murán Plateau), Greater Fatra, Western, High and Belianske Tatras.
Our caves are mostly formed in Mesozoic Middle Triassic Limestones, less in travertines and sporadically in other less soluble rocks.
More than 180 caves are formed in non-karst rocks (andesites, basalts and their volcanoclastics, sandstones, quartzites, shales, quartz).
Zbojnícka jaskyna (Outlaw’s cave), Pieniny
Zbojnícka jaskyna (Outlaw’s cave) is approx. 30 metres long cave in limestone rock, hidden on southern slopes of Haligovské skaly (Haligovce Rocks) under Hrubá skala (the Rough Rock).
Locality belongs to Pieniny National Park. Together with a 5-metres high stone window in front of the cave entrance, it belongs to most interesting natural beauties of Pieniny mountain range.
Entrance to the cave is less than 2 metres high, A-shaped crevice. First small "lobby" is separated from larger "hall" by low arch.
At the end of the hall starts another low passage that leads after 2-3 metres to back "chamber". We saw several niches with hibernated bats inside.
Mountains
Haligovské skaly is slovak name for group of limestone rock formations, towering high above village Haligovce in far north of Slovakia.
Rocks belong to mountain range and National Park
Pieniny. Border with Poland is just few kilometres northwards.
In typical reef relief are mainly on the ridge and on the southern and south-western slopes the groups of bizarre rocky towers and rocks (
Biela, Cervená, Sovia, Koncistá, Hrubá),
gutters, water-karst valleys (
Široká, Hlboká) and limestone debris.
In the rocks is a number of passages, cavities and caves. The most famous cave is
Aksamitka in
Cervená Skala (Red Rock),
Brestová Diera (White Elm hole) in the rock,
about 30 meters long cave
Zbojnícka (Outlaw’s) under
Hrubá Skala (the Rough Rock), famous by 5 metres high rock window called
Outlaw’s Gate.
Smaller cavities and caves are remnants of larger underground spaces, which are swamped. Caves were known to the local population in early Middle Ages.
Access
It is best to park your car up in the mountain pass, called Lesnícke sedlo.
Then just follow marked hiking path (red signs) westwards. Trail will lead you through large meadow to forest without any notable climb, terrain is quite flat and comfy.
After few hundreds metres you will find yourself in between various rock formations.
Follow green marked trail from crossroad and descend down the path to find Outlaw’s Gate and Cave. They are stunning!
It’s not too difficult half-day long hike, great views to valleys and further to High Tatras are guaranteed.
Solid hiking boots and poles are very recommended, because some parts of the trail leads through exposed steep terrain on rocky reefs.
Also check and download GPS tracklog, the Outlaw’s Gate and Cave are off the marked trails and path is barely visible.
More pictures from our hike can be found on my Flickr account.
Be respectful to nature and leave no trace!
Map
You can view (or print) hiking map of the area from wandermap.net or mapy.hiking.sk, or download the tracklog.
Gallery
Other references
sources: pieniny.sk, own visit and photos