Šikľavá Skala: Slovakia's Stunning Ice and Waterfall Phenomenon

Šikľavá Skala is a natural waterfall that turns into a wonderful ice wall and many tiny icicles in the winter. It is only one hour away by train from Košice. Its reachable location makes it a suitable short-trip destination for all visitors and locals of the second-largest city, especially in January.

How to get there

Šikľavá Skala stands between two small villages, Matejovce nad Hornádom and Chrasť nad Hornádom. It is located on the northern edge of the Galmus plateau, at the junction with the Hornád Basin, near the Hornád River.

The easiest way is to take the train from Košice, or Poprad to Matejovce nad Hornádom. It will take around one hour. One return ticket costs up to 7 EUR for an adult. If you own or rent a car, you can park it at the end of the village near the dog shelter.

When to come

The best part of the year to visit the iced waterfall is in the winter – end of the year or in January. But be aware that if the winter is not very cold or the temperatures are going up and down, there might not be a lot of ice. Maybe the best way is to check what other people are posting on social media from the location.

It can be better to visit the Šikľavá Skala when it is snowing in Košice for a couple of days, and the same weather applies to the destination. I went to see the waterfall in time when the snow disappeared in Košice and the majority of places around due to higher temperatures. Although it started to snow in Matejovce nad Hornádom, the iced waterfall was small, and many ice cubes were fallen and scattered on the ground.

Some facts about the waterfall

Šikľavá Skala is only 2 km away by foot from village Matejovce and 2,5 km from village Chrasť.

The water falls down one big limestone rock (Šikľavá Skala) into the former riverbed of Hornád River. People moved the riverbed during the construction of the former Košice-Bohumín railway. This activity uncovered the massive rock wall with an overhang.

In the winter, the height of the iced waterfall can become around 14 meters and 25 to 30 meters wide.

After stepping off the train, you will see a large football field ahead. You need to cross the rail – there is a passage with some graffiti on the walls. There is also a small fountain near the train station with an information table about the village and surroundings. And also about the cycling routes.

Unfortunately, no direct signs tell you where to move if you want to see the waterfall. Well, except for the signs for cyclotourists (red ones). Try to find the local church or the red-colored nearby fire station. Both have distinctive towers that can serve as landmarks for orientation.

From the church, move towards the local cemetery and continue until you reach the dog shelters. Near the shelter stands a small caravan kiosk named Maringotka. It serves both hot and cold drinks but is primarily open on weekends.

After the last house, there is a big field. I saw a parked car and some car imprints in the snow on the nearby route into the woods. Follow the path, and in about 10 to 15 minutes, you will stand in front of the waterfalls. There is a big table with lots of information but without a signpost next to it. You can continue on your way to the other village, Chrasť. It will take you around 20 minutes by foot.

You can also come down the steep hill to the riverbed or use the other route to access it.

Food and other options

Majovce nad Hornádom is a small village of around over 500 people. There is some graffiti near the train station. The spacious playground, used for summer sports, also has its charm. But if you want to drink and eat, there is only one public pub called Hostinec Kobra. Usually, the pub is open daily from 2 pm until 10 pm. People on Google Reviews say the place is nice, cozy, clean, good drinks. And there is a big Cobra depicted on one wall. Since I did not go inside, I’m unaware if they serve food.

Near the fire station, there is supposed to be a small grocery shop called Môj Obchod Paciga. Unfortunately, there is no further information about the opening hours, and I could not notice any logo or anything that would make the shop simple to identify.

Unfortunately, there are no accommodation options.

If you have some spare time on your way back to the station, you can walk up to the forest and get a stunning view of the nearby hills and valleys. And if you walk around the station, you may find an old signed car with many logos. It belongs to one traveller (NaDoraz) who took it from Košice to Vladivostok in 2019.