Hron River – A Water Lover's Paradise

The most popular, by far, is the second largest river in Slovakia – the Hron. The river starts in the Low Tatras, under the Besník saddle, which is not far from the village of Telgárt. The Hron flows for 283 kilometres, 270 of which, starting from Červená Skala and running all the way to the Danube River near Štúrovo, are navigable.

Rafting enthusiasts divide the Hron into three sections. The upper Hron – from Červená Skala to Brezno, the middle Hron – from Brezno to Kozárovce, and the lower Hron – from Kozárovce to its mouth on the Danube. Along its course, the Hron gradually changes from a fierce, fast flowing stream to a slow and quietly meandering river, offering sections that will suit every rafting enthusiast, from the beginner to the seasoned professional.

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The upper Hron is a fast moving river, with numerous bends and rapids along its course, requiring great rafting skills. Up to the village of Heľpa, the river is navigable only in the very early spring season. Here, it flows through a narrow stony channel and looks like a wide brook with tree-lined shores. The strong current, low footbridges, and fallen trees in the channel, along with the cold water and cold weather, are more suitable for rather experienced water enthusiasts. A difficult section is also found just past the village of Polomka, where the river goes through a beautiful five-weir cascade. Going towards Brezno, the channel gradually widens, although the water still descends rapidly. Challenging the upper sections of the river also requires the use of special equipment – a helmet and a neoprene lifejacket are necessary.

Most river rafting takes place in the middle of the Hron. Most water enthusiasts begin their water journey in Brezno, or perhaps in the village of Nemecká – from here, the river is navigable year-round. Even beginners, on any kind of watercraft, can manage the river quite well here. Despite the considerably wider channel, the Hron is still a foothills river, with many rapids along the way, even as far as Banská Bystrica. A very curious point of interest is navigating past the iron works plant in Podbrezová, and especially popular is the wide weir at Slovenská Ľupča. On this section of the river, you will find one of the most dangerous places for water activities – the Šalková weir with a strong back current, which must never be used for rafting. After the village of Sliač, the Hron becomes regulated all the way to Zvolen, passing through a man-made channel. Later on, after the Slatina River, one of its largest tributaries joins it, and the Hron gradually slows.

Rafting is the most popular in this section of the river, and along its shores, you will find several approved campgrounds (in Nemecká, Slovenská Ľupča, Iliaš, Sliač, Šášovské Podhradie, Hliník nad Hronom, and Revište), which offer camping areas or accommodation in bungalows, as well as restaurants and pubs. Those who choose to combine their rafting adventure with the exploration of the cultural and industrial monuments of Slovakia should not miss the Čiernohronská railway, the wooden church in Hronsek, the arboretum and rose garden at Borová mountain, the monastery in Hronský Beňadik, and the ruins of Pustý castle, Šášov and Revište.

The Lower Hron begins in Kozárovce. In this section, it becomes a peaceful river with a network of weirs and a number of small hydroelectric power stations. When constructing these power stations, no one thought about water enthusiasts, and so all rafting craft come to a halt at several nearly stagnant large basins, where portages over the shore are required. Therefore, it is better to start one's rafting from Kalná nad Hronom where the river flows through a wide channel with several weirs along the way. The lower Hron will suit those who would rather spend their free time in comfort, swim in the river, camp in the wild, or simply do some fishing. This is an ideal place for a summer holiday. Wide meanders, shoals, and islands, dead branches around the river, open countryside, and warm water offer a beautiful contrast to the steep hills and forests surrounding the Hron. This section also has campgrounds – at Psiare and Kálnica, the shipyards at Kalná nad Hronom, Hronovce and the Ostrov Lásky (Love Island) near Kamenín. It is definitely worthwhile to leave your boat and go check out the rotunda in Bíňa, the natural landmarks at the Bíňa and Kamenín loess profiles and at the Kamenín salt meadows. Those who decide to float down the river all the way to Štúrovo will complete their rafting experience by sailing against the current of the Danube.

The best time for rafting is right after a moderate rainfall, when there is ample water in the river. During drier periods, there are several sections in the river where portage needs to be carried out, and when the water levels are high, the river becomes dangerous even for experienced rafters. The river is suitable for low draught watercraft, which can be rented at many campgrounds and shipyards along the river. Many river sections are easily reached by train or motor vehicle.

The popularity of rafting on the Hron River can be seen in the book called „Hron – a guide to water tourism“ (Enigma, 2005, updated edition 2007). This is the only comprehensive guide for tourists who would like to visit the river, with detailed maps, pictures, and descriptions of the various sections of the river, containing all the necessary information for people who would like to travel on the water or in a motor vehicle along the river.

The Hron is certainly one of the most beautiful places for rafting in Slovakia. It is a wonderful place for large or small groups with a taste for adventure and those who would like to spend several days out in nature. An estimated 10,000 people float down the Hron River each year. The future of rafting in the Hron will depend on the expansion and new construction of small hydropower plants along its course. These plants endanger the water tourism industry and hurt the river ecosystem when they significantly change the character of the river. Whether the Hron remains a Water Lover's Paradise or a river spotted with hydroelectric plants – will all be decided in the coming years.




Author: Ivana Brezinská
Photo: I. Brezinská, Z. Tarčíková

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