Starohutiansky vodopád

Starohutiansky vodopád is a charming natural attraction hidden in the Pohronský Inovec mountains near Nová Baňa. Owing to its scientific and aesthetic value it has been declared a national natural monument and is managed by the State Nature Conservancy.

The waterfall drops over a roughly five-metre terrain step on a small, unnamed stream that flows into the Starohutský stream. The area was declared protected in 1977. The wider surroundings of the waterfall are built of Tertiary volcanic rocks — various types of andesite and andesitic volcaniclastics that reveal the volcanic past of the whole mountain range.

Though it is a smaller waterfall, its charm lies in the peaceful forest setting, which draws far fewer visitors than the better-known Tatra locations. It is at its most beautiful after heavy rain or during spring snowmelt, when the stream carries the most water. It makes a pleasant destination for an easy walk for those seeking quiet, forest shade and a piece of untouched nature.

The waterfall lies within the cadastral area of the town of Nová Baňa in the Žarnovica district of the Banská Bystrica region, an area rich in mining history and the forested hills of the Pohronský Inovec and Štiavnické vrchy. The surroundings hold many hiking trails and historic mining sites.

If you're planning to explore this less-trodden part of central Slovakia, accommodation in Nová Baňa or the surrounding villages makes an ideal base. A short hike to Starohutiansky vodopád can be combined with discovering the region's mining past, nearby Banská Štiavnica, or the natural beauty of the Pohronie area — creating a peaceful trip away from the main tourist crowds.