The crags of Malý Manín (Small Manin) are more scattered compared to those of Veľký Manín (High Manin). Most of them are oriented in an easterly or south—easterly and southerly direction therefore particularly suitable for spring or autumn climbing or also during cooler days. The climbing and approaches to each sector are often picturesque with pleasant views. The approach to each crag is listed separately for each sector.
🧗♀️ OSTRÁ
This is a seldom visited sector perhaps because of its more difficult approach. Nevertheless, it offers beautiful, long and balanced routes.
🚶♂️ Approach: GPS of the abseil anchor point 49.13990, 18.50956
From the car park behind the strait, return almost to the bridge, just before the bridge turn right onto a forest trail and after about 100m leave the trail, heading into a small saddle between two rocky cliffs in the forest. From the saddle, climb on a inconspicuous short fixed rope on an overgrown steep slope and traverse over a rock wall towards the road. There is a rappel anchor on the edge of the wall with which, you need to abseil about 15m below the walk to a comfortable shelf under the wall. Mind not to drop anything down onto the road.
The descent is by abseiling directly to the road, using the abseil anchor in the middle of the shelf.
🧗♀️ SLNEČNÉ STENY
Slnečné steny (the Sunny Walls) are ones of the most spectacular sectors in the Manin Strait whose walls attract attention with every view of the strait. The sector offers long routes (even several multi—pitch) on a sunny rock. Due to the nature conservation efforts, these walls are particularly suitable for climbing during the Indian summer. The first ascents were climbed in the 1970s. Some of the routes have been rebolted in recent years, but even so, several of them have retained their traditional character. The division of the sector can be seen in the photo (at the topo of the sector).
!!! Approach to upper part in the sector Pravý pilier (the Right Pillar) is different!
🚶♂️ Approach: from the car park behind the strait, return along the road, and opposite the small bridge turn right steeply up the small forest path. Do not cross the stream, it is on the opposite side! After about 300m, turn left along an indistinct path towards a scree and continue up in the direction of a small saddle below the Sunny Walls.
Approach to routes 1 to 33: cross the stream directly from the car park (behind the bridge) and take a forest path up a steep hill through the forest. After approx. 15—20 min. of a relatively steep rise, the path splits. Continue on the path to the left, which leads to the sector Stráž. At the Stráž sector, you need to walk up to the edge of the rocks above the strait. On the left hand side, there is a narrow couloir, which can be used to descend steeply down to the upper part of Sunny Walls.
🧗♀️ STRÁŽ
The Stráž area (The Guard) offers magnificent views of the entire strait. The magical views have been attracting climbers as they amplify the joy of climbing, especially in the autumn, when the vegetation steep slopes on the opposite side on Veľký Manín are painted with vivid colours.
In 2020, the old bolts on older routes were replaced by the new ones. Climbing in this sector is mostly light. The sun shines here until about 2PM. The rock window will surely please the majority, including the non—climbers, as it provides a charming view of the valley.
🚶♂️ Approach: From the car park behind the strait, take a forest path beyond the stream (behind the bridge) up a steep hill through the forest (straight behind the car park). After approx. 15—20 min. relatively steep access, it is necessary to turn left along a wide forest path and go all the way to the edge above the gorge. The rocks of the Stráž (Guard Sector) shine through at the end of the forest above the strait.
🧗♀️ ŠKOLSKÁ
This is a new sector under a traditional sector called the Lost Towers. The sector is suitable for beginners and for children. It has been cleaned and bolted by D. Zajac and L. Makay Jr.
🚶♂️ Approach: from the park car behind the strait, take a forest path beyond the stream (behind the bridge) that leads up a steep hill through the forest (straight behind the parking lot). After approximately 15—20 min. of relatively steep approach, the path splits. Continue straight up through the forest or slightly to the right for another 10—15min. In the forest the path to the right gets lost, it is not easy to find your way, the rocks are difficult to find at first (it is not for nothing the upper towers are referred to as ‘lost’). The forest path, which turns left above a steep climb, leads to the Stráž area.
🧗♀️ STRATENÉ VEŽE
Stratené veže (the Lost Towers) bear their name due to their atypical feature — they are very difficult to find, despite the fact that when seen from the village of Záskalie or from the meadow above Záskalie they tower impressively over the valley, yet as soon as you enter the forest, they hide mysteriously.
It was their majesty that attracted climbers from the first ascents in the Manín Strait. The northeast wall offers several traditional routes. These ones, even after years, do not lose their climbing and moral value. They have no or only minimal bolts. Due to its high difficulty, the compact vertical face of the southern wall was climbed only in the 1970s. Today, it has long routes, demanding good technical skills. It definitely is worth a visit.
🚶♂️ Approach: From the bottom of the Školská , take a right and continue steep up.
🧗♀️ VLNA
The name of the sector was inspired by the shape of the main section. Vlna (the Wave) is a popular and relatively easily accessible sector. The left section offers new easier routes, all of which are very well bolted. The right section also offers harder routes requiring good technical skills in compact rock. The wall is in the sun until about 2PM.
🚶♂️ Approach to the crags of Vlna, Baroko, Biela stena, Verdonský múr and Deravá stena is from the car park behind the strait. You will need to continue on foot towards the village of Záskalie. After about 100m, turn sharply to the left and continue steep up the hill in the direction of the part of the village called Bazalie. After about 700m, turn right when you find yourself in front of a small water source. Once at a meadow, turn left — see the photo “view from the meadow”. Then continue slightly to the left, through the forest. After about 200m, you will see the Vlna sector through the woods on your right hand side.
🧗♀️ BAROKO
The sector Baroko is a small crag with six routes. It is definitely worth a visit. The routes are in nice compact rock and they are not climbed frequently. The sector is in the forest so in the summer, it is more or less in the shadow.
🚶♂️ Approach: Baroko is located in the woods about 300m from the Vlna sector, through a small forest path leading to the left.
🧗♀️ BIELA STENA
The sector Biela stena (the White Wall) is a popular sector. The name of the sector is derived from the colour of the rock. Its long harder routes in solid rock are in white lime. The sun shines here until about 2PM.
🚶♂️ Approach: From Vlna, a forest path leads uphill to the right. The crag is uphill between the trees after about 100m.
🧗♀️ VERDONSKÝ MÚR
Local residents used the name The White Rocks, when they refer to this crag and to the sector Biela stena. The climbers who made here the first ascents were inspired by locations abroad and they named this sector Verdonský múr (the Verdon Wall). Regrettably, it only offers shorter and easier routes compared to the climbing crag in France. However, this does not mean that it should be omitted when discovering Manín climbing. It is good to have some of your own rack gear when on several of the routes.
🚶♂️ Approach: from bellow the sector Deravá stena continue under the rocks and to the left. To the far left of the Verdonský múr is the popular sector Biela stena.
🧗♀️ DERAVÁ STENA
This sector is in the rock belt of the Verdon Wall, on its far right, called Deravá stena (the Leaky Wall). It offers longer routes than in the sector Verdonský múr. The sun shines here in the summer until approximately 2PM. The routes are definitely not excessively bolted, it is probably a good idea to have a few of your own rack gear with you.
🚶♂️ Approach: see also approach to the sector Vlna. In the forest above the meadow, turn slightly to the right and follow a barely visible path. A different option to approach is from the sectors Vlna, Biela stena and Verdonský múr.
🧗♀️ ZABUDNUTÁ
The name Zabudnutá (the Forgotten) itself indicates that this crag has been forgotten in Malý Manín massif. It waited for its climbing discovery until the end of the 1990s. The wall is sunny on the left part (in the summer up to about 2PM) and offers routes of a similar character to that on the sector Deravá stena. New long routes of easy classification are in the right part of the sector.
🚶♂️ Approach: see also the approach to the sector Vlna. In the meadow above the village Záskalie (see also the photo of the meadow in "photo section"), make a slight turn to the right as if through the middle of the meadow. Enter the woods in the ‘corner’ of the meadow, then keep slightly to your right and up through the woods.
🧗♀️ TICHÁ STENA
This is a very small crag to the left of Zabudnutá. If you wander up Zabudnutá and would like to climb some harder routes, try those on Tichá stena (the Silent Wall). You’ll appreciate the absolute silence you will experience under the rock.
🚶♂️ Approach: from Zabudnutá, continue for approximately 50m to the left.
🧗♀️ VETERNÉ BAŠTY
A sector that has been waiting for a relatively long time to be discovered by climbers and especially the decision to engage in the laborious creation of new routes, namely cleaning the rock. J. Zigo started this work with the help of several other club members. The character of some of the routes in the south parts it’s not even fully of Manin — vertical faces and slabs with crystals holds. The popularity of this sector grows with each climbing season. The helmet is definitely recommend!
🚶♂️ Approach from the Manín Strait: Parking is behind the Manín Strait. See approach to Vlna sector on page 88. From the meadow you can see the rock towers on the far right. Continue through the meadow to the right corner, then along the forest path towards the towers.
Approach from the village of Plevník—Drienové: Several cars can fit near the Plevník—Drienové Dolina bus stop. From the car park, you can see the rock towers in the forest (to the south). Go towards the rocks along the road between the houses, after about 100m turn sharply to the right onto a dirt road that gradually turns and climbs up the meadow. In the meadow below the forest you can see a hunting perch (on the left), continue straight up into the forest. There is a feeder at the beginning of the forest. In the wood slightly to the right, the sector Neznáma is first visible. It is about 200—300m further to Veterné bašty.
🧗♀️ VETRÍK
There are several newly bolted routes. Since it is much smaller compared to the neighbouring mighty Veterné bašty (the Wind Bastions), the author of the routes therefore named it only Gentle Wind — Vetrík.
🚶♂️ Approach: The sector is located about 100m before Veterné bašty sector if you are coming from the Manín Strait.
🧗♀️ NEZNÁMA
New sector with easy routes called Neznáma (the Unknown). It is also suitable for children, the names of the routes in the upper left part are inspired by children’s riddles. The sector is shaded all day.
🚶♂️ Approach: see approach to Veterné bašty on page 110, ideally from Plevník. Located in front (under) of the Veterné bašty about 200m, above the feeding area (hayloft) for wild animals.
