Žiarska dolina, recreation village - Stará stávka 1 1/2hod - Baranec Mt. 2hod - Smrek 1/2hod - Žiarske sedlo saddle 1/2hod - crossroads in Malé Závraty 1/2hod- Žiarska chata tourist cottage 1hod - Žiarska dolina valley, recreation village 1 1/4 hod
Total: 7 1/4hod
Elevation gain: 1,285 m

Set out on the yellow-marked trial from the Žiarsak dolina valley (900m a.s.l.). Asphalt road will bring you to the crossroads. Turn left onto aforest past. The path meandering in a slope cloaked by the spruce forest climbs to the crest of Stará stávka (1,299m a.s.l.).The shelter standing at the place where the path surpasses the upper timberline invites to take a rest. The ascent continues through the scree and across the dwarf pine scrub. Higher above the dwarf pines disappear and the landscape changes in alpine meadows, former pastures. A stony path will finally bring you to the summit of the Baranec Mt. (2,185m a.s.l.). The unique view from the third tallest mountain of the Western Carpathians explains why this pyramid-shaped mountain is visible practically from any point of the region.

Turning to the north one gets a different view presenting the entire beauty of the Roháče Mts. concentrated around the Baníkov Mt. The Roháče Mts. come closer as you continue in the route on the crest over the Smrek Mt. (2,080m a.s.l.)and as you descend to the Žiarske sedlo saddle(1,917m). If you feel like it, continue on the rocky crest and you can literally touch the rock cone of the Plačlivé Mt. (2,125m a.s.l.). Basic route drops to the crossroads called Malé Závraty where the green-marked path joins the blue-marked one descending from the Smutné sedlo saddle. On the right side of the path there is in the upper part of the Žiarska dolina valley with the impressively huge Baníkov Mt. (2.178m a.s.l.).

The route of ascent to its summit starts next to the Žiarska chata tourist cottage (1,300m a.s.l.) over the Jalovské sedlo saddle. It is not part of our trip though. The visitors who would like to see the area can accommodate in the cottage and undertake numerous high-mountain tours. After taking refreshment in the cottage you will perhaps visit also with the monument erected to the victims of accidents in Západné Tatry, situated nearby. A comfortable paved road will bring you safely to the aim in recreation village Žiarska dolina even in dusk.