For a stay in Lesnica, you can choose from several specific activities: marked hiking trails, the Prielom Dunajca and Prielom Lesnického potoka gorges, and a rafting trip on the Dunajec to Lesnica. The trail descriptions list intermediate and end points, while the river trip has an approximate duration; visits to the Church of St. Michael the Archangel must be arranged in advance. You can plan your stay around hikes, a river trip or a cultural and historical visit.
Gorges and natural surroundings
The Prielom Dunajca National Nature Reserve also lies within the cadastral area of Lesnica. Prielom Dunajca is a gorge formed by the Dunajec River and is of great scientific and scenic-aesthetic significance. A tourist trail passes through the gorge and also serves as an excursion and educational trail with ten stops. If you enjoy exploring with a clear theme, you will find both a trail and a series of learning stations here.
Prielom Lesnického potoka is an aesthetically striking gorge. The two gorges offer different points of interest: at Prielom Dunajca, the focus is on how the river formed the gorge and its scientific and scenic significance; at Prielom Lesnického potoka, it is on the gorge’s aesthetic appeal.
Marked trails and their destinations
A blue-marked hiking trail passes through the Prielom Lesnického potoka Nature Reserve. After joining the red-marked trail, it continues to the Lesnica–Szczawnica pedestrian border crossing. Another blue-marked trail leads from Červený Kláštor via Cerla, Targov and Lesnica to the confluence of Lesnický potok and the Dunajec.
The red-marked trail runs from the Lesnica/Szczawnica border crossing through Lesnica towards Lesnické sedlo. The trail descriptions can be distinguished by their destination or route: the border crossing, the confluence, or the direction of Lesnické sedlo. Cerla and Targov also mark intermediate points on the trail from Červený Kláštor. This lets you distinguish the routes by their place names and markings without treating them as a single route.
Rafting on the Dunajec
Traditional trips on wooden rafts on the Dunajec end at the harbour near Lesnica. The route from Červený Kláštor to Lesnica is listed as 11 kilometres and approximately 1.5 hours; the duration depends on the water level. The approximate time is a useful guide for planning, but should not be taken as an exact, minute-by-minute duration.
Two qualified raftsmen in traditional Goral clothing accompany the trip to Lesnica and explain the rafting tradition and the history of the Pieniny. The cultural commentary is part of the trip itself. As operating conditions may vary seasonally, check in advance whether rafting is available on your chosen dates.
Church and practical planning
The Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Lesnica is a single-nave Renaissance church of the Roman Catholic Church. It was built in the first half of the 17th century on Gothic foundations. The combination of Renaissance architecture and Gothic foundations gives the church a distinctive architectural point of interest. Visits are by arrangement, so please organise your visit in advance.
Lesnica–Chata Pieniny has 150 parking spaces. Parking is permitted only in designated paved and surfaced areas. Check current availability and local restrictions before travelling, and follow the signs on site.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Vysne Ruzbachy, Plavnica, Nová Ľubovňa, Kamienka, Šambron, Mníšek Nad Popradom, Maly Lipnik, Altlublau.
For the overview of the wider region: Stará Ľubovňa.
