Region: Staré Hory Mountains

Staré Hory Mountains – a mountain range in the Low Tatras in the Western Carpathians, Slovakia. In the east, they are separated from the Low Tatras by the Hiadeľské sedlo pass and the Hiadeľská dolina and Barboriná dolina, which descend from it to opposite sides. In the north and west, they are separated from the Great Fatra and Kremnické Mountains by the Korytnická dolina, the Donowalská Pass, the Starohorský potok and Bystrica valleys, and in the south, the border is formed by the Hron valley. The highest peak is Kozí chrbát, which is 1330 m a.s.l.

Staré Hory Mountains is formed on the southern end, as well as on the north-eastern branch, mainly of limestone and shale from the Cretaceous period. The eastern part of the mountain range is formed by limestones and dolomites from the Triassic and Jurassic periods, and the westernmost part (west of Banská Bystrica) is similarly formed. The area north of Banská Bystrica is made up of shales and sandstones from the Paleolithic period.

The main ridge runs from the Hiadelská Pass westwards through the peaks of Kozí chrbát (1330 m), Hadliarka (1211 m), Kečka (1225 m) and Barania hlava (1,206 m), where it changes direction to the southwest and continues through the peaks of Hrubý vrch (1169 m), Jelenská skala (1153 m), Žiare (1045 m), Suchý vrch (884 m) and Končity vrch (794 m). On both sides, side ridges separate valleys, through the bottom of which streams flow into Korytnice, Starohorský potok, Bystrica or Hron. The vast majority of the Staré Hory Mountains are located in the Hron catchment area, only streams flowing from the north-eastern part to Korytnice are in the Váh catchment area.

Larger valleys include: Veľká Šindliarka, Uhliarska dolina, Marková, Šponga, Andrášova dolina, Racvalová, Bukovská dolina, Veľká Zelená, Haliar, Banská dolina, Sasovská dolina and Nemčianska dolina.

The natural environment is well preserved in most areas. The most damaged areas are around the tourist centre of Donovaly at the northern end of the mountain range, and interference in the original environment is visible in the area between the villages of Staré Hory and Špania Dolina (abandoned mine shafts, shafts, tunnels and spoil heaps). The mountains are mostly forested, the dominant tree species being spruce. In the Bystrica river basin, forest beech predominates. The surroundings of Banská Bystrica are heavily deforested.

Hikes in the Staré Hory Mountains: