Few experiences in Slovakia match the charm of riding the Čiernohronská železnica — a narrow-gauge forest railway winding through the valleys of the Čierny Hron river in the Slovak Ore Mountains. With a track gauge of 760 mm and steam locomotives still puffing along the routes in summer, this living piece of industrial heritage was declared a national cultural monument in 1982 and is considered one of the seven wonders of the Banská Bystrica region.

The railway operates on three routes departing from the main hub at Čierny Balog: into the scenic Vydrovo valley, toward the primeval forest reserve of Dobroč, and in the direction of Chvatimech, where you can connect with the standard-gauge railway line from Banská Bystrica. The journey takes you through lush forested gorges, past mountain streams and meadows — utterly peaceful in summer, strikingly atmospheric in autumn when the valleys glow with golden foliage.

• Chvatimech — the narrow-gauge railway stop is located next to the standard-gauge Banská Bystrica – Červená Skala railway station; a great starting point if arriving by train.
• Čierny Balog — main operational hub reachable by regional bus or car from Banská Bystrica; all three routes depart from here.

• Main season: 1 July – 1 September; up to 8 daily return trips on the Čierny Balog – Vydrovo-Korytárske route.
• Outside the main season (before 30 June), trains run on a timetable with a diesel locomotive or can be arranged on request.
• Steam trains operate daily to Dobroč and Šánske during summer holidays.
• The railway carries approximately 60,000 passengers per year and is run largely by volunteers.

What makes this railway truly special is its story of survival: in 1982 the government ordered the entire network scrapped, but passionate locals and volunteers from the 'Strom života' movement spent years rebuilding it by hand — a remarkable testament to community dedication that turned a condemned railway into one of Slovakia's most beloved tourist treasures.