Hlinska Valley is the largest side branch of Kôprová Valley in the High Tatras — a wild, dramatic place where nearly 600-metre rock walls plunge steeply into the valley floor, making them some of the most impressive in the entire High Tatras. If you are after raw mountain scenery and a sense of genuine wilderness, this is absolutely the place.

The valley stretches about 3 km and is forested in its lower section, gradually giving way to open rocky terrain. Beneath the slopes of Hrubý vrch lie two wide rocky cirques — known as Veľká záhrada ('Big Garden') and Malá záhrada ('Small Garden') — filled with snow for most of the year. The Hlinský stream flows through the valley, and in winter the whole scene transforms into a frosty, hushed landscape. Spring brings dramatic snowmelt, while summer reveals a quietly wild green character throughout.

• Podbanské or Tri studničky — blue-marked trail, crossing Vyšné Kôprovské sedlo pass (2,180 m a.s.l.) towards Mengusovská Valley and onward to Štrbské Pleso — moderate to demanding.

• The valley lies within the Tatra National Park — stay on marked trails and follow all nature protection rules.

Interesting fact: the name 'Hlinska' does not come from clay ('hlina' in Slovak) — historical records suggest it is a corruption of 'Hincova dolina', named after miners called 'hincovia' who once worked here. A small linguistic mystery hidden deep in the mountains.