Bojnice is becoming a hotspot for mountain biking, and boasts Slovakia’s only skill park. (source: Marek Morávik)
The spa town of Bojnice in western Slovakia is fast becoming a mountain biking haven, drawing riders from across Slovakia.
The forests above the town now offer five purpose-built trails and two cycling loops for both beginners and experienced cyclists. The fifth and most challenging trail, aimed at advanced riders, was added to the network in March, according to the regional news website My Horná Nitra. Its completion makes Bojnice eligible to host top-tier national competitions.
Topping off the complex is a one-of-a-kind skill park – the only such facility in Slovakia.
Trails named after nobility
Volunteers from the civic group Hornonitrianske Stopy (Upper Nitra Traces) developed the trails, naming them after Bojnice’s historical aristocrats. The newest and toughest is the Čák Trail, offering a 1.4-km ride with a 200-metre elevation gain. It features steep terrain, large rocks, roots, and jumps – one of which spans six metres in the air.
“It’s split into two parts – the first is fast, with jumps of varying difficulty, the second is steep and technical,” said Filip Roháč, a volunteer who helped build it. All construction was done manually, using only hand tools and natural materials found in the forest.
The network also includes:
Korvín Trail – 900 metres long, ideal for beginners with small jumps and gentle curves.
Pálfi Trail – the oldest, at 5.5 km, offering a mix of all forest conditions.
Gileth Trail – a 2.5-km trail for intermediate riders, with steeper slopes and larger jumps.
Noffry Trail – 800 metres long with no jumps but technical terrain full of boulders and tricky features.
The trails connect to two cycling loops: the 15-km Bojnice–Dubnica loop and a 5-km Bohátka–Bojnice connector. These follow logging roads and are suitable even for families with children.
Trailheads are well-marked and located near Dubnica’s football pitch and the Bohátka turnoff. Maps include colour-coded routes and difficulty guides. While access is free and year-round, riders are advised to avoid the trails at night or right after rain, due to slippery conditions.
Slovakia’s only skill park
Near the Dubnica football pitch sits the Velosvet Thurzov Skill Park – a training area that is unique in Slovakia. It features jumps and obstacles of varying difficulty, ideal for beginners to build confidence before tackling the forest trails.
The Velosvet Thurzov Skill Park in Bojnice (source: Facebook - Hornonitrianske Stopy)
“We recommend that new riders try the skill park first to get used to the terrain,” said Roháč.
The park is free to use and popular throughout the season with riders from across central and western Slovakia. It is also family-friendly, with two simple courses for small children on balance bikes.
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