Turistická útulňa Jána Kruteka

The Cesta hrdinov SNP (Trail of the SNP Heroes), running from Dukla to Devín, is the longest marked hiking trail in Slovakia with a total length of 770 kilometres. Along its route in the Volovské Mountains near Košice, there is a new tourist shelter. Its construction was led by the Hikemates hiking club in cooperation with the Košice Self-Governing Region and the regional tourism organization.

The shelter is located in the Kloptáň area and can be reached from the village of Vyšný Medzev. This region is known for having some of the cleanest air in Slovakia, so visitors can also plan stops nearby such as the Medzev forge, the Jasov Cave, or the “living church” of St. Ladislaus above the village of Debraď. The new shelter provides hikers on the SNP trail or outdoor enthusiasts with a comfortable refuge offering 10 beds, a dining space, and a small stove.

Unique architecture of the shelter

The shelter, designed by the GRAU studio, offers hikers comfort, a place to eat, and a small stove. We believe that thanks to its unique and modern design, the shelter (with a capacity of 8 beds) will become popular among hikers and provide everything needed on longer routes.

Why the shelter has this name

The idea came from a donor who contributed the largest amount to the project. That person had the right to name the shelter. In this case, a woman named it after her grandfather, a passionate hiker – Ján Krutek.

Shelter checklist:

Staff: none
Operation: year-round
Capacity: comfortably 11 people, up to 13–14 in close conditions
Water: no
Toilet: yes
Electricity: no
Heating: yes – fireplace
Food & drinks: no
Mobile signal: yes
Altitude: 842 m a.s.l.
Price: free

7 basic rules of behaviour in shelters:
https://www.hikemates.com/blog/spoznajutulne-7-zakladnych-pravidiel-spravania-sa-na-utulni/