SK, Small Carpathians – Three Riders and Stone Gate Rock Formations

One of the unusual inanimate nature attractions of the Small Carpathians are also Three Riders and Stone Gate rock formations.

In the Small Carpathians area there area there are numerous localties, there mostly peaks and ridges have many isolated rock formations and continuous climbs of massive formations of the Mesozoic era. One of these gems of inanimate nature are the locations of Three Raiders and Stone Gate, located on the east side of the Small Carpathians, northwest of the town of Modra . Both locations are easily accessible along hiking paths, which you can reach from several marked, as well as unmarked, hiking trails leading through the Small Carpathians or directly from nearby towns and Modra Pezinok . The aforementioned localties are located near Velka Homole (709 meters) peak. So if you plan to visit this peak, we recommend you to visit the observation tower as well.

Three Riders

Location Three Riders is located northwest of the town of Modra, located on the western slope of Velka Homola (709 m). To Three Riders there lead many paths - whether from Pezinok or from Modra along the red, green and blue tourist trails, or from Zochova Cottage from the site to the south Sand emergency calls around the rocks the red trail leading through the top of Vela Homola. From the top of this seven hundred meters high hill there lead a red tourist trail to Three Riders. At a crossroad you have to continue west to a green mark trail. Three Riders site (687 meters) is a massive rocky gorge rising steeply on the western ridge of Velka Homola. The rocks are light gray, sometimes of slightly gray-pink color. These bizarre rugged rock formations are built by massive quartzite and quartz sandstone benches of the Triassic age. This area is one of the most favorite tourist destinations. It is also a popular stop to rest during a long and demanding hike. Three Riders rock formations are also a popular and frequently visited place by climber who use it as a training rock. Its walls have several climbing routes with varying degrees of intensity.

Stone Gate

Stone Gate (608 meters) peak is located about one kilometer southwest from Velka Homola. Several tourist paths lead there. Perhaps the ideal route runs from Three Riders- Stone Gate can be reached by turning from a green trail to the west until you reach a crossroad by Three Riders. After a brief walk on a slightly hilly ridge beside the point we get to the crest of Stone Gate After the crest of this hill stretches a belt of numerous smaller and larger rock formations in the form of various rocks, towers, ruins, as well as large massive boulders scattered on top, and the slopes of the hill. On the surface emerged here Mesozoic rocks built massive benches from which erosion as a sculptor, created unusual natural formations. Strange silhouettes of a rocky town emerge from the forest, and sometimes it resembles ancient ruins of a medieval fortress. It gives this place mysterious atmosphere. From the geological point of view we can designate the rocks on the ridge to the Triassic quartzites , quartz sandstone and and conglomerate formations.

Even in the Small Carpathians one can discover a number of unusual and impressive natural sights. The aforementioned localities are a proof of this as evidenced by the mentioned localities, Three Riders and Stone Gate. These stunning pieces of inanimate nature capture attention of tourists, fans of nature, photographers and fans of mountaineering. These places among the one of the Small Carpathians, which we certainly recommend to visit. .

Text and photo: Radoslav Biskupič