We leave the highest point of the route, the Kékestető on a beautiful ridge tour. The eastern Mátra section of the Blue Trail is characterized by rugged cliffs, romantic forests and numerous natural lookout points. At the same time, no matter which direction we choose, this will be one of our toughest trails. The Eastern Mátra consists of a 13 km long main ridge, on which short, very steep side ridges lean. The valleys running between them hide fast flowing streams (eg Závoz Valley), waterfalls formed to overcome large level differences (eg Ilona Valley), but even narrow rock gorges (Tarjánka Gorge).

On a particularly romantic section of the trail leading from the Kékestető to the Markaz Gate is the narrowest ridge in the country. Here we also reach the slope of Sas-kő (Eagle Stone), which can give us the unique experience of being able to see the plains and the hilly landscape at the same time. This is a particularly exciting sight in mild winters, when the countryside north of the Mátra is covered with snow and to the south nothing hides the endless mosaic of arable land.  The topographic features did not create ideal conditions for the formation of settlements, as flat roofs are not typical here in contrast to the Western Mátra. 

TIPS

• With a detour, as part of a one-day tour from Kékestető, Parádsasvár is worth a visit, where the building of the old abandoned glass factory stands as a memento on the street of the small mountain village. Based on old traditions, looking back on a more than 300-year-old history, glass blowing is still operating as a smaller manufacture in the settlement. Here it is also worth visiting the Károlyi Castle designed by Miklós Ybl.

• Sástó: the lake and its surroundings with the lookout point and nature trail are an excellent one-day (two days with children) program; a visit to the nearby Adrenaline Adventure Park is also a great place to recreate.

• From the Markaz Gate the Ilona Valley Waterfall is approx. a 1-1.5-hour detour on the Z ● sign, the highest natural waterfall in the country. After a rainy period or snowmelt, it is especially worth the detour.

Section lengths from stamp to stamp (in kilometers)

Mátraháza 3.8 Kékestető 5.7 Hármashatár forest house 16.8 Sirok

Recommended intermediate embarkation and disembarkation points along the route

• Kékestető (OKTPH_106_1): Kékestető, Sanatorium bus stop

• 7 km from Hármashatár forest house stamping site (OKTPH_107): Markaz, post office bus stop