Location and surroundings
Szilvási-kő belongs to the chain East European Highlands > Carpathian Mountains > Western Carpathians > Inner Western Carpathians > North Hungarian Mountains > Beech Mountains. It is in Hungary, in Heves County, within the Bélapátfalva district. At 961 m, it is the highest of 343 named peaks in the Beech Mountains and the 4th highest named peak in Hungary.
The summit area is part of Bükk National Park and is surrounded by forested limestone terrain, caves and ridges. Nearby features include a wayside cross, a cave opening, a viewpoint and a spring a little farther west. The usual approach landscape is typical of the Bükk: rolling high ground, wooded slopes and karst forms rather than open alpine terrain.
Neighbouring peaks
The closest named peaks around Szilvási-kő are all within about 1.1 km, which shows how tightly packed the ridge tops are in this part of the Beech Mountains. Istállós-kő is almost level with it, while several other summits are only a little lower.
- Istállós-kő — 959 m, 0.4 km SW
- Kis-Hegy — 923 m, 0.7 km S
- Ispan-Hegy — 912 m, 0.7 km NW
- Viragos-Sar-Hegy — 950 m, 0.8 km SE
- Koris-Hegy — 944 m, 0.9 km E
- Vörös-sár-hegy — 951 m, 1.0 km NE
- Kukucso-Hegy — 925 m, 1.0 km N
- Nagy-Kopasz — 903 m, 1.1 km SW
Because the summit is only slightly higher than Istállós-kő, the two tops form a close pair in the local skyline. Several neighbours are also near the 950 m mark, so the area has a cluster of high ridges rather than one isolated peak.
The view from the summit
Within 25 km, the highest peaks include Bálvány at 957 m, 4.2 km NE; Koros-Berc at 956 m, 1.2 km E; Nagy-Ko-Hat at 946 m, 3.2 km E; Kullo-Hegy at 899 m, 1.7 km SW; and Nyarju-Hegy at 891 m, 6.6 km NE. These are the main high points that shape the wider view from the summit area.
The outlook is over the wooded ridges of the Beech Mountains, where nearby summits rise and fall over short distances. In clear weather, the scene is dominated by close forested hills rather than distant open country, with the highest neighbouring tops appearing as part of a compact mountain block.
The range
Szilvási-kő belongs to the Beech Mountains, whose highest peak is the range high point itself. The range has 343 named peaks, and Szilvási-kő ranks first by elevation within it. The Beech Mountains are part of the North Hungarian Mountains in the wider Carpathian Mountains system.
This is a compact mountain range with many closely spaced summits, karst landforms and forested slopes. The fact that Szilvási-kő is the highest point of the range gives it special importance for hikers, even though the summit is not far above several neighbouring tops.
Access and starting points
The usual starting town is Szilvásvárad, about 5.0 km NW of the summit. From there, the walk is roughly 6.6 km with about 620 m of ascent, so a normal approach takes around 2–3 hours. A nearer car park lies about 1.5 km NE of the top at around 870 m, which shortens the climb to about 25–40 minutes on foot.
OpenStreetMap also shows Szalajka-Fátyol-vízesés station 1.7 km W, a car park 1.5 km NE, and marked routes passing over or next to the summit: S▲ from Istállós-kő and Z▲ from Istállós-kői-barlang to Istállós-kő. The nearest settlement is Szilvásvárad, and the area is well connected to local hiking paths.
Climate and weather
These are estimates from NASA POWER climate data adjusted to summit height. At the summit, the warmest month is July at about 17 °C, and the coldest is January at about -5 °C. Around the mountain, annual precipitation is about 650 mm, with the wettest month in July at about 85 mm and the driest in January at about 40 mm.
In this part of Hungary, weather can change quickly on exposed ridges, with summer thunderstorms, wet forest trails and winter ice or snow on shaded slopes. The summit climate is cool enough that conditions can feel much more mountain-like than in the lowlands below.
Best time to visit
At summit level, the months with a mean temperature above freezing are March through November. That gives a long hiking season, but the most comfortable walking is usually in late spring, summer and early autumn, when the forest trails are less likely to be icy and the ridge paths are easier to follow.
For drier conditions, January is the driest month on average, but it is also the coldest. In practice, many visitors will prefer the warmer months, while still checking for rain and storms in midsummer. In winter and early spring, expect frozen ground, snow patches and slippery sections in shaded places.
Nature and wildlife
Szilvási-kő lies in Bükk National Park, in a landscape of forested limestone hills, caves and karst depressions. The slopes are typical of the Beech Mountains: mixed woodland, rocky outcrops and sheltered hollows rather than open alpine meadows. At this elevation, beech and other mountain forest communities are common, with wildlife adapted to wooded terrain.
The protected setting supports a quiet mountain environment where deer, wild boar, birds of prey and many forest species may be encountered. The nearby caves and sinkholes are part of the karst character of the area, and hikers should stay on marked paths to avoid erosion and fragile ground.
Guides and organised ascents
For a summit of this height, a certified mountain guide is usually not necessary for a fit hiker on marked trails, but it can be useful in poor visibility, winter conditions or for visitors who want a longer route through the Beech Mountains. In Hungary, the national alpine club and federation is the Hungarian Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation (MHSSZ). Where guided trips are arranged, visitors commonly look through the national mountaineering and tourism network and local visitor offices in places such as Szilvásvárad.
A guided ascent normally includes route planning, pace control, weather checks and safety decisions. The cost depends on the length of the outing, group size, whether hut nights are involved and what equipment is needed. For this mountain, the main value of a guide is local route knowledge rather than technical climbing support.
Safety and preparation
Szilvási-kő is a hiking peak, but the terrain still calls for proper footwear, water, weather protection and a map or offline navigation. Forest trails can be muddy after rain, and in cold months shaded sections may stay slippery. Because the summit area is wooded and ridged, visibility can drop quickly in mist, making route-finding harder than the elevation alone suggests.
The emergency number for mountain rescue and all general emergencies in Hungary is 112. Mobile coverage is often usable on open ground, but it can weaken in hollows and behind ridges, so download maps before setting out and do not rely on a single device.
History and name
The name Szilvási-kő is relatively recent. For a long time the summit was not widely named and was known as the southern top of Kettős-bérc. Military maps had shown it as the highest point since the 1920s, but the issue was settled only after a 2014 GPS-based measurement.
That survey found the southern top to be 960.715 m and the northern top 958.2 m, confirming that the southern summit is the higher one. The mountain is also not on the Bükk 900 long-distance hiking route.
Interesting facts
Szilvási-kő is the highest of 343 named peaks in the Beech Mountains and the 4th highest named peak in Hungary. Its prominence is 711 m, which is high for a mountain in this region and helps explain why it stands out in the local topography.
The nearest higher or nearly equal high points are very close: Istállós-kő is only 0.4 km away and 2 m lower, while Koros-Berc is 1.2 km away to the east at 956 m. The mountain is also part of a compact ridge system where several summits sit within a short walking distance of one another.
FAQ
How high is Szilvási-kő? It rises to 961 m.
Where is Szilvási-kő? It is in Hungary, in Heves County, within the Bélapátfalva district, in the Beech Mountains of the North Hungarian Mountains.
Is Szilvási-kő the highest mountain in the Beech Mountains? Yes. It is the highest point of the Beech Mountains.
What peaks are closest to Szilvási-kő? The nearest are Istállós-kő 0.4 km SW, Kis-Hegy 0.7 km S, and Ispan-Hegy 0.7 km NW.
Is there water on the way to Szilvási-kő? Szalajka-forrás, a spring, lies about 1.5 km W of the summit. Even with that nearby water, carry enough for the climb: about 1.5-3 litres for a day, depending on heat and route length.
Are there huts on Szilvási-kő? A shelter is mapped about 1.5 km NE of the top.
How long does it take to walk up Szilvási-kő? From the car park 1.5 km NE of the top, the climb is about 25–40 minutes on foot. From Szilvásvárad, it is roughly 2–3 hours.
Is mobile phone coverage good on Szilvási-kő? There are 17 communication masts mapped within 10 km, and the nearest is 1.2 km E. On open ground a signal is likely, but it can fail in valleys and behind ridges. Always keep 112 available and download maps before you go.