Specific rocks with a relief, forming their large central part stretching from Hričov hill (with the castle of the same name) in the north to Strážovský potok west of Pružina in the south with the greatest width on the line Plevník-Drienové – Zbyňov include the massifs around Havraná skala in the west and Žibrid in the east (which culminates at a height of 867 m above sea level). In the north and west it is connected to the Manínska vrchovina, the second sub-unit of the Súľovské vrchy, and the Považské podolie (specifically its sub-unit Podmanínska pahorkatina), to the south the Strážovské vrchy, or their sub-unit Zliechovská hornatina and in the east the sub-units of the Žilinská kotlina – Domanižská kotlina, Rajecká kotlina and Žilinská pahorkatina. Between the last two, it is briefly adjacent to Skalky - the third sub-unit of the Súľovské vrchy forming their predominantly Mesozoic outcrop between Rajecký Teplice and Lietava. They are dominantly built by carbonate conglomerates of the Central Carpathian Paleogene, which Dionýz Štúr named as Súľovské already in 1860. The conglomerates were mainly formed from well-worked facies in a dynamic marine coastal environment directly under limestone and dolomite cliffs. Their layers reach a thickness of up to 500 m. Their bedrock consists of older, Mesozoic carbonate assemblages (Cretaceous marls, claystones, breccias). During the Neogene, the so-called brachyanticline – a large convex fold with numerous anticlines and synclines. In the highest parts of the anticlines, erosion and denudation gradually exposed the underlying less resistant claystones and marlstones from under the relatively resistant Súl conglomerates, in which the deepening of the relief continued at a faster pace. Thus, in the places of the originally raised relief (anticlines), depressions of the "combe" type lie - Súľovská, Podskalská, Svinianska and others. basins – which is referred to as inverse (inverted) relief. The Súľov basin with the village of Súľov-Hradná in the center is bordered by abundant rock formations of Súľov conglomerate, which due to their shape (rock towers, precipices, walls, needles, windows, mushrooms, lumps, caves) contribute together with the occurrence of protected and rare plant and animal ( eagle owl, common jackdaw and others) species and communities to the high value of local nature. There are thermophilic communities in rocky areas in prominent places, mountain species in forests and alpine plant species at the bottom of gorges - this is an inversion (reversal) of vegetation. In the area, there are sites rich in species and numbers of meadow and forest orchids. Since 1973, the entire western part of the rim of the Súľovská basin has been the extensive national nature reserve Súľovská skaly with the highest degree of nature and landscape protection. The reservation is part of the vast area of European significance, Strážovské vrchy, and the eponymous protected bird area. A tourist-attractive terrain, known for the rock town, the remains of castles (Hričov, Súľov), a waterfall (Hlbocký v.), Súľovská gorge and rock gates (Gotická, Obrovská). They are accessible from several directions. From Považská Bystrica via Manínska tisňava and the village of Vrchteplá, from Bytče via Súľov Hradná, or from Rajecká dolina directly from Súľov. A popular educational trail passes through the exceptionally beautiful central part. The tourist circuit is moderately demanding, has a length of 7.5 km and an elevation of 290 meters. It starts and ends at the parking lot in front of the Súľov-Hradná village, ends at the Súľov castle and is passable in both directions, but the most beautiful route is up the green path from the parking lot under the rocks and down the red path through Lúka pod hradom. Most of the attractions and viewpoints are located on the green route between the parking lot and the castle, and their gradual discovery makes the ascent itself more pleasant. Some sections of the route are secured with chains. The route also includes attractions such as the Gothic Gate and several views of the surrounding valleys. There are boards along the route with information about the local fauna, flora and geology. The duration of the crossing is estimated at 1.5 - 2 hours.
Note: In some places, the trail is damaged by accelerated water erosion due to intensive trampling.
Warning: When wet, some sections, especially in the first part of the route, are slippery (roots, leaves) and extra care must be taken.
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