Beginning of the trail: Myślenice Zarabie

End of the trail: Myślenice Zarabie

Total length of the trail: 16.0 km

Difficulty: easy

Trail colour: red

The loop around Myślenice is a must for MTB/gravel bikes if you want to ride up the Chełm Mountain. At the top you’ll find a lookout tower, a private astronomical observatory and the upper station of the ski lift with a working restaurant (www.sportarenamyslenice.pl). Chełm Mountain used to be a mecca for downhill cycling, with well-prepared downhill trails now awaiting reactivation. We suggest to go out and descend on your own on the longest loop possible here, without the aid of the lift. The trail is fairly well marked, but we suggest following the GPX trail as a couple of signposts at forks in the trail are missing. We suggest riding counter-clockwise, due to simpler ascents in terms of surface (the ascent coincides in part with the Carpathian Bicycle Route). We start in the Zarabie district of Myślenice, where, in addition to car parks, the riverside area by the Raba River has been transformed in recent years into a well-equipped leisure park with numerous foot and bike paths. It can be considered as basically one of the finished sections of the VeloRaba route. We leave the flat banks of the river in the vicinity of the stadium and head up to the section where you climb up to Talagówka along forest roads (mostly on a good gravel surface and on asphalt). Alternatively, you can take the green trail through Czarne Błota. After a rest on the summit, we enter a rather steep and rocky descent to Stróże, where we return to the flat banks of the Raba River. The section from here to Zarabie can get quite muddy (used dirt roads in the riverside areas), so until there is a real VeloRaba route here, we will still suggest thick tyres. Once the loop is closed, we recommend resting on the beach or at one of the numerous rest stops.

Maximum elevation: 642 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 207 m a.s.l.

63% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions:

Linden tree from 1830 (Myślenice), viewing tower on Chełm Mountain, rest park Zarabie Myślenice, cableway to the Chełm Mountain, earth bumptrack, private astronomical observatory

Natural attractions: Zamczysko nad Rabą Nature Reserve, ‘Młaka źródliskowa’ ecological site

Beginning of the trail: Wierchomla Wielka

End of the trail: Wierchomla Wielka

Total length of the trail: 30.3 km

Difficulty: easy

Trail colour: green/blue

A good suggestion is to combine two trails into one MTB trip that will show us both the beautiful and the demanding sides of Beskid Sądecki. We arrive at the Bacówka PTTK shelter from the Wierchomla railway station following the green trail, and then make a loop to Jaworzyna Krynicka by the blue bicycle trail. This is just an example of what the surrounding mountain trails are like, so if you enjoy these mountains, we also recommend exploring the other trails in the area (e.g., to Hala Łabowska or the new Trail of Mineral Waters). We arrive at the Wierchomla complex (hotel, lower station of the chairlift) where a bike park is also available by an asphalt public road in the summer season. The demanding cycling doesn’t start until you get down the forest transport road to the Bacówka pod Wierchomlą shelter. After reaching it, we recommend having a coffee and a rest with great views and gaining strength for the biggest climb of the day, i.e., Runek and further up to Jaworzyna Krynicka. This section will also be the rockiest, hence the suggestion to go there only on bikes with thick tyres. When you reach the upper station of the gondola lift on Jaworzyna, you can again take another rest with a view and make use of the numerous inns that operate there. Further on, you will enjoy a downhill ride along a great gravel road to Szczawnik, where it is worth stopping for a short visit to the Orthodox Church of St. Dmitri, next to which there is also a rest stop with a mineral water spring. The return up to Bacówka is a nice ascent along the wide forest road running along the Żebracze Reserve.

Maximum elevation: 1086 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 207 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

Landscape parks: Poprad Landscape Park

Reserve: Żebracze

Natura 2000: Ostoja Popradzka

74% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions:

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Muszyna), St. Mary Magdalene Church (Muszyna), Orthodox Church of St. Dmitri (Szczawnik), Bacówka PTTK nad Wierchomlą shelter, Jaworzyna Krynicka.

Natural attractions:

Natura 2000 – Ostoja Popradzka, Lembarczek Nature Reserve, Żebracze Nature Reserve, Poprad Landscape Park.

67% of the trail runs on roads free of motor vehicle  traffic.

Beginning of the trail: Mętków

End of the trail: Rozkochów

Total length of the trail: 17.9 km

Difficulty: easy

Trail colour: red

These are two new cycle routes created in 2019 at the initiative of the municipality of Babica. The proposal is to turn off the Vistula Bicycle Route (WTR) and head towards the municipality’s biggest tourist attractions: the open-air museum in Wygiełzów and Lipowiec Castle. The route is suitable for basically every type of bike except road bikes. From Mętków (junction with the Vistula Bicycle Route) to Wygiełzów, the Grodzisko Trail leads us along mostly flat gravel roads up to the start of the ‘Mysteries of the Grodzisko Mountain’ educational and recreational trail.From here, we cycle along a short, unmarked section to the gate of the Vistula Ethnographic Park. We definitely recommend visiting it and cycling up to the nearby Lipowiec Castle, although it is quite a demanding, technical climb due to the steepness and the dirt surface (but you can also leave your bikes at the bottom and just walk). We return to the Vistula Bicycle Route in Rozkochów following the Skansen Trail along quiet asphalt roads in general traffic. Several parking places with open-air gyms and benches were created along both of these routes, and in Rozkochów you can stop at the Cyclists’ Rest Stop located by one of the picturesque floodplains of the old beds of the Vistula River. And if all these attractions are not enough for you, we also highly recommend to visit the nearby Skowronek reservoir, as well as the bicycle railcar in Regulice (www.drezynyregulice.pl).

Maximum elevation: 287 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 223 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

Natura 2000: Dolna Skawa Valley

44% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions:

Vistula Ethnographic Park (Babice), Lipowiec Castle (Babice).

Natural attractions:

Natura 2000 – Dolna Skawa Valley, Bukowica Nature Reserve, Lipowiec Nature Reserve.

35% of the trail runs on roads free of motor vehicle  traffic.

Beginning of the trail: Trzebinia

End of the trail: Rudno

Total length of the trail: 14.5 km

Difficulty: easy

Trail colour: blue

It is one of the easiest cycling routes running around the Chrzanów land, a perfect option to start the exploration of this area (the full list of routes can be found at przewodnik.powiat-chrzanowski.pl/szlaki-rowerowe/). The blue trail is not only a good link to reach Trzebinia and the Eagles’ Nests Trail or the Loop Around Trzebinia, but also a great option for family excursions in the flattest part of the Dulowa Forest. The route mostly runs along asphalt and gravel forest roads free from motor vehicle  traffic. Along the way, you’ll encounter numerous rest stops in the form of benches and tables, and at the Chechło reservoir you can enjoy the recently rearranged beach and the recreation complex (playgrounds, toilets, pier). Car parking facilities are available at both ends of the trail; it is also possible to get here by train from Kraków (leaving at the Krzeszowice or Trzebinia stations). We also recommend to cycle (by the steep climb along the black trail) or to walk up to the Tenczyn Castle. The trail is suitable for any type of bike except road bikes. In the future, it will also be a section of the VeloRudawa route, which is currently at the design stage.

Maximum elevation: 340 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 282 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

Landscape parks: Tenczyn Landscape Park

99% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions:

Tenczyn Castle (Krzeszowice), Chechło Reservoir
Natural attractions: Tenczyn Landscape Park, Dulowa Forest

60% of the trail runs on roads free of motor vehicle  traffic.

Beginning of the trail: Trzebinia

End of the trail: Trzebinia

Total length of the trail: 49.8 km

Difficulty: easy

Description:

Maximum elevation: 452 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 274 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

Landscape parks: Dolinki Krakowskie Landscape Park, Tenczyn Landscape Park

51% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions:

Natural attractions: Dolinki Krakowskie Landscape Park, Tenczyn Landscape Park

43% of the trail runs on roads free of motor vehicle  traffic.

Beginning of the trail: Brzeszcze

End of the trail: Skidziń

Total length of the trail: 15.0 km

Difficulty: easy

This is a new, 14-km-long trail in the municipality of Brzeszcze  that meanders through picturesque ponds in the floodplains of the Vistula and Soła rivers and is routed mostly on gravel and asphalt roads and on side streets of the town. Due to its flat course and low motor vehicle  traffic, it is suitable for recreational riding even for beginners, on basically any type of bike except road bikes. The junction with the Vistula Bicycle Route is located within the Natura 2000 area and can also be reached from the Jawiszowice-Brzeszcze railway station. The trail is well marked. Two rest stops for cyclists with information boards and maps were created here. The trail also connects with another trail in the municipality of Brzeszcze, running along the memorial sites of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, so both of them can be used to see most of the town and its surroundings. In the future, it will also serve as a link to the VeloSoła route.

Maximum elevation: 260 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 232 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

Natura 2000: Dolna Soła Valley, Ponds in Brzeszcze

28% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions:

Natural attractions:

Natura 2000 – Dolna Soła Valley, Natura 2000 – Dolna Soła, Natura 2000 – Ponds in Brzeszcze.

37% of the trail runs on roads free of motor vehicle  traffic.

Beginning of the trail: Skawina

End of the trail: Skawina

Total length of the trail: 43.6 km

Difficulty: medium

Description:

Maximum elevation: 352 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 207 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

12% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions:

The Manor in Ochodza (Skawina), Regional Chamber (Skawina), Prehistoric Settlement in Wola Radziszowska (Skawina). Natural attractions: Natura 2000 – Cedron, Kozie Kąty Nature Reserve, Bielany-Tyniec Landscape Park.

23% of the trail runs on roads free of motor vehicle  traffic.

Beginning of the trail: Borusowa

End of the trail: Lipnica Wielka

Total length of the trail: 246.6 km

Difficulty: easy

Maximum elevation: 1021 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 167 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

Landscape parks: Bielany-Tyniec Landscape Park

National parks: Babia Góra National Park

Reserve: Gibiel

Natura 2000: Niepołomice Forest, Babia Góra, Cedron, Jadowniki Mokre, Nowa Huta Meadows, Dolny Dunajec

24% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions:

Cathedral Basilica of Sts Stanisław and Wacław (Śródmieście), House of Female Painters (Olesno), Manor (Szczurowa), the Manor in Stryszów (Stryszów), Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory (Podgórze), Regional Chamber (Skawina), ‘Rzym’ Inn (Sucha Beskidzka), Church of St. Clement in Zawoja (Zawoja),  Church of St Vincent and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Nowa Huta), Kraków – historical city complex (Środmieście), Lanckorona (Lanckorona), Painted Homesteads (Olesno), Emil Zegadłowicz Museum (Sucha Beskidzka), Sucha Beskidzka Municipal Museum (Sucha Beskidzka), Prehistoric Settlement in Wola Radziszowska (Skawina), Tyniec – Benedictine Abbey Complex (Podgórze), Wawel Castle (Śródmieście), Farmstead of Felicja Curyłowa (Olesno), Royal Castle (Niepołomice).

Natural attractions:

Natura 2000 – Babia Góra, Natura 2000 – Cedron, Natura 2000 – Dębnik-Tyniec Meadow Area, Natura 2000 – Nida Valley, Natura 2000 – Dolny Dunajec, Natura 2000 – Jadowniki Mokre, Natura 2000 – Nowa Huta Meadows, Natura 2000 – Ostoja Nidziańska, Natura 2000 – Niepołomice Forest, Natura 2000 – Skawina Meadow Area, Natura 2000 – Wielkie Błoto Peat Bog, Bielańskie Skałki Nature Reserve, Gibiel Nature Reserve, Skałki Przegorzalskie Nature Reserve, Skołczanka Nature Reserve, Babia Góra National Park, Bielany-Tyniec Landscape Park, Nadnidziański Landscape Park.

26% of the trail runs on roads free of motor vehicle  traffic.