Pepper Mountains - nature reserve near Sandomierz
Town: Sandomierz
check_circle Slopes
check_circle Mainly in the sun
check_circle Convenient parking
The Pepper Mountains, also known as "Sandomierz Pepper Hills" are interesting hills on the border of Sandomierz and Dwikozy commune. They are made of Cambrian shales, which are half a billion years old. Because of this, the Pepper Mountains are considered the oldest mountains in Poland.
Pepper Mountains Reserve - How to get there?
The Pepper Mountains are just a few kilometers from the historic center of Sandomierz. In theory, you can walk here along the Vistula embankments, which offer a pretty nice view of the city. Unfortunately, you have to cross intersections at a busy bypass (it's not so nice there).
Certainly, the easiest way to get there is by car. We have two parking lots to choose from. The first one (supposedly paid) is located to the north, in the area of Wild Rose Villa in Kamien 艁ukawski. From here, it's easy and quick to get to the viewing platform in the Pepper Mountains Reserve.
The second, free parking is located on the Sandomierz side, at the end of the narrow, dead-end B艂onie Street (in the Kamie艅 Pleba艅ski housing estate). From here, we will reach the picturesque hills of Carboniferous shales by the red trail along the old Vistula riverbed.
Red trail in the Pepper Mountains Reserve
The red trail from the parking lot takes us down the Vistula embankments and along the Vistula backwaters (watch out for mosquitoes! This is their real kingdom).
The path is narrow but passable. The signage appears sporadically, but we shouldn't get lost. After about 15-20 minutes of walking from the parking lot, we will reach the picturesque shale hills.
Climbing them - without a marked path - we should reach the paid viewing platform at the northern border of the reserve.
Pepper Mountains - attractions and practical information
The shales building the Pepper Mountains, as the name suggests are very crumbly: they crumble in your hands and under your feet. We can treat this as an attraction, but it also has its downsides. That is, walking on the hills is not easy! Small rocks slip from under your feet and it can be quite slippery. Remember about appropriate footwear! (sandals are out...).
Are the Pepper Mountains the oldest mountains in Poland?
The shales from which the Pepper Mountains are built come from the Cambrian - they are about 500 million years old! However, it turns out that some rocks in the Owl Mountains are even older. The age of the gneisses there is estimated at 1 billion years! Either way: if not the oldest, they are certainly among the oldest mountains in Poland.
Pepper Mountains Reserve - map
Below you will find the location of the places described and shown above on the reserve map:
Ps. Apparently, the Pepper Mountains look most beautiful in spring, when wild rose bushes bloom here. Have you seen it? If so, be sure to send us photos!
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