From Smardzowice to the Prądnik Valley and Ojców
Nearby: Skała| Distance | 1.8km |
|---|---|
| Time | 29min |
| Ascents | 19m |
| Descents | 103m |
beach_access Route in the shade
directions_car Access by car
directions_bus Can be reached by bus
There are two routes from Smardzowice to the Prądnik Valley. Both are marked with red signs of a nature and education trail. The northern part leads to the center of Ojców. The southern part leads to the Smardzowice Gorge and to a scenic green hiking trail. The whole trail from Smardzowice is an interesting walking loop in Ojców National Park. You can see the map at the end of the article. This route lets you avoid the crowded parking areas in Ojców, and you can even get there without a car.
Smardzowice: getting there by city bus and parking
Smardzowice is a small village in the buffer zone of Ojców National Park, near Kraków. You can get here by MPK city bus from Kraków. Bus line 267 starts at the Krowodrza Górka bus terminal. If you come by car, you can use parking places near the cemetery or near the recreation area on Szkolna Street.
At first, you walk along a quiet asphalt road called Spacerowa Street. Soon you reach a dirt road going through meadows and farm fields. You even pass a small vineyard with a beautiful view to the south. It is not very clear in the photo, but believe us: from here you can see the Beskid mountain ranges and even the Tatra Mountains!
Next, the path clearly starts to go downhill. To reach the Prądnik Valley, you need to go down about 100 meters in height. You enter the forest, and after a short walk you see the first limestone rock formations:
Just below this impressive rock, which rises above the Smardzowice Gorge, you reach the Prądnik Valley. The way down is on a narrow and quite steep path, so be careful because it can be slippery. At this point, instead of going down to the asphalt road, you can turn right into the forest. Then you can follow the scenic green trail to viewpoints on Okopy Hill and Koronna Hill, including the famous rock called Rękawica, or "The Glove":
Medium
Ojców - Green Educational Trail
And what if you follow the nature trail from Smardzowice in the other direction?
Then you will reach the Prądnik Valley in the very center of Ojców, close to the Spa Park, the Castle of King Casimir, and the Nature Museum of Ojców National Park:
Medium
From Smardzowice to the center of Ojców
You can find more ideas for getting to Ojców without a car in this article:
How to get from Kraków to Ojców without a car
Getting to Ojców and Ojców National Park, located only about 20 km from Kraków, is not as easy as it may seem. If you go by car, you should expect crowded paid car parks. If you use public transport, you need to plan the trip carefully. ...
More in the Region Jura (Jura)
