Szklarki Valley
Nearby: Kraków
Szklarki Valley is a scenic, picturesque valley in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland (near Kraków, southern Poland). Unlike most valleys near Kraków, the red trail here does not follow the bottom of the valley. It runs higher up and feels different from the quiet paths between tall rocks known from other valleys, such as Mnikowska Valley or Kobylańska Valley. Different parts of the route vary a lot: there is a calm forest path with rocks hidden among the trees, and open meadows with views over the valley.
- Want to escape the crowds, enjoy nature, views, and rural scenery, and you don’t mind walking across grassy meadows or slightly overgrown paths at times? Put on sturdy shoes and do the full loop — we really liked it!
- Looking for a nice forest path for a family walk? We recommend the forest section of the trail — start from the village of Szklary, Górska Street.
Forest section of the red trail
This path goes through the forest, with meadows around — a good choice for a family walk with children. It follows the ridge of a hill, it is fairly wide, and the markings are clear. There are several rock formations right by the path, easy to reach. The best access is from Górska Street in Szklary (the approach from Międzygórze Street in Łazy is steeper).
Red trail - full loop
The full red-loop is 6 km and we do not recommend it for parents with small children. Overall, we liked it a lot: it goes through forest and viewpoint meadows (with views over the valley and, on very clear days, the Tatra Mountains in the distance). It is quiet, with rural scenery and many rocks along the way, but...
- wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, because at times you will walk through brush
- there is a stretch on a narrow rural road with no shoulder — little traffic, but cars can be fast
- most of the trail is well marked, but there are spots where it is easy to lose the way — a navigation app is essential
Szklarki Valley Nature Reserve - red trail, along the road section
Pióro Spring
This is a spring in Szklarki Valley, and the stream flowing from it is a tributary of the valley’s watercourse. The spring is very strong — about 37 liters of water per second — creating a small pool next to it. Caddisflies, planarians, and a rare diatom species live here. The spring is next to farm buildings; a friendly chicken came to say hello, and small ducklings swam on the pool. There is a small meadow and benches, but the area is close to the road...
Łyse Skały
These are rock outcrops in the upper part of Szklarki Valley, within the village of Jerzmanowice. They have fantastic shapes and many faces are very steep. Many of them are used for rock climbing.
Witkowe Skałki
A compact group of about five rock outcrops, up to about 20 meters high, around 200 meters from Łyse Skały.
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