Beginning of the trail: Osiek Dolny

End of the trail: Brzeźnica

Total length of the trail: 86.9 km

Difficulty: medium

The Bicycle Trail of the Carp Valley goes on a large loop in the attractive environs of seven communes of the Małopolska region located in the valleys of the Vistula and Skawa rivers (Brzeźnica, Osiek, Polanka Wielka, Przeciszów, Spytkowice, Tomice and Zator). The main attraction of the trail are of course the numerous ponds and backwaters that historically form the basis of the carp farming in this area. This is just one of the possible trips around the ‘Masuria of the Małopolska region’; you can find more ideas for both cycling and walking adventures at www.dolinakarpia.eu. You can join this trail by turning off the Vistula Bicycle Route (we recommend the road bridge in Jankowice or the dam in Łączany) or use the train (trains run along the Krakow – Zator – Oświęcim line during the summer holidays). Most of the trail is on quiet asphalt roads or abandoned gravel ones, that often are routed right next to the ponds. On the section of the route south of the railway line there are quite a few small climbs. The trail gets muddy after rains only on the short section between Wypierowice and Przeręb. Throughout this section along the Przeręb and Spytkowice ponds, the trail follows the ‘old’ Vistula Bicycle Route and can safely be used for the loop with the ‘new’ VBR that has been functioning for several years between Oświęcim and Łączany. The Trail of the Carp Valley has been part of the Greenways network since 2019 (www.greenways.org.pl)

Maximum elevation: 355 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 211 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

Natura 2000: Dolna Skawa Valley

8% of the route runs through forested areas.

Detailed route: Osiek – Piotrowice – Łowiczki – Grodzisko – Bachowice – Zygodowice – Tłuczań – Marcyporęba – Brzeźnica Tourist attractions: Manor house from the 18th century (Brzeźnica), Local Office of the National Archives in Kraków (Spytkowice), Regional Chamber of the Carp Valley (Osiek), Saint Nicolas church (old) (Polanka Wielka). Natural attractions: Natura 2000 – Dolna Skawa Valley, Natura 2000 – Wiśliska, Przeciszów Nature Reserve, Rudniański Landscape Park

11% of the trail runs on roads free of car traffic.