Beginning of the trail: Muszynka

End of the trail: Szczawnica

Total length of the trail: 93.7 km

This is a new trail laid out between 2018 and 2020 connecting the health resorts in the Polish-Slovak border region. The entire loop is about 230 km long, but only the part (94 km) leading from the SK/PL border in Muszynka through Piwniczna to Szczawnica (junction with VeloDunajec) is described here. In Slovakia the trail is well marked with yellow and blue signs and in Poland with yellow signs with the trail logo on a green background.Due to the steep inclines and the fact that it runs over a range of different surfaces (asphalt bike paths; through asphalt roads with considerable traffic/climbs; dirt tracks), it is recommended for advanced cyclists only, with a recommendation for heavy tyres. For beginner cyclists we can recommend only the section between the promenade in Krynica-Zdrój and the PL/SK border in Muszyna (which overlaps with the so-called VeloKrynica). From the PL/SK border in Muszyna to Piwniczna, the AquaVelo trail mostly follows the trail of the future EV11 route. Please remember that in Slovakia it is obligatory to wear a helmet. In Rytro the trail has an additional branch for mountain bikes, which isn’t described here (you can find it on the trail website: www.aquavelo.eu). The section between Piwniczna and Jaworki is demanding both in terms of fitness and the trail’s surface (ascend and descend to Obidza). From Jaworek to the pedestrian footpath and bicycle path by the Grajcarek River, we mostly ride along general traffic. Numerous rest stops and attractions of the Poprad Valley (including valuable monuments of wooden architecture, pump rooms and mineral water springs) are located along the trail. The route follows the northern part of the shore around Lake Czorsztyn from Dębno to Sromowce.
The new route was created with the cooperation of the municipalities in the area of Lake Czorsztyn. The part running along the southern shore has already been described as the bypass for VeloDunajec, while the part on the northern shore can be used to plan a great tour around the entire lake. The route in this section is marked with green signs and can be divided into three parts.

1. Part One offers temporary short access from VeloDunajec along voivodeship road DW969 and the bridge over the Dunajec. This section is unfortunately not very comfortable, as it currently has no cycle infrastructure. Fortunately, it’s quite short (800m) and there are chances for its upgrade combined with the bridge renovation in the not too distant future.

2. Part Two is the actual part of the route between Huba and Czorsztyn (approx. 13 km), where the route follows a specially prepared path on local roads and directly along the shores of the lake. They all are surfaced with asphalt so you can even go there with rollerblades. This part of the shore is also considerably flatter than the southern one, so it’ll be all the more suitable for skaters or the youngest cyclists.

3. Part Three is the section on ordinary roads between Czorsztyn and Sromowce Wyżne (junction with VeloDunajec). This is 9 km with a harsh climb up to the Osice Pass and a fair amount of in-season motor vehicle traffic, so we recommend it to intermediate cyclists who want to ride the full loop around the lake. Although the route is marked only as far as the outskirts of Czorsztyn, you won’t get lost because there is only one road to Sromowce and Osice. Note! It is not permitted to cycle on the blue trail through Hala Majerz, so the only option is to ride on the district road. Several lookout points and rest stops have been built along the route.

Maximum elevation: 941 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is at elevation: 365 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

Landscape parks: Poprad Landscape Park
National Parks: Pieniny National Park

Reserve: Biała Woda

Natura 2000: Ostoja Popradzka, Little Pieniny, Podkowce in Szczawnica, Krynica, Środkowy Dunajec with tributaries, Low Beskids, Pieniny Mountains

21% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions:  Church of St. John the Evangelist (Krynica-Zdrój), Church of Sts. Kosma and Damian (Krynica-Zdrój), Nikifor Museum (Krynica-Zdrój), Pieniny Museum (Szczawnica), TMP Regional Museum (Piwniczna-Zdrój), Szczawnica Health Resort Museum (Szczawnica), Main Pump Room (Krynica-Zdrój), Powroźnik – wooden Orthodox churches of the Polish and Ukrainian regions of the Carpathian Mountains (Muszyna), Ruins of Starosts’ Castle (Muszyna), Old Mineral Baths (Krynica-Zdrój), Old Spa House (Krynica-Zdrój)

Natural attractions: Natura 2000 – Low Beskids, Natura 2000 – Krynica, Natura 2000 – Little Pieniny, Natura 2000 – Ostoja Popradzka, Natura 2000 – Pieniny, Natura 2000 – Podkowce in Szczawnica, Natura 2000 – Środkowy Dunajec with tributaries, Biała Woda Nature Reserve, Obrożyska Linden Forest Nature Reserve, Okopy Konfederackie Nature Reserve, Homole Gorge Nature Reserve, Zaskalskie-Bodnarówka Nature Reserve, Pieniny National Park, Poprad Landscape Park

28% of the trail runs on roads free of motor vehicle traffic.