Foothills - active leisure at any time of the year

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Whether uphill or downhill, on asphalt or gravel road, through the forest and fields, with views of the hills, Beskids or the Tatra Mountains. Lovers of active recreation will be delighted with their stay in the Foothills!

A thrill of adrenaline combined with a mountain adventure will be provided by “Trail through the Stone City” – the most popular route leads from the Witch Rock to the Witches Gorge. Around the town of Tuchów, the trail commemorating the 650th anniversary of the town was marked out. And for all bike lovers, we recommend a section of Velo Dunajec “To the sources of Rakutowa”. The 80-kilometer Source Trail leads from Ciężkowice through Tursko, Bogoniowice and back to Ciężkowice. What is so special about Rakutowa? Well, it is famous for its healing sulphide water.
For history lovers, we recommend the Independence Trail on the Tarnów – Łowczówek – Tuchów – Kąśna Dolna route. It was tracked to follow places associated with the events of 1918. The 12-kilometer path “Forget-me-not” in Kornatka has also educational nature – walking along the path, it is worth paying attention to large rocks built of resistant Istebna sandstones. On the other hand, we recommend all enthusiasts of active recreation to visit Jamna – this is where many tourist trails start. The proximity of Lake Rożnów together with the water dam on the Dunajec in Rożnów or the “Stone City” nature reserve is an additional advantage.

Shepherd's huts can be found not only in the high mountains. You don’t believe us? Go and visit Brzanka. In the area you can admire the magnificent panorama. We also encourage you to climb up two lookout towers – in Bruśnik, on the Styrki hill (420 metres asl) and in Iwkowa on the Szpilówka hill (516 metres asl).

What to do in the Foothills in winter? The answer is obvious: of course, enjoy skiing or snowboarding. We recommend the ski slopes Jastrzębia Ski near Ciężkowice, on Jurasówka, in Siemiechów or in Lubinka. All the above-mentioned stations have trails for both beginners and intermediate.

Malopolska on Bikes

The Małopolska region is a paradise for everyone who wants to spend time actively on cycling – from light rides on flat terrain to demanding routes for mountain bikers. Cyclists can currently enjoy 900 km of European standard VeloMalopolska routes. The section of the Vistula Bicycle Route - WTR located in the Małopolska region runs through the most picturesque areas of the Vistula Valley, while the VeloDunajec route is an unforgettable experience with the landscape consisting of several mountain ranges, including Tatra, Gorce, Pieniny and Beskid Sądecki. Two EuroVelo routes run through the region as well, namely EuroVelo 4 and EuroVelo 11.

Cycling through Malopolska

In addition, there are over 3,000 km of bicycle routes of varying difficulty, as well as numerous bike parks and downhill routes. The Małopolska region not only builds high quality bicycle routes, but also co-organizes various cycling events and grants patronage to many races for amateurs and professionals. Excellent accommodation and catering base as well as natural cultural and environmental wealth create the unique potential of the region as a perfect place for active recreation, with particular emphasis on cycling tourism.

Tourist attractions and accommodation near bicycle routes

When visiting Małopolska, you can use the offer of Cyclists-Friendly Places – MPR
They include both tourist attractions, service points - including bicycle rentals, accommodation and catering places as well as tourist information points. In each of them you will find e.g. safe bicycle parking, tools for basic bicycle repairs, up-to-date information on nearby service points, and bicycle shops, or the sale of spare parts for bicycles. In accommodation places there is also the option of staying for one night and for safe storage of bicycles with luggage during your stay. A list and a map of places with such certificate can be found here.