Będkowska Valley

The Będkowska Valley is one of the valleys near Kraków: the gorge of the Będkówka stream, cut into Jurassic limestone on the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. It is 7-8 kilometres long and lies in the Valleys near Kraków Landscape Park, within several municipalities, including Kobylany, Będkowice, Łazy and Jerzmanowice. The eastern walls are steep, the western ones gentler.

Crags and caves

The valley is well known among climbers: more than 80 crags are open for climbing, including Sokolica, with a wall up to 60 metres high considered the tallest in the whole Jura, as well as Iglica, Wielka Turnia and Brama Będkowska. About 120 caves and rock shelters have been documented in the rocks. Nietoperzowa Cave is open for guided visits, and Łabajowa Cave is also known. A hillfort from the 8th century has survived on Sokolica.

Water and trails

The source of the Będkówka yields about 50 litres of water per second, and the Szum waterfall is described as the largest natural waterfall in the Jura. A blue trail leads through the valley from Rudawa through Łączki Kobylańskie to Ojców National Park. The yellow one runs from Będkowice through the Będkowice Gorge to the Szklarka Valley, and the green one from Szklary through the Szklarka Valley to Łazy and Wierzchowie. There is also a red cycling route from Bolechowice through Bębło.

Practical information

• Landmark: the campsite and agritourism farm Brandysówka at the foot of Sokolica
• The neighbouring Bolechowice Gorge is about 2.4 km away
• Check the course of the trails on a current map before setting out