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163.9 km of red trail from Kraków to Częstochowa through Jurassic castles on rocks
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a blue trail from Mstów to Rudawa past ruined watchtowers, castles and nature reserves of the Jura
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a red cycling trail from Kraków to Częstochowa through the Jurassic Eagles' Nests, about 190 km
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a blue PTTK walking trail from Rzeszów to Grybów, with its final stretch in the Low Beskids
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a 780 km cycling route from Kraków through Moravia to Vienna
Walking trails in Lesser Poland: the Eagles' Nests, Jurassic Strongholds and Rzeszów - Grybów, plus two cycle routes for those who prefer pedalling.
This is a set of routes for many hours, not a short stroll. Three walking trails cross Lesser Poland over long stretches, and two cycle routes are an alternative when you want to cover a similar road faster.
The longest is the blue Rzeszów - Grybów trail, a long-distance PTTK route of about 430 km, the third longest walking trail in Poland. Its final stretch lies in Lesser Poland, because the trail ends in Grybów. Earlier it leads through the Dynów and Przemyśl Foothills, the Sanok-Turka Mountains, the Western Bieszczady and the Beskid Niski.
On the Jura you can walk two routes: the red Trail of the Eagles' Nests (163.9 km) and the blue Trail of the Jurassic Strongholds (about 152 km). The second was devised in 2012 by the Kraków branch of PTTK.
The first links Kraków with Częstochowa and passes most of the Jurassic castles built on rocks. The second starts in Mstów and ends in Rudawa in Lesser Poland, and goes through 14th-century defensive watchtowers the first trail did not cover. That is why the two complement each other and cross several times.
In practice: to see the castles, take the red trail; if you have already seen most of them and want less obvious watchtowers, take the blue one. Remember that the Eagles' Nests Trail lies in Lesser Poland only at its start.
Instead of walking you can choose the Eagles' Nests Cycling Trail, a red-marked route of about 190 km from Kraków to Częstochowa, or Greenways Kraków - Moravia - Vienna with a 780 km axis. The first runs through Eagles' Nests Landscape Park.
Other ideas for a day out with a backpack are in trails in Lesser Poland, and if views matter most, in scenic views in Lesser Poland. If you want routes without fees, see free places in Lesser Poland.
Rzeszów - Grybów, about 430 km, but only its end, finishing in Grybów, is in Lesser Poland.
The red walking trail is 163.9 km and leads from Kraków to Częstochowa. The cycling version is about 190 km.
No, all five are marked as free. Check the rules when entering national and landscape parks.
Yes. These routes run from about 150 to 430 km, so they are usually split into days or sections.
