Tour de Podhale 1/2

Rodzaj nawierzchni:
asfaltowe ścieżki rowerowe
drogi publiczne

Rodzaj roweru:
SPD - trasy odpowiednie dla każdego rodzaju roweru, tzn. szosowego, crossowego i górskiego/MTB
TRK - trasy odpowiednie dla roweru crossowego i górskiego/MTB

Podhale is an extraordinary land. It fascinates us with the variety of landscapes, intrigues us with culture, unusual slang, and traditions. The first part of a two-day trip is a journey through Eastern Podhale and the Polish Spiš - the areas exciting for the bikers - riding along the quiet rivers, lakes, next to amazing places and monuments, as well as steep ascents and dynamic roads downhill. The trail leads through popular places, such as Bukowina or Zakopane, but also through some wild and lonely locations, where you can still take a break from the civilization

Total length: 73 kmTotal ascent: 1000 m (going from Nowy Targ), 760 m (going from Zakopane)Riding time (without breaks): 5 h 5 minRequired experience: ModerateNecessary physical fitness: HighStart and end: Nowy Targ Railway Station, Zakopane Railway StationAccess: train, car
Notes:the trail is a part of a two-day trip, or a one-day excursion if you take a train back to the starting pointif you start in Zakopane, the total ascent decreases to 760 m, which lowers the route’s difficultysuitable for experienced bikerspossible to start both in Nowy Targ and Zakopaneyou can check the train timetable at www.rozklad-pkp.pl
Main attractions of the route:Nowy Targ: as new as the Wawel Royal Castle or the Pont Neuf in Paris. The capital of Podhale, or simply - a city.Velo Dunajec: next to the Route around the Tatras, you will find a second biking highway of the Podtatrze region. Who does not like riding along the river, listening to its calming sounds?Church in Dębina: a wooden masterpiece, built over half a millennium ago. Moreover, thrice as old orchestral bells. UNESCO listed.Lake Czorsztynskie: mountains and lakes always form a picturesque connection. It’s no different this time.Spiš buildings: parallel streets, barns arranged in neat rows, and the swallowtail shaped church tower.Dursztyn area: one of a few villages, where not so long ago all roads used to end. Unrivaled views on the roof of Polish Spiš.Łapszanka Pass: the end of the world with breathtaking views. The place is worth the long ride uphill.Łapszanka ascents, Brzegi: they will check the determination of the most experienced bikers, rewarding them with amazing views and fast downhill rides.Zakopane: love or hate - Zakopane evokes extreme feelings, however, it’s undoubtedly the winter capital of Poland and an interesting place of Tatra foothills.
Description:
We begin the trip at the Nowy Targ Railway Station (the train enthusiasts can see the exhibition in the former Water Tower), from where we go east, through the city. It’s worth stopping by on the market square in Nowy Targ to take a picture or simply try the local ice cream.
After leaving the city, we follow the Velo Dunajec signs and go along the Dunajec river, through quiet and peaceful areas of Gorce foothills.
We reach Dębno, well-known in Poland due to its wooden church. Next, being already in Spiš, we get to the shores of Czorsztyńskie Lake. Surrounded by the mountains, it is magnificent every season of the year.
Among fields, meadows, and rocks, we go through idyllic areas of Krempachy and Dursztyn, the latter providing tiring ascents on steep Pieniny slopes. Later, a difficult downhill part to Łapsze, and then, again, a slow uphill ride to Łapszanka, at the end of which we will see one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Polish Spiš - from Łapszanka Pass.
A fast descent will test our breaks for sure. After crossing Białka, we are back in Podhale, with the last serious ascent in Brzegi in front of us.
The last stretch is the downhill ride to Dunajec Valley and following the Velo Dunajec signage towards Zakopane, where the trip comes to an end.