01.TRK DAWNĄ KOLEJĄ DO GRANICY / THE RAIL TRAIL TO THE BORDER

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

CHOCHOŁÓW – wooden buildings – Domański Wierch Mountain, views – Sośnina forest – Route around theTatras – Czarny Dunajec – Podczerwone – Orava–Nowy Targ Peatlands – SK/PL state border – CHOCHOŁÓW
A perfect trip to begin cycling adventures in the Tatra Foothills region, suitable also for families with children – on bicycles and in trailers. Interesting wooden architecture in Chochołów, splendid views of the Tatras and the Babia Góra Mountain from the Domański Wierch Mountain, a pleasant and easy ride along the Route Around the Tatras following the route of the old railroad to Trzciana. Additionally, the Orava-Nowy Targ Peat Bogs with their natural attractions. Nearly the whole route leads away from vehicular traffic, so one can enjoy the ride and the views in peace.The route starts in Chochołów, a village known for its heritage wooden architecture. One of the houses, at the address Chochołów 24, was made entirely of one fir tree. Fans of history will be keen to pop into the Museum of the Chochołów Uprising, and lovers of nature can visit the newly-opened multimedia Centre for the Promotion and Protection of Peat Bogs1. A side trail of the Route Around the Tatras leads us to the hills to the east of the village (a short steep uphill stretch) from where we will be riding for the next 10 km on the long, lowland ridge of Domański Wierch. After covering the Chochołów – Ciche road, more than 4 km of gravel, sometimes of inferior quality, awaits us. But let’s not be down-hearted – it is the only such stretch on the route. We reach the junction with the road Czarny Dunajec – Ciche Dolne. From now on, the route is asphalted to its end. In front of us is the most magnificent part of Domański Wierch, offering views both to the south towards the Tatras and to the north towards the Babia Góra Mountain and the flattening of the Orava-Nowy Targ Basin. The route leads along the ridge; the shrines and lonely trees that we pass testify to the fact that it was a long time ago that people wandered between the villages – the shrines also served as landmarks. We reach the Sośnina Forest after which we leave by the houses between Rogoźnik and Stare Bystre. We turn left twice and from now on the route leads along the main path of the Route Around the Tatras, i.e. the former Nowy Targ – Trstená railway which, in the past, during the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, formed the shortest connection between Kraków and Vienna. It came back to life with the creation of a bicycle path. We follow the Route to Czarny Dunajec and Pod¬czerwone, passing remnants of the former railway infrastructure, such as a bridge or stations. Numerous canopied shelters offer the possi¬bility of rest. Not far after the former station in Podczerwone, the Route takes us to a Natura 2000 area: the Orava¬-Nowy Targ Peat Bogs. We can learn more about these unique ecosystems on a European scale in the multimedia Centre for the Promotion and Protection of Peat Bogs in Chochołów. Gently riding upwards, we reach the Polish-Slovak border, where our route turns back and after 600 m, next to an original shrine, turns right sharply. Among meadows and pastures we go down to the village where, after a bridge over the Czarny Dunajec River (there is a nice place to rest by the river) our trip ends.