Beginning of the trail: Bochnia

End of the trail: Bochnia

Total length of the trail: 90.3 km

Difficulty: medium

Bicycle Salt Ring Salina Cracoviensis is a cultural tourism trail through the surroundings of the former salt mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia salt mine. The trail was created in 2009–2011 and was aimed at creating a network consisting of the main route, described below, and the connecting routes (including the separately described Sal de Bochegna, as well as the Rzezawa and Nowy Wiśnicz links). It is marked in blue. Despite the fact that upkeep of the trail appears to be neglected, it is still worth the trip because it’s a good occasion to see the main tourist centres of this region, such as Wieliczka, Bochnia, Niepołomice and the Niepołomice Forest. We suggest being guided by GPX tracks because in the area of the above-mentioned cities, the signage is nonexistent or it’s at best rudimentary, and the road system has changed in several places (whereas the suggested trail runs along new sections of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, e.g., in Bochnia). We assess the level of difficulty as medium, mainly due to differences in elevation (in particular on the southern section) and portions of poorly maintained dirt roads and paths along the route around Ochmanów and Wieliczka. In the vicinity of the Niepołomice Forest, the trail meets the VeloMetropolis (EuroVelo4) and VeloRaba routes. There is a railway line that run across the ring of the trail –that we recommend using when you start your trip in Kraków (e.g., to reach Wieliczka). Most of the rest stops are in the Niepołomice Forest and in Bochnia.

Maximum elevation: 424 m a.s.l.

The lowest point on the route is 192 m a.s.l.

The route runs through the following protected areas:

Reserves: Gibiel

Natura 2000: Niepołomice Forest

28% of the route runs through forested areas.

Tourist attractions: Bochnia – Royal Salt Mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia (m. Bochnia), Stanisław Fischer Museum in Bochnia (m. Bochnia), Graduation Tower (m. Wieliczka), Wieliczka – Royal Salt Mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia (m. Wieliczka), Salt Works Castle (m. Wieliczka)

Natural attractions: Natura 2000 – Niepołomice Forest, Natura 2000 – peat bog Wielkie Błoto, Dębina Nature Reserve, Gibiel Nature Reserve, Crystal Caves Nature Reserve

20% of the trail runs on roads without vehicular traffic.