In Szczawnica, marked hiking trails, the slopes of Palenica and historic spa parks come together. For planning, it is worth looking at the specific differences: the hikes have different stated walking times, while the spa parks and paths by the water offer their own destinations for a stay in town.
Hiking trails from the centre and steep climbs
A blue-marked hiking trail leads from the centre via Czeremcha, at 1,146 metres, to the PTTK mountain refuge on Prehyba, at 1,138 metres. The stated walking time is 3 hours and 30 minutes. Another route also starts in the centre and follows yellow, then blue, markings via Palenica, at 722 metres, and Szafranówka, at 742 metres, to the PTTK “Orlica” mountain refuge, at 520 metres. Its stated walking time is 1 hour and 40 minutes. This gives you two trails to choose from, with different waypoints and time estimates. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
A short hiking trail of about 2 kilometres, with steep climbs, leads to Sokolica. Distance alone, then, does not tell you what the trail is like: the inclines should also factor into your choice. Another marked route is the Droga Pienińska. It starts at the landing stage in Szczawnica and leads via Červený Klastor to Veľký Lipnik. Check current parking information before your hike.
Palenica: chairlift and ski area
The four-person detachable Palenica chairlift is in the centre, near the bus station. The ride to the summit takes about three minutes. Check operating status and the timetable before your trip.
The Palenica ski area includes beginner zones on the slopes of Szafranówka with three drag lifts, a snowboard track and a halfpipe, where snowboard competitions are held regularly. Palenica I is the challenging run; Palenica II is a lit family route. All runs are covered with artificial snow and machine-groomed. Which runs are available may vary by season.
Promenade, Dunajec and spa parks
The promenade along the Grajcarek starts at the bottom station of the Palenica lift. It is about 1,800 metres long and leads to a junction with the walking and cycling path along the Dunajec towards Slovakia. Szczawnica is also a waypoint on the Dunajec rafting trip. The route is stated to be about 18 kilometres long, with a journey time of around 2 hours and 15 minutes. This makes it easy to compare the approximate time for a river trip with the walking times for the hikes described above.
Park Górny is Szczawnica’s oldest spa park and lies in the central spa district. Its creation was initiated by Jan Kutscher in the first half of the 19th century. The park extends around a small medicinal-water bottling plant and was expanded by later landowners. Józef Szalay added various plant species as well as paths for walking and relaxation.
Park Dolny is in the centre, at the foot of Bryjarka. It was created between 1861 and 1868 in connection with the opening of the spa house on Miedziusiu. Its features include well-kept paths, lush vegetation, a music pavilion, a pond and a botanical garden. Visitors can sample the water at the “Wanda” spring.
Historic buildings and mineral water
Willa Pałac at Plac Dietla 7 is a historic residential building. The old Dom nad Zdrojami dates from 1863 and houses a drinking hall and the “Stefan” and “Józefina” mineral-water springs. Together with the two spa parks, these buildings and springs give Szczawnica’s spa history a tangible point of reference for exploring the town.
Discover more destinations: Czarna Woda, Zubrzyca Górna, Mizerna, Łopuszna, Maniowy, Krempachy, Piekielnik, Ochotnica Górna.
For the broader travel overview: Nowotarski.
