Kraków – Jerzmanowice (Skała 502 Rock, Nietoperzowa Cave) – Sąspów – Pieskowa Skała (Castle and Maczuga Herkulesa Rock) – Sułoszowa – Olkusz – Klucze – Kwaśniów – Smoleń (Pilcza Castel, Zegarowe Rocks) – Olkusz – Gorenice – Czerna – Krzeszowice – Kraków.
The field trip starts in Kraków at the AGH University of Science and Technology, going NW from Kraków passes hills belonging to southern part of Polish Jura. The first point is the Skała 502 (Rock 502, 512m a.s.l.) being the highest point in Kraków- Częstochowa Jura. This is one of the numerous calcareous mogotes (local name “ostaniec”), characteristic for landscape of this part of Poland. These rocky hills are built with massive Upper Jurasic limestones which were deposited within epicontinental sea. They formed the centers of reef-type structures consisting mostly of sponges and algae. The Nietoperzowa Jaskinia (Bats Cave), located on the neighboring hill, is the next point of ours trip. It’s important archeological setting of Jerzmanowice culture and interesting limestone karst form.
From Jerzmanowice trip goes to Pieskowa Skała, passing Sąspów and biggest valley cutting limestones of Polish Jura. The famous Pieskowa Skała Castle is located on the limestone hill. It belongs to the Eagle Nest Trail, which consist of Medieval Castles chain. The unique in shape Maczuga Herkulesa Rock – the most famous rock of Polish Jura is well visible from the Castle. The route passes through the Sułoszowa, Olkusz, Klucze along the lower edge of the big Pleistocene valley with fluwioglacial sands, Błędowska Pustynia (Błędów Desert) and Kwaśniów, to the next stop in Smoleń. The Pilcza Castle (also belongs to the Eagle Nest Trail) occupies the central part of a hill (486 m a.s.l.) from which a spectacular scenic view opens. The Smoleń reserve is a readily visited geotourist attraction. From Scientific and Educational Center of Landscape Parks Association of Silesian District a convenient patch leads to the Zegarowe Skały (Clock Rocks). This rocks are located on the slop of the Wodąca valley. The karst processes generated many caves, two of them are easy to visit. The passage Smoleń – Kraków leads along Czerna and Krzeszowice crossing, the Eliaszówka valley.
