Loop through Kubalonka
Needed water: ok. 1 liter
Possibility of shopping: no shelters, restaurant on the mountain pass
Length: ok. 18 km
Elevations: +360/-360 m
The highest point: Szklarska pass, 758 m n. p. m.
Lowest point: Wisla-Dziechcinka, 438 m n. p
The history of Wisła allegedly dates back to the 13th century, however, from that time there is one entry in the chronicles in the books. The city was mentioned again only in the 16th century. Until the nineteenth century, mainly herding and logging economy developed. From the nineteenth century, tourism began to slowly develop, when the first trips to Barania Góra take place (formally the highest peak within the Vistula city limits). Of course, the name Vistula is also associated with the longest Polish river - it is here that it has its source.
To Dziechcinka, from which I propose to start the route, can be reached by train from Katowice, the journey takes approx. 2h, there are several trains throughout the day (as of February 2017: six courses), so the access is very good. If you go by train, you can too (if necessary) shorten the route by approx 3 kilometers - just go to the Wisła Głębce station. From the stop (because it is difficult to call it a station) we follow the blue and yellow trails, along Sosnowa Street we reach ul. Dziechcinka and turn left (the trail goes to the right) behind the bridge, and this street to the roundabout. At the roundabout, turn right towards Istebna, Jasnowice and Jabłonków. Not much happens for the next three kilometers, we mainly see guesthouses and we are gently gaining height, however after these 3 km it is worth turning into ul. Tour and run 0,5 kilometers, to see the railway bridge over the Łabajów stream in length 122 meters, maximum height 25 meters, built in the years 1931-33. It's really worth adding this piece (even if you start in Głębce - then it's worth taking the blue and green trails, and then run with the green one). Let us calmly return to the main road and continue towards the Kubalonka Pass. After about two kilometers you will come across a crossroads. The road to the left (Main) it leads through the serpentines and after two kilometers it distributes it to the pass. A side road to the right after approx. 1,2 km leads to the pass, however, it is more sloped, the green trail leads there, worth sticking to (rather cunning in asphalt running shoes). If you are running on the main road: the first serpentine is to the left, there is a strange curve ahead, and then a serpentine to the right, on the second serpentine, the road flattens out and leads to the pass.
There are restaurants in Kubalonka, lung disease hospital (built in the 1930s), wooden church of St.. Cross from the end of the 18th century (moved here from the vicinity of Gliwice). There is also a bar called "Barrel". Why? That's why, that it had the shape of a barrel. However, it was rebuilt at the request of the parish priest in Wisła, now this barrel is inside the building.
Then we leave the provincial road 941, we follow the signpost to Wisła Czarne and the Residence of the President of the Republic of Poland on Zadni Groń. A narrow asphalt road leads in the direction of the Szarcula Pass on a basically flat level (on this section the elevation is suddenly 15 meters) following the traces of the red trail (Main Beskid Trail), after a kilometer we start a really thick descent towards the Castle, the average slope of this section is 10% (1,5 km, 150 m down) and it is fairly even. There is one more severe right turn on the way, then a slight curve to the left.
After mentioned 1,5 km we will reach the Castle - the Residence of the President of the Republic of Poland. The modernist chateau was built at the turn of the years 20. i 30. Twentieth century as a gift of the Silesians for the President of the Republic of Poland. It was passed on to 1931 on the "hands" of President Mościski, President Aleksander Kwaśniewski liked this place very much. Upper Castle, which is the right part of the castle is on the left side of the road, it cannot be overlooked (parking lot on the right, the entrance gate on the left).
Another interesting place on this route is located approx. 2 km from the castle (we are still running down!) and it is Lake Czerniańskie - an artificial reservoir on Biała and Czarna Wisełka, created by the construction of an earth dam in the 1970s. After another two-kilometer stretch (with continuous, delicate, runaway) we will reach the provincial road 942. A kilometer to the right there is a ski jump in Wisła-Malice im. Adam Małysz, is an option to extend the trip. What is worth mentioning, when you run out onto DW942 you will see the beginning of the longest Polish river. So, so, here, under this inconspicuous bridge, a dash of more than 1,000 kilometers begins on the map. From here it remains to the Wisła-Dziechcinka train stop 4 km. Another option to extend your trip is to run down the Vistula valley (buses depart from the center of Wisła to Katowice and other cities).