Gorce National Park

Gorce National Park (Gorczański Park Narodowy, roughly gor-CHAN-skee) protects the heart of the Gorce Mountains, a forested range of the Western Beskids in southern Poland. Its 7,030 hectares (about 17,400 acres) mix old beech, fir and spruce forest with open shepherds' meadows that look straight across to the Tatra Mountains. It is one of Poland's 23 national parks and a rewarding, far less crowded alternative to Zakopane — only about an hour and a half from Kraków.

Where it is and how to get there

The park lies between the towns of Mszana Dolna, Rabka-Zdrój, Nowy Targ and the Ochotnica valley, in the Małopolska region. From Kraków (and its international airport) drive south on the S7 expressway toward Zakopane, then take local roads to Mszana Dolna or Nowy Targ — about 1.5 hours in total. By public transport, Mszana Dolna is the hub for the northern trailheads (Koninki, Poręba Wielka, Lubomierz, Konina), and Nowy Targ for the southern ones (Łopuszna, Ochotnica). Most trailhead parking lots are privately run; the park's own lot is at Trusiówka in the Kamienica valley.

History and wildlife

Protection began in 1927, when landowner Ludwik Wodzicki set aside a 114-hectare reserve named after the writer Władysław Orkan, who came from this area. The national park was created in 1981. Forests cover about 95% of it, many trees are over a century old, and the park counts 185 vertebrate species, including lynx, wolves, brown bears and capercaillie. Its emblem is the fire salamander. The meadows (polany), left by centuries of grazing, are slowly turning back into forest, so some are mown and sheep have returned to Hala Długa. In spring they are covered with crocuses.

Things to do: the best hikes in the Gorce Mountains

The range's highest peak, Turbacz (1,310 m), lies just outside the park boundary, but most routes to it cross the park, and a PTTK mountain hut stands below the summit. Inside the park rise Jaworzyna Kamienicka (1,288 m), Kudłoń (1,274 m) and Gorc (1,228 m), which has an observation tower. Popular hikes:

• Koninki to Turbacz via Tobołów and Obidowiec — the classic northern approach.
• Lubomierz-Rzeki to Gorc and the Podskały meadow — a scenic route in the eastern part of the range.
• Kamienica valley (Trusiówka) — the blue trail up the valley toward the central ridge, plus a family-friendly nature trail along a mountain stream.
• Łopuszna and Ochotnica — southern approaches with views of the Tatras and Pieniny.

Allow 4–8 hours for a full-day loop; trails are well marked in red, blue, green, yellow and black.

Tickets and rules (as of October 2026)

• Admission is charged year-round: one-day ticket 10 zł (reduced 5 zł), three days 20/10 zł, seven days 50/25 zł; buy e-tickets at gorce.eparki.pl. Prices are in Polish złoty (PLN) and may rise if a planned national-park fee reform passes.
• Children under 7 enter free.
• Dogs are banned except on six designated trail sections, where they must be leashed and muzzled.
• Stay on marked trails, hike from dawn to dusk, and camp or light fires only at the Trusiówka and Oberówka campsites.

Is it worth visiting in winter?

Yes, if you are prepared. The park does not groom or add extra markings to trails in snow, so bring microspikes and a map app. Ski touring is allowed only on marked hiking trails, with walkers having priority. For downhill skiing, use the small resorts just outside the park — Tobołów in Koninki, Lubomierz Ski, Nowy Targ–Długa Polana and Kluszkowce — and cross-country skiers will find prepared tracks around Obidowa, Klikuszowa and Lubomierz-Rzeki.

Best time to visit and safety

Spring brings crocuses to the meadows, and autumn turns the beech woods copper while clear air reveals the Tatras. Summer meadows get hot, so start early and carry water. The Gorce are gentler than the Tatras, but weather changes quickly and phone signal in the valleys can be patchy. For mountain rescue (GOPR), call 985 or +48 601 100 300; the free "Ratunek" app can share your location with rescuers.

Visitor center. The park headquarters in Poręba Wielka houses a nature exhibition (12 zł, reduced 6 zł, cash only on site). From November to April it opens Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; from May to October Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Address: Poręba Wielka 590, phone +48 18 33 17 207, gpn@gorcepn.pl.