Turbacz

Turbacz (say "TOOR-bach"), at 1,310 m, is the highest peak of the Gorce Mountains in southern Poland and a classic day hike above the town of Nowy Targ. Just below the summit stands a large stone mountain hut, and the meadows around it offer one of the best panoramas of the Tatra Mountains you can get without climbing the Tatras themselves. If you are looking for things to do near Zakopane or Kraków that involve real hiking but no technical difficulty, Turbacz is an excellent choice.

Where it is

The Gorce range lies in the Lesser Poland region (Małopolska), between Kraków and the Tatras. Nowy Targ, the main starting point, is roughly a 1.5-hour drive south of Kraków and about 30 minutes from Zakopane, with regular buses from both. The summit is forested and marked by a stone obelisk; the open views are from the Wolnica meadow and the terrace in front of the hut. On clear days you can trace the whole Tatra chain, from the Belianske Tatras and Gerlach (2,655 m, the highest peak of the Carpathians) to Kasprowy Wierch, plus the Pieniny range and Czorsztyn Lake to the east. Turbacz is part of the Crown of Polish Mountains, a popular peak-bagging list of the highest summits of Poland's 28 ranges.

The Władysław Orkan mountain hut

Polish mountain huts (schroniska) are simple lodges with dorm and private rooms, hearty food and a long history. The first hut here opened in 1925 and burned down in 1933; a second one, under construction from 1934, was set on fire in November 1943, during World War II. The present stone building opened on August 21, 1958, and is named after Władysław Orkan, a writer from the Gorce region. It has 110 beds, a restaurant, café and fireplace room, plus a campsite next door. A mountain rescue (GOPR) station operates in a separate building nearby. Book ahead for weekends; staff mainly speak Polish, so a short email or a translation app helps.

How to get to Turbacz: trails and hiking times

Approximate times to the hut, according to the regional tourist board:

• From Nowy Targ, green trail: about 2 hours, the shortest but steep.
• From Nowy Targ, yellow trail: about 2.5 hours, gentler, passing the Papal Chapel.
• From Koninki: chairlift to Tobołów, then under 2 hours on foot.
• From Rabka-Zdrój on the red Main Beskid Trail: about 4.5 hours.

The summit itself is a few minutes from the hut on the red trail. Combining the green and yellow trails from Nowy Targ makes a good loop. You cannot drive to the hut; trailhead parking is in Nowy Targ (Kowaniec or Długa Polana), at the Koninki chairlift and in Obidowa.

Practical tips (as of October 2026)

• The summit is free and accessible year-round, but some approach trails cross Gorce National Park, where entrance fees apply on selected routes and dogs are allowed only on designated trails. Check the park's rules before you go.
• Bring Polish złoty (PLN) in cash as a backup at the hut.
• In winter, microspikes are useful; the routes from Nowy Targ are popular with ski tourers.
• Is it worth visiting? Yes, for the Tatra views alone, ideally on a crisp autumn morning.

Nearby

Continue along the red trail to Stare Wierchy, or combine your hike with a visit to the spa town of Rabka-Zdrój or the wooden churches around Nowy Targ.