Gorce Mountains Mountains

The Gorce Mountains are a low mountain range in southern Poland, part of the Western Beskids in Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The range’s highest point is the Turbacz summit at 1,310 metres.

The mountains have been used historically for seasonal grazing and small-scale settlement; from the late 20th century much of the core area has been protected to conserve forest and mountain meadow habitats. Gorce National Park was created to safeguard these landscapes and their native flora and fauna.

The Gorce Mountains lie in southern Poland within Lesser Poland Voivodeship, occupying a section of the Western Beskids. The range is inland and largely rural, accessed from nearby towns and smaller mountain settlements.

• Trails and access: Marked, well-maintained trails are managed by the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society (PTTK), making day hikes and multi-day ridge walks straightforward.
• Viewing tips: Best viewpoints are from ridge tops such as the Turbacz area; summer and early autumn offer the clearest long-distance views.

What to See#

• Gorce National Park: Sits within a protected area established to conserve the range’s forests and mountain meadows; the park covers roughly 70 square kilometres and was created in 1981.
• Turbacz (summit): The highest summit of the range, reaching 1,310 metres, offers the park’s main marked trails and several lookout points over surrounding Beskid ridges.

The Gorce range lies in southern Poland, south of Kraków and east of Nowy Targ. The nearest towns with regular transit connections include Nowy Targ and Rabka-Zdrój; from there local buses and taxis provide access to trailheads.

• Bring layers and waterproofs for mountain weather - conditions can change quickly even in summer.
• Use official trails and the TPN (Tatra/Polish mountain) markers where relevant; parts of the Gorce are less waymarked than neighboring ranges.
• Try shepherd-run mountain huts (bacówki) for traditional food and to taste local sheep cheese (oscypek) in season.