Gubałówka — viewpoint ridge above Zakopane

Gubałówka is an elongated ridge on the north-western edge of Zakopane, part of the Gubałówka Range. It rises from 1,120 m at its eastern end to 1,129 m at its western end. The name comes from the Gubałówka clearing, named in turn after the Gubała family; in Jędrzej Gadowski's will of 1 May 1692 the hill is first recorded as Antgua. To the east lies the village of Ząb, to the west it borders Butorowy Wierch, and below its northern slopes, in the Bystry stream valley, is Nowe Bystre. The ridge is largely treeless, so the views are open in every direction.

The main reason to come is the panorama. From the crest you can see the whole Polish Tatras, including Giewont, with Zakopane below, as well as Podhale, the Pieniny, the Gorce and the Żywiec Beskids — including their Slovak side. This makes Gubałówka one of the most popular places among visitors to Zakopane, and it is especially beautiful on a clear morning or at sunset.

What to see and do

• The funicular — a cable railway from Zakopane built in 1938, 1,298 m long with a height difference of about 300 m, modernised in 2001. When it opened in 1938, a restaurant was also opened and Franciszek Masiak's sculpture "Polonia Restituta", which had adorned the Polish pavilion at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris, was installed.
• The iron cross erected by Tytus Chałubiński to mark his reconciliation with his friend Kazimierz Krzywicki (it is often wrongly said to be a votive offering for the end of a cholera epidemic).
• The Papal Trail — a walking path along the crest to Butorowy Wierch (1,160 m), from where a chairlift descends to Kościelisko.
• Fun — a gravity slide in summer, and in winter a ski centre with runs on the Gubałówka clearing, a snow park and private T-bar lifts.
• Nature — rare Polish plants grow on the slopes, including the ghost orchid and the spotted cat's-ear.

The summit also has a 102 m radio and television mast, and the crest is lined with stalls and eateries, so in season it is busy and noisy. For a quiet walk, head west along the Papal Trail.

Practical information

The lower funicular station is in central Zakopane, near the lower end of Krupówki; the ride takes a few minutes. The funicular is run by Polskie Koleje Linowe (PKL); check current ticket prices and opening hours (including autumn maintenance periods when it does not run) on pkl.pl before you go. You can also walk up on paths from the slopes above town — a scenic but steep walk. Because of disputes between landowners and PKL, skiing down to the lower funicular station is currently not possible, so skiers use the runs at the top. The ridge is accessible all year; in winter paths can be slippery. For families with children and non-hikers, Gubałówka is the easiest way to see the Tatras up close without a strenuous hike: from the upper station you can stroll along the gentle crest to the viewpoints.

Nearby

Near the lower station are Krupówki Street, the Pęksowy Brzyzek cemetery and the Tatra Museum. From Butorowy Wierch it is easy to descend towards Kościelisko, not far from the shrine at Krzeptówki.

Official website: pkl.pl

Photos: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Kapitel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Lukas Plewnia from Winterthur, Schweiz, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons; Cybularny, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.