GOPR Podhale Group

The GOPR Podhale Group (Grupa Podhalańska GOPR) rescues people in the mountains between the Tatras and Kraków: from Babia Góra to the Pieniny and the Sądecki Beskids. Its Central Station in Rabka-Zdrój is also the GOPR Mountain Rescue Coordination Centre. The group has almost three hundred rescuers, mostly volunteers, working in eight operational sections: Rabka–Orawa, Niedźwiedź, Limanowa, Kamienica, Ochotnica, Szczawnica, Krościenko and Nowy Targ. Each year it responds to about 500 rescue operations in the mountains and as many again on ski areas.

How to call for help

The best way is the free Ratunek app, which sends your location to the rescuers. Without the app, dial the short number 985 or the 24/7 GOPR number shown below; with a weak signal, dial 112. Say where you are and what happened, how many people are hurt and how badly, and give a call-back number. Don't hang up first and keep your phone on.

Area and stations

The group's area covers about 4,200 km² and 1,500 km of trails: the south-eastern slopes of Babia Góra with the Krowiarki pass, the Polica range, the Podhale range, Orawa, the Gorce, the Island Beskids (Beskid Wyspowy), the Pieniny and part of the Sądecki Beskids.

• year-round: Rabka-Zdrój (24/7), Turbacz, Nowy Targ – Długa Polana, Szczawnica, Krościenko and Limanowa (the last two at weekends and on holidays);
• in winter, on ski areas: Śnieżnica – Kasina, Chełm – Myślenice, Wdżar – Czorsztyn, Palenica – Szczawnica, Laskowa – Kamionna, Rusiń-Ski – Bukowina Tatrzańska.

Good to know

• The group has search-dog handlers and drones and works closely with the air ambulance service, the fire service, the police and TOPR.
• In the Pieniny and Orawa trails approach the Slovak border: on the Slovak side the HZS carries out rescues and charges for them.
• In the wooded Gorce and Beskids a light distress signal is hard to see from afar — save your phone battery.