Turbaczyk Glade

Turbaczyk is a summit meadow on the mountain of the same name in the Gorce, on the northern side of the Turbacz massif. It lies on the steep western and northern slopes of Turbaczyk at 980–1,070 m and covers 11.74 ha. The meadow is part of Gorce National Park; the boundary between Koninki (part of the village of Poręba Wielka) and Konina in the commune of Niedźwiedź, Limanowa County, runs across it.

As late as the 1970s the meadow was regularly mown and grazed. This explains its unusual biodiversity: as many as 14 different plant communities have been counted here. Species include the tiled gladiolus (Gladiolus imbricatus), Lobel's false hellebore, alpine blue-sow-thistle and wood cranesbill; on the wet north-eastern part, on a fen, grow meadow thistle, marsh marigold, broad-leaved cottongrass and entire-leaved valerian. In spring the meadow is covered with Spiš crocus and snowdrops, and later five orchid species flower. Birds seen here include the Ural owl and the black redstart. The north-western part of the meadow is gradually being overgrown with bilberry and raspberry – a stage of natural succession that precedes the return of the forest. Below the forest stands an old shepherds' hut with the four-sided roof typical of Zagórzanie building.

A folk legend tells of a pre-war baca (head shepherd) from Obidowa named Anioł who farmed the meadow: by magic he is said to have brought back to life sheep that had been bewitched by a baca from Łopuszna. A survey mark from 1823 also survives on the meadow – evidence of the triangulation measurements carried out at that time by Austrian cartographers.

What to see and do

• The panorama: Babia Góra and the Babia Góra range, the Makowski, Żywiec and Wyspowy Beskids, and the nearby summit of Kudłoń. Gorce National Park has put up a board describing the visible peaks and benches for hikers.
• Flowers: April–May – crocuses and snowdrops; June–July – orchids and gladioli.
• The old hut below the forest and the 1823 triangulation mark.

How to get there

The green trail Szczebel – Turbacz – Kowaniec crosses the meadow. From Niedźwiedź via Orkanówka (the manor museum of the writer Władysław Orkan) it takes about 1:50 from Orkanówka to the meadow; on the way the trail crosses another large meadow, Łąki, which offers a good view of Turbaczyk itself; the whole Niedźwiedź – Turbacz section is 10.8 km with 970 m of ascent (3:25 up, 2:20 down). The black trail Turbaczyk – Konina – Kudłoń – Lubomierz starts on Turbaczyk. The park's educational path "Na Turbaczyk" also leads here from the Oberówka meadow and campsite. The climb is steep but it is an ordinary mountain hike, manageable for children who already hike.

Season and safety

Entry to Gorce National Park is paid: as of October 2026 a day ticket costs 10 PLN, reduced 5 PLN (sold online or at sales points; 15% of the revenue supports the GOPR mountain rescue). Only trail sections along the park boundary are free. Stay on the trail and do not pick flowers – crocuses and orchids are protected. In winter the meadow's slopes are steep, and in fog it is easy to lose your way. Mountain rescue GOPR: 985 or 601 100 300.

Nearby

Up the green trail lies the summit of Turbacz with its meadows, among them Hala Długa below Turbacz; to the east, in the centre of the park, is Polana Jaworzyna Kamienicka. In Poręba Wielka you can visit the Gorce National Park Nature Exhibition, Poręba Wielka.

Photos: Artur Palac, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.