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From Niedźwiedź through Orkanówka to Turbaczyk - green trail

Nearby: Mszana Dolna

Region:

Beskidy (Beskidy), Gorce (Gorce), Małopolskie (Małopolskie)

Medium - For young hikers, steep sections possible

straighten Distance	6.8km
timer Time	3h 28min
north_east Ascents	708m
south_east Descents	144m

Elevation Profile:

Route Map

The slope of the terrain
Route in the sun
No dogs allowed

The green trail from Niedźwiedź to the scenic peak of Turbaczyk is an easy walk full of interesting facts about the most famous writer and poet from Gorce, Władysław Orkan.

Starting point of the green trail in Niedźwiedź

The green trail leads from the peak of Szczebel through Turbacz to Nowy Targ. You can join it in the town of Niedźwiedź, near the Gorce National Park Directorate, in the town center at the PKS bus stop, or next to the church (public parking is available at the cemetery and by the church).

The green trail takes us along an asphalt road through higher settlements and picturesque fields and meadows. We will enjoy such "luxurious conditions" for more than half of the trail. It has its advantages (there will certainly be no mud!), but also disadvantages: on a hot day there will be nowhere to hide, and the heated asphalt will certainly add something of its own.

Green trail: Niedźwiedź - Orkanówka. View to the north

Orkanówka - Władysław Orkan Museum in Poręba Wielka

About 1 hour after entering the trail, at the brick chapel, a side road (yellow trail) will take us to the famous Orkanówka - a stylish wooden villa, built by "the bard of Gorce" Władysław Orkan in 1903-1906 in the hamlet of Zagronie, which is part of the neighboring town of Poręba Wielka. Today, the building houses a biographical museum, but unfortunately it is currently undergoing "reorganization", and it is difficult to say when it will be possible to look inside...

It is definitely worth visiting here on the last Saturday of May, when festive and full of local folklore "May celebrations at Orkan's" are organized.

Władysław Orkan Biographical Museum "Orkanówka", Poręba Wielka

You can definitely take a moment to stop here, rest and enjoy the beautiful view from the garden of Orkanówka:

We can also take a walk along the "sycamore alley" among the trees planted by the artist himself over 100 years ago and stop at the chapel, which the writer's mother, Katarzyna Smreczyńska, erected in gratitude for her son's safe return from World War I.

Katarzyna Smreczyńska's Chapel near Orkanówka

Other trails to Orkanówka

In addition to the green trail from Niedźwiedź, the yellow trail from Koninki also leads to Orkanówka. It is 2.5 km long and will take us to our destination (also on asphalt roads) in about 45 minutes, so a bit faster than the route from Niedźwiedź.

To Orkanówka by car?

Both trails, both the yellow one from Koninki and the green one from Niedźwiedź, lead to Orkanówka on asphalt roads, so theoretically you can get here by car (rather not by coach - it is narrow, steep in places, and the corners can be quite sharp). However, the problem may be with finding a place to park the car. Currently (winter 2023/24) there is no designated parking lot or even a larger bay. You can probably stop for a moment, but you should not leave your car here for a longer time and, for example, set off further on foot on the trail.

Green trail from Orkanówka to Turbaczyk

The further part of the route is a continuous following in the footsteps of Władysław Orkan. Little Franek (as the writer's real name was) traversed it thousands of times, driving cattle to their family's pasture on Basielka, and as an adult he walked this way to his favorite hut.

About 15 min. after leaving Orkanówka, the signs of the yellow and green trail diverge: the yellow one descends to the right to Koninki, we go left with the green one and after a while (finally!) we leave the asphalt and enter the forest.

Attention! Right after entering the forest we enter the Gorce National Park, where dogs are prohibited! We also have to buy entrance tickets to GPN. You can do it online >>>

Green trail - on the way from Niedźwiedź to Turbaczyk

In the forest, some climbing awaits us, but it won't be very steep - on a stretch of about 2 km we overcome a difference in altitude of about 300 m and reach the extensive Basielka meadow (also known as Wasielka). This is the field that belonged to the writer's family and where cattle were grazed. There was also a shepherd's hut here, where Władysław Orkan sometimes slept. He even had a plan to sell it as a shelter for tourists, but this idea was not realized.

From Basielka to Turbaczyk, 1078 m. a.s.l.

Basielka, however charming, but surrounded by forest does not offer such views as the meadow under the peak of Turbaczyk, located less than a kilometer away (the walk will take about 15-20 min.).

On Turbaczyk, a table with benches, an information board and a beautiful panorama await us: from the Żywiec Beskids in the west through the Small and Makowski Beskids to the neighboring Island Beskids, which are almost visible here at a glance. Well, unless we encounter such conditions...