Discover Obidowa

Obidowa in the western Gorce Mountains

Obidowa lies in the western Gorce Mountains at an elevation of 750 to 850 metres. It is the highest village in the western Gorce and also the largest village in the Nowy Targ municipality by area. This combination of elevation and size helps put Obidowa in geographical context; the village landscape also includes mountain forests, clearings and wooden houses in the Podhale style. When looking for a hotel in Obidowa, you can consider whether cross-country skiing, hiking, scenery or a cultural event will shape your stay.

Cross-country skiing and hiking

The cross-country ski route from Obidowa leads to the mountain hut on Turbacz and is suitable for advanced beginners. The ascent is estimated to take two to three hours, and the return journey about one to one and a half hours. The difference between these time estimates matters when planning the trip: the longer stretch is the ascent, while the return is estimated to be shorter. Thanks to the special microclimate, conditions on the route are very good from December through March or April. This seasonal information describes a general timeframe, not the conditions on your travel date. Check these if you are planning to ski on a specific day.

A well-travelled hiking trail from Rabka to Turbacz passes through Obidowa. Another trail runs west from the Stare Wierchy mountain hut over Mount Obidowa, Klikuszowa and Pyzówka, in the direction of Babia Góra. The two hiking routes offer different points of reference: Rabka and Turbacz on the one hand, and Stare Wierchy and the direction of Babia Góra on the other. This lets you compare the routes with your planned hike.

Forests, clearings and shepherds’ huts

The forests in the mountain area around Obidowa are considered remnants of the former Carpathian primeval forest. Above the forests are the Bukowina, Roznowa, Płowowa, Grajcarowa and Rusnakowa clearings. The upper mountain clearings include meadows with mountain grasses that were used for summer grazing until recently. A few shepherds’ huts have also survived in the mountain area. The landscape therefore combines forest, open meadows and individual huts; grazing belongs to the recent past.

Chapel and architectural heritage

A chapel in the form of a shepherd’s hut stands in the Rusnakowa clearing. It was built to commemorate the first papal pilgrimage to his homeland and the Pope’s stay in Podhale in 1979. Masses for the mountain community, with a sermon in the Goral dialect, are held at the chapel every year on the first Sunday in August. If you are planning your trip around this service, confirm the date locally in advance.

Obidowa also still has wooden houses in the Podhale style, with their beams laid one above another in a log-cabin pattern. This describes a building method in which the arrangement of the beams is itself a visible feature of the house.

Connection to Nowy Targ

Obidowa has a good local public transport connection with Nowy Targ. Alongside activities, this may be a relevant planning consideration when choosing where to stay. If you plan to travel by public transport, check the timetable for specific journeys.

Discover more destinations: Łapsze Niżne, Gronków, Szaflary, Lipnica Wielka, Ochotnica Górna, Chochołów, Maniowy, Chyżne

Return to the main travel overview: Nowotarski.