Chornohora ridge - the land of the highest peaks of the Ukrainian Carpathians

In the Ukrainian Carpathians, the Chornohora range, or Chornohora as it is also known, is the highest. It is also perhaps the most popular mountain range in Ukraine. And for good reason, as it is home to many interesting and picturesque locations, most of which can be described as "the most". The highest peaks, lakes and buildings, breathtaking views, historical sites, and much more. But first things first.

The Chornohora range is known for the fact that it is home to all of Ukraine's two-thousand meter mountains: Hoverla, Petros, Pip-Ivan, Brebeneskul, Hutyn-Tomnatyk, Rebra.

Stretching for almost 40 kilometers between the Black Tisza and Black Cheremosh rivers, Chornohora divides two regions - Zakarpattia and Ivano-Frankivsk. In 1919-1939, the border between Poland and Czechoslovakia ran along the ridge. Echoes of the past - border posts and remnants of fortifications - can still be seen today.

The slopes of the massif are covered with coniferous and beech forests, which, with the increase in altitude, sometimes turn into difficult to pass fields of alpine pine, and then into high mountain meadows. These forests are home to bear, deer, fox, hare, and grouse. The location is also famous for its ravens - majestic and intelligent birds that circle smoothly in the sky, catching the rising air currents or carefully watching tourists sitting on a rock.

The mountain range has a well-developed network of marked hiking trails and paths. There are many campsites for tents, several mountain huts-shelters where you can wait out the bad weather... The first hiking route on the Montenegrin ridge, which included the Hoverla climb, was laid out in 1880. Nowadays, you can start a hike to Chornohora from many settlements: Kvasiv and Yaseniv from the west, Dzembroni and Shybenne from the east, Kozmeschyk and Zaroslyak tourist centers from the north, and Luhy from the south. The logistics are quite good, especially from Kvasy and Yaseny, as you can get here both by train and by car.

Most people climb Chornohora in warm weather in a one-day format to climb some popular peaks (Hoverla, Petros, Pip Ivan Chornohirsky). Some people combine a couple of "lower locations", for example, Lake Nesamovyte and the Spits cliffs. But hikers with large backpacks walk the planned routes in parts or the entire ridge (it takes 4-6 days, depending on the complexity of the track and the season).

The most interesting sights of Chornohora

But let's get back to the topic of very interesting tourist locations, and why many of them have the prefix "most". So...

1. The highest point of Ukraine, Mount Hoverla, is located on the Chornohora ridge, with a height of 2061 meters. There are several ways to get to the top, which are used by tens of thousands of people every year. But reaching the goal requires patience, physical effort and safe weather conditions.
2. The Chornohora range is also a must-see for those who want to climb all the peaks of Ukraine over 2000 meters high. There are six of them: Hoverla (2061 m), Brebeneskul (2038 m), Pip-Ivan Chornohirsky (2028 m), Petros (2020 m), Hutyn-Tomnatyk (2016 m), and Rebra (2001 m).
3. Under the Gutyn Tomnatyk mountain, at an altitude of 1801 meters, there is the highest mountain lake in Ukraine - Brebeneskul. It is of glacial origin and is fed by meltwater and precipitation. The bottom is covered with stones, and the surrounding stone placers and steep mountain slopes give the impression that we are much higher than we actually are.
4. On another two-thousand-year-old mountain, Pip Ivan Chornohirsky, you can combine a hike to the mountain with a visit to the tallest building in Ukraine, the White Elephant. This is a former observatory that was built in 1938 and operated for several years. As of the beginning of 2025, restoration work is underway here, and a high-altitude search and rescue post is equipped in the building, where rescuers are on duty all year round. The building got its name for the bizarre shapes it takes on when the walls are covered with a thick layer of snow and ice in winter.
5. The highest snow and avalanche meteorological station operates under the Pozhyzhevska mountain. In winter, it transmits valuable information about the current weather on Montenegro and beyond, the state of the snow and avalanche danger on a daily basis. The meteorological station is staffed by extraordinary people who can treat you to a cup of tea and tell you many interesting stories.

In addition to the above, there are many more beautiful places on the Chornohora ridge worthy of attention: lakes Nesamovyte and Maricheika, the rocks of Shpyts and Vuhaty Kamen, the picturesque tract of Hadzhyna and its Dovbushy well...

On the slopes of the ridge, there are meadows where in summer you can get acquainted with the life of mountain shepherds and buy delicious and healthy Carpathian cheeses: budz, brynza and vurda. The village of Kvasy is home to the Tsypa craft brewery, which offers many types of beer with interesting flavors and names, brewed with healing mountain water. There is also an eco-farm where you can feed the animals with delicacies and taste unique cheeses.

Hiking routes of Chornohora - together with Kuluar

We can talk about the nature, landscapes or history of Chornohora for a long time. But it is better to see everything for yourself, touch that beauty, feel the taste of adventure and the breath of the mountain wind on your cheeks. For this purpose, KULUAR tour club has prepared several interesting programs for different tastes and physical abilities:

• Hoverla from the houses. An easy program with accommodation in a manor house, the track is within the power of most people. It includes not only climbing the highest mountain of Ukraine, but also visiting the famous Bukovel resort, the souvenir market in Yaremche and the craft brewery in Kvasy.
• Hiking to the Spikes and Ribs through Nesamovyte. A simple program with tents that allows you to visit many interesting locations in 3 days. We will visit the fabulous Carpathian forest, spend the night at an altitude of over 1700 meters near Lake Nesamovyte, climb to the two thousandth mountain and see the breathtaking cliffs.

• Climbing Hoverla and Petros. This three-day hike is much harder than the previous ones. But at the same time, it is more scenic, allows you to climb to the tops, get the experience of spending the night in tents and test yourself with steep ascents and rocky descents.
• Trekking in the Chornohora. The program is for those who want to immerse themselves in the Carpathian Mountains for a longer period of time and hike the entire Chornohora ridge in one go. It is best suited for participants with previous hiking experience or good physical fitness. Six days, five nights in tents, all the two-thousanders, two picturesque lakes Brebeneskul and Nesamovyte and many more interesting things.
• Winter climbing on Hoverla and Petros. If you've been hiking in the summer, are in good physical shape, but want a new experience, this is the place for you. In winter, the Carpathians are completely different: huge amounts of snow, white-dressed spruce trees, clouds underfoot, and incredibly distant landscapes. Sometimes the weather tests tourists, covering everything with clouds and trying to drive them away with strong winds. This is a real test of endurance and resilience, but in any case, you will get a lot of unforgettable impressions.

When is the most favorable weather for hiking on the Chornohora ridge

The warm period for hiking in the Chornohora ridge lasts approximately from the end of May to October. In early May, there is still a lot of snow in the highlands and daytime temperatures are not much higher than 0°C, and in October, night frosts become more frequent.

In summer, in sunny weather, the highlands are quite warm and comfortable, but sometimes there are difficult weather conditions: sudden cold snaps with rain, strong winds and fog. Therefore, despite the fact that summer hiking in the Chornohora is not too difficult, you need to have the necessary equipment and satisfactory physical fitness.

Winter should not be dismissed in terms of tourism either. A fabulous snow-covered forest, fantastic cloudy seas, crystal clear air... and of course, the opportunity to test your resilience and endurance - many tourists and climbers come here for this. Although there are plenty of places to set up tents, winter trips are most often held in the format of overnight stays in relatively comfortable estates with radial access to the aforementioned top Carpathian peaks.

See you in the Mountains. KULUAR - your life-changing mountain experience!

Author of the article Ivan Kucheryavyi, team leader of the Kuluar club