Hoverla is the most famous mountain in Ukraine. Everyone knows about it, some have already climbed to its summit, and many are still only dreaming of climbing it... In this article, we will not only recall interesting facts, but also tell you something new, and take a closer look at the features and options for climbing the peak.
Since school, we have known where Hoverla is located: on the Chornohora ridge of the Carpathians, on the border of Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia regions. Its height reaches 2061 meters above sea level. Sometimes it is mistakenly considered the highest point of the entire mountain system. However, the highest Carpathian peak is located in Slovakia - the Gerlachov Peak with a height of 2655 m, but we will tell you about it another time 😉 Hoverla is the highest point of the Ukrainian Carpathians.
It is no surprise that it is the most visited mountain in Ukraine by tourists and climbers: tens of thousands of people climb Hoverla every year, both in summer and winter.
In clear weather, the summit offers breathtaking views of a large part of the Carpathians: the famous Chornohora, the amazing Marmarosy, Chyvchyny, Eastern and Central Horhany... In good visibility, you can even see Mount Pip Ivan, where the Bilyy Slon Observatory is located. And Hoverla itself and the Chornohora ridge in general have a very good view from the lower Kukul and Kostrych ranges, which are located nearby in the north.
Hoverla is one of the most beautiful and our favorite mountains, because it welcomes tourists all year round and gives unforgettable memories
Since then, the number of tourists wishing to climb the mountain has been growing every year. Therefore, despite the fact that it is protected by the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve and the Carpathian National Nature Park, the vegetation suffers from the huge number of visitors, and the surrounding areas are sometimes very littered. So there is a negative impact of tourism on Hoverla and the surrounding area.
Nowadays, there are several routes that can be used to climb Hoverla - from Zaroslyak, Kozmeshchyk, and along the Chornohora ridge from Mount Petros or Breskul.
Today, there are several ways to climb the main mountain of Ukraine. Let's highlight the most popular ones.
The most popular shortest road to the top of Hoverla is from Ivano-Frankivsk region. Namely, from the Zaroslyak tourist center, which can be reached by off-road vehicles. There are two marked routes from Zaroslyak to Hoverla: blue and green, which are 3.5 and 4 km long, respectively, and have slightly different terrain. It will take about 3-3.5 hours to climb them (depending on your physical fitness). The descent is also quite long due to the difficult terrain and will take up to 2 hours.
The KULUAR club will not only tell you interesting facts about the highest peak in Ukraine, but also show you it in all its glory:
A less popular route to Hoverla is from the Kozmeshchyk campground, which can be reached from the village of Lazeshchyna in Zakarpattia Oblast. Although it is twice as long as the route from Zaroslyak, it is gentler and more picturesque. Much of the way will pass through a magical forest, a meadow where cattle are grazed, and Carpathian cheeses are made. In total, you should set aside about 8 hours for the climb: 4-4.5 hours for the ascent and 2.5 hours for the descent, plus another hour for photos and a picnic at the top 😉
Tourists who hike all or part of Chornohora often enter Hoverla from the ridge. From the western side of Mt. Petros, or from the east of Mt. Breskul. You can also go around the mountain on the traverse from the south side - it is beautiful and picturesque and much less crowded.
Wherever you plan to climb, you need to remember that this is a high mountain and even in summer, difficult weather conditions are possible. If the temperature is +25 degrees somewhere in Vorokhta or Lazeshchyna, the temperature on Hoverla can be +15. It often rains, thunderstorms and strong winds. Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with the weather forecast in advance, be psychologically prepared and have the appropriate clothing and equipment.
In the warm season, a 20-25 liter backpack with the following contents can be recommended for a one-day hike: a warm sweatshirt, baseball cap or buff, a reliable raincoat, a first aid kit with a thermal blanket, a charged phone, preferably with a GPS application installed, a flashlight, a knife and a lighter. You will also need a 1-1.5 liter water bottle and a supply of high-calorie foods (energy bars, dried fruits, sandwiches). Even more things will be needed for a winter trip, but this is the topic of a separate article - List of equipment to take with you to the Carpathians for a winter hike.
For greater safety and comfort, it is better to go with a professional guide. This is especially true in winter, when weather conditions can be very difficult, because you also need to be aware of the risks of avalanches! So, when thinking about climbing Hoverla, remember about KULUAR hiking club, because we offer several interesting and diverse program options where you can visit this iconic mountain:
All you have to do is to dare, prepare and enjoy the beauty of Hoverla and Chornohora, plunging into the adventures of a hiking trip.
KULUAR - your life-changing mountain experience!
Author of the article Ivan Kucheryavyi, team leader of the Kuluar club
