The largest mountain range of the Ukrainian Carpathians, the Gorgany ridge system, stretches from northwest to southeast. In turn, they are divided into three more parts: Western, Central, and Eastern. This article will focus on the Eastern Gorgany, which are located in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, within the Bystrytsia Nadvirna and Prut rivers.
You can get here from many parts of the country, both by train and by car. Logistical accessibility and a well-developed tourist infrastructure attract lovers of comfortable recreation and seekers of "wild" adventures to these lands every year. Let's take a closer look at the attractions of the Georgian east.
This region is best known among winter sports enthusiasts. The largest ski resort in the Ukrainian Carpathians, Bukovel, is located here, near the village of Palianytsia, and has many equipped slopes of varying difficulty and a number of hotels. Numerous vacationers can also be found in the Eastern Gorgany in summer, as Bukovel offers many other activities: hiking, cycling, ATV riding, a large Lake of Youth with jet skis, and other entertainment.
What about rafting? On the slopes of Hoverla, the Prut River originates, which flows into the Danube almost a thousand kilometers away. In the Gorgany Mountains, it has a wayward mountain character, so it is interesting to raft and catamaran, and desperate athletes hone their skills in "white water" in special kayaks. In Yaremche, the Prut forms the famous Probiy cascading waterfall, which can be viewed from a suspension bridge. There is also a large souvenir market where you can buy Carpathian cheeses, dried mushrooms and many other interesting and tasty things.
Another waterfall worth seeing is the 15-meter-high Zhenetskyi Huk. It was formed as a result of a flood in the middle of the last century on the mountain stream Zhenets and still attracts romantics. The waterfall is located near the village of Tatariv, 5 km from the main road.
Many hikers like the local terrain, which impresses with its rather steep slopes. They are covered with mixed and spruce forests, which turn into dense thickets of alpine pine, known among the locals as "zherep". The upper part of the ranges consists of scattered stones of various sizes, and some specimens reach the size of a car (tourists love to take pictures among them). To explore this beauty, there are many marked hiking, biking, and horseback riding routes that start mostly from the towns of Yaremche, Tatariv, and Mykulychyn.
The KULUAR Hiking Club invites you to explore the region in a three-day program, during which you will climb the 3 most prominent local peaks: Khomyak, Synyak and Maly Gorgan. Overnight stays in tents on mountain meadows, evenings around the campfire with like-minded people, and the support of a professional team leader will make your hike interesting, safe, and heartwarming.
Khomyak is undoubtedly the most popular mountain location in the Eastern Gorgany. Its height reaches 1542 m, its slopes are covered with fairy-tale forests, and the top is covered with thickets of fir and large stones. Nearby is the mountain meadow of the same name, where Hutsuls live in summer, graze their cattle and make delicious Carpathian cheeses, such as budz and vurda.
The climb to the mountain is perfect for a weekend hike, because you can climb it in one day by several routes:
There are also "secret trails" from the villages of Palianytsia and Tatariv, but they are not marked, require a navigator or map, and the ability to navigate in the wilderness.
On the same ridge next to Khomyak, there is another interesting and picturesque peak - Sinyak, 1665 meters high. Recently, it has become increasingly popular among visitors to the Carpathians. You can climb this mountain in 3 hours from the top station of Bukovel's 13th ski lift using the purple route.
And if you are physically fit and have 9–10 hours of free time, you can combine a hike to Mount Sinyak with the peaks of Malyi Gorgan or Khomyak. But you should remember that there are large stones waiting for you at the top, and it is quite difficult to move around on them, and even dangerous in the rain.
To the north of Khomyak-Syniak, the Yavirnyk ridge stretches - interesting, wild and picturesque. It rises 1300–1400 meters above sea level, with the highest point being Gorgan-Yavirnyk, 1467 meters high. On the eastern side of the ridge, there is a meadow of the same name, where small houses are equipped, which can be rented for temporary residence in the bosom of mountain nature.
If you are interested in the wild Gorgany, we recommend that you go hiking on Yavirnyk at least once. The routes start from Yaremche, Tatariv, and Mykulychyn.
There are also options with a start in Yaremche near the aviary or near the Probiy waterfall. Choose what you are interested in.
A good weekend hike would be to visit the Dovbush Rocks hiking trail and climb Mount Makovytsia. This is a great plan, because in one trip you can combine rocks, a fairy-tale forest and views from the top!
The route starts in Yaremche, near the Na Penky cafe and a small souvenir market. After paying the entrance fee to visit the eco-trail, we begin our acquaintance with the stone giants that are spread out among the emerald mosses in the shade of trees. At the top of the route is the highest rock - Dovbush's Stone. From here we move on to the second part of the journey. After gaining height through the forest, we find ourselves in a gentler meadow, which leads to the final climb to the top. As a reward for our efforts, we get wonderful views of Yaremche, the surrounding mountains and meadows. For a change, it's better to take the yellow route, which will lead us to the souvenir market and the Probiy waterfall.
The weather conditions in the Eastern Gorgany are not much different from the rest of the massif. Snow melts off most hiking trails around mid-May, sometimes earlier. In summer, June is usually the rainiest month, with warmer temperatures and more thunderstorms in July, and less precipitation in August. Autumn lasts from mid-September to November. The weather in this season is more stable, dry, the air is clear, the day is still relatively warm, but the nights are already cool. In December, stable snow cover can be established, and the average daily temperature drops below zero. Most snowfalls and blizzards occur in February and March, with thaws becoming longer and warmer in April, and spring arriving at the slopes of the ranges.
In any season, you need to take a responsible approach to the selection of clothing and equipment for a hike, even if it is a one-day trip. Analyze the weather forecast in the Gorgany and adjacent parts of the Carpathians, and keep in mind that it is cooler at higher altitudes than at lower ones. When planning a hiking trip, you should take with you: a supply of water and snacks, a personal first aid kit, navigation aids, warm clothes and a raincoat, a flashlight, matches, and a knife.
If you doubt your knowledge and skills or are just looking for a company of like-minded people, contact KULUAR hiking club, because our professional team leaders and guides know the Carpathian trails like the back of their hands.
Author of the article: Ivan Kucheryavyi, team leader in the Carpathians
