The Carpathian Mountains occupy a considerable area in Ukraine and are located within four regions: Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, and Chernivtsi. In turn, they can be divided into smaller areas, or mountain ranges.
A mountain range is a large ridge or a group of mountains or ridges that are similar in characteristics and form a single group separated from others by deep valleys. Often, this division is rather arbitrary and varies among different communities. For example, among tourists, it is customary to divide the Gorgany Mountains into Western, Central and Eastern, while geographers divide them into Marginal Low Mountains, Outer (Slice) and Water Divide (Inner). Since we are interested in the Carpathians from the point of view of hiking, we will consider them from this perspective.
This article will discuss the highest peaks of each mountain range in the Ukrainian Carpathians.
Let's start, of course, with the Chornogora Range, as it includes all six of Ukraine's two-thousand-metre peaks. In addition to the famous Hoverla, Petros and Pip Ivan, here you can climb the second highest mountain, Brebeneskul (2,038 m), located very close to the scenic Gutyn Tomnatyk (2,016 m) and the lowest two-thousander, Rebra (2,001 m). You can find out more about Chornogora and its peaks, hiking trails and their features by following the link.
But it is better to explore Ukraine's highest mountain range in practice, and Kuluar offers three programmes for this purpose: a six-day programme covering all the two-thousand-metre peaks, a classic three-day programme covering Hoverla and Petros, and an easy but picturesque hike across Lake Nesamovite to the summit of Rebra and the fabulous Shpyts rocks. By the way, in addition to the peaks of the Chornogora ridge, tourists are attracted by the highest lakes in Ukraine - Brebeneskul (1801 m above sea level) and Nesamovite (1730 m above sea level).
Now let's move south to the border with Romania, where the Marmaros Mountains are located. Most of them lie in Romania, while the northern part, the Rakhiv Mountains, is located in Ukraine. Due to their steep slopes, narrow ridges and rocky outcrops, they have been given another name – the Hutsul Alps.
The main attraction here is also Pip Ivan, but this time Marmarosky, which rises to 1,936 metres. The path to the summit is not easy and quite long, starting in the village of Dilove in Transcarpathia.
The lower slopes of Pip Ivan are covered with mixed forests, while higher up on the mountain pastures, red rue blooms and bilberries ripen. Currently, this area is closed to visitors, but the time will come when Marmarosy will once again welcome enthusiastic visitors.
If we go further east from Marmaros, we will find ourselves in the Chernivtsi region, in the part of the Carpathians called Chivchyny and Hrynyavy. They can be safely called the "wild east": dense forests and abandoned mountain pastures, wild animals and smugglers. There are also lots of different mushrooms, delicious brynza cheese, and endless purple fields of crocuses in spring. Here you can feel the spirit of historic Hutsulshchyna — nowhere else will you find so many abandoned old farms so high and far in the mountains.
The highest point in this region is Chivchin, at 1,766 metres. It is a peak hidden in the mountains, whose slopes are covered with ancient forests, and above the forest zone, alpine meadows bloom. It is located just one kilometre from the state border with Romania, so even to get to the start of the hiking trail, you will have to drive through mountain villages for several dozen kilometres.
The route begins in the remote village of Burkut, which has a source of delicious and healthy mineral water that bears the same name as the village. From here, there are two routes: climb one of the spurs to the ridge that runs along the border with Romania to Chivchyn, or follow the Black Cheremosh River and climb the mountain through the Cholakin mountain pasture. The latter option is more difficult because it requires frequent river crossings and can be problematic, especially in rainy weather. Unfortunately, this wild and mysterious territory is also closed to hiking for now.
Next, we will visit the Svidovets Ridge. Vast mountain pastures, numerous flocks of sheep, four beautiful high-mountain lakes (Vorozheska, Gerishaska, Apshynets and Ivor) and the Dragobrat ski resort. Svidovets has the longest and most massive spurs, which can sometimes be confused with the main ridge.
And towering above this beauty are two mountains that no one considers separately, because they are the Blyznytsi (Twins). Located in the eastern part of the ridge, they are 1,883 and 1,872 metres high. The easiest way to climb them is from the Dragobrat ski resort, which can only be reached by off-road vehicles. The climb in a GAZ or UAZ along a steep rocky road leaves an unforgettable impression and dust on your clothes. Kuluar offers two beautiful hikes in this location: the three-day "Lakes and Mountain Pastures of Svidovets" and the six-day "Svidovets-Gorgany".
The largest area is probably the Gorgan massif, which is divided among tourists into Western, Central and Eastern. This is a land of wild nature, large rocks, fairy-tale forest paths and crystal streams. The highest points are in the Central Gorgany Mountains - Velyka and Mala Syvuli, with heights of 1,836 and 1,818 metres respectively.
The shortest route to them is from the village of Stara Huta, but even then you need to drive closer, set off early in the morning and have good stamina. There are two marked routes leading from the village of Syvulya, which initially run along the valley of the Bystrytsia Solotvynska River, but then diverge. The first one, marked in green, crosses the Lopushna stream and then climbs a picturesque forest path to the beautiful Borevka mountain pasture. Here you need to switch to the red route, which leads to the ridge. After conquering two more peaks before the desired goal - Borevka and Lopushna - we reach Syvulya Velyka. The other route, marked in yellow, goes all the way to the source of the Bystrytsia Solotvynska on the Ruschyna mountain pasture. From here, following the same red marker, you can reach Mala Syvulia in 1-1.5 hours, and then Velyka Syvulia in another 30 minutes.
Two other noteworthy mountains are located nearby and are over 1,800 metres high: Igrovec and Vysoka. To visit all these peaks and several other wonderful locations, you need to sign up for the Kuluar hike "The Stone Slopes of Gorgan".
The author of the article cannot ignore his favourite region – the Western Gorgany Mountains and two famous and iconic peaks in this location – Grofa and Moloda. The path to them begins in the village of Osmoloda, a lumberjack village hidden in the mountains.
Fifteen years ago, the Western Gorgany Mountains were one of the wildest Carpathian ranges. But don't hesitate, you can trust the Kuluar club, which offers two hikes in these wonderful places - "Wild Trails of the Gorgany" and "Where Cedars Grow: Legends of the Fairytale Gorgany".
The western part of the Carpathians is home to what is probably the most blueberry-rich location in the Carpathians. Borzhava is endless mountain pastures, steep slopes, fairy-tale beech forests, paragliders soaring in the sky, and extraordinary representatives of subcultures in bizarre forest camps. Borzhava is best in spring and autumn, when life awakens among the remnants of snow in April-May, or when the rustle of beech leaves underfoot and the cloudy seas of a cool autumn morning inspire a philosophical mood.
Interestingly, the highest point of the massif is located slightly away from the main ridge line. This is Mount Stiy, 1,681 metres high. Once upon a time, there was a radar station on it, of which only the foundations remain now. As part of a three-day programme with accommodation in a cottage, you will visit not only this mountain, but also other iconic and interesting places.
At the opposite, eastern end of the Carpathians lie the Pokutsko-Bukovynski Carpathians. This is a large mountainous area that can be divided into two smaller parts: the Pokutski and Bukovynski Mountains, with the highest peaks being Rotilo, 1,483 metres, and Lungul, 1,377 metres. Of course, these figures are not impressive, but it is not the height that attracts visitors to this region.
There are many fascinating locations here, forests rich in mushrooms and berries, beautiful rocks, and interesting historical and cultural sites. The club offers a combined programme called "Hutsulshchyna - an ethno-journey and hiking in the mountains", which harmoniously combines hiking to the Kostrycha ridge and the Sokoline Oko rocks, a visit to the Kosiv market and a private museum with a fascinating host and storyteller.
Another region of the Carpathians, the Skolivski Beskydy, is gradually gaining popularity among tourists. It is located in the south of the Lviv region and also has small ridges and peaks. But the Skolivski are really worth seeing. There are more rocky areas here than in the rest of the Carpathians combined! The Dovbush Rocks, Yushkov's Pit, Kikoshiv Stone, Kniazhi Rocks and others. Their bizarre and mystical beauty will leave no one indifferent. In addition, there are beautiful mixed forests, which in autumn delight the eye with an unsurpassed ensemble of colours and shades, rich in mushrooms, berries and wild animals.
The highest point of the Beskids is Mount Paraska (Paraska), 1,268 metres high. There are several routes leading to it: from the villages of Korostiv, Korchyn, and the town of Skole. Probably the most interesting and beautiful route is from the town of Skole, as it combines a fairy-tale forest with centuries-old fir and beech trees and mountain pastures with berries. In 2023, a cosy tourist shelter was built on the southern slopes of the mountain in honour of the fallen defender of Ukraine - scout, instructor and tourist Taras Gavrylyshyn.
A little further south, on the border between Lviv and Zakarpattia regions, lies the Verkhovyna Watershed Ridge, through which the main Carpathian watershed passes and many rivers originate. The main peak, Pikui, at 1,408 metres, is a popular location that attracts many tourists not only in the warm season but also in winter. Most often, people climb the mountain from the village of Bilasovytsia, following the yellow, green or red routes. Up to an altitude of 1,200 metres, we are greeted by spruce and beech forests, and further on, by mountain meadows with wildflowers and delicious blueberries, sometimes decorated with rock outcrops.
When talking about Pikui, one cannot fail to mention another picturesque place - Polonyna Runa. It is a sprawling ridge with beech forests, huge mountain meadows and a rich history. Here is the highest point of the western end of the Ukrainian Carpathians, which bears the same name - Polonyna Runa, 1,480 metres.
View of Polonyna Runa. Photo by team leader Vira Voloshina
In this article, we have not yet mentioned a considerable number of wonderful locations with their top peaks: the Pishkony Ridge and Mount Negrovets, the Polonyna Krasna Ridge and Mount Ruzha, Chorna Polonyna and Mount Velyka Bratkivska, and many others.
You can visit them all with our club, which offers a wide range of programmes of varying complexity and duration. Among them, everyone can find the one that best suits them in terms of content.
So if you're going to the mountains, go with Kuluar!
Author: Team leader in the Carpathians Ivan Kucheryavyi