For the most part we travel the Carpathians to enjoy mountain views, feel the beauty of mysterious forests, and breathe crystal-clear air. But besides ridgelines and summits, slender spruces and wide alpine meadows, there’s another natural attraction that draws travelers — waterfalls. They may not be very high or water-rich in the Carpathians, but they have their own charm and beauty.
In choosing these waterfalls, we followed a few simple but important criteria: variety (so the list includes locations from all the main mountain ranges) and accessibility. Taken together, these factors make the selection not just a list of the “highest” or “closest” points, but a true map of atmospheric places that give a sense of the elements and reveal the Carpathians from different sides.
Before setting out for the Carpathian waterfalls, it’s worth planning your route, assessing the difficulty of the ascents and the presence of trail markings, and checking whether an eco fee is required at the national-park entrance. Most locations are accessible for family walks and short treks, but you’ll also need comfortable footwear with good grip, trekking poles, and caution on slippery sections. The waterfalls are most impressive in spring and after rains; in the heat some of them run low, while in winter they delight with icy formations. Allow extra time and carry water, a rain jacket, and navigation — cell service can disappear in the gorges.
And now — to the list of locations: different in character, yet accessible and distinctive. To make planning easier, we’ll open the selection with the most iconic spots.
Chances are the first will be Manyava — one of the highest in the Carpathians. It lies about 4 km from the village of Manyava in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. From Frankivsk you can reach the village by car in an hour, then walk or use local transport with increased off-road capability. Picturesque and fairly water-rich, the waterfall is 17 meters high. It is located in a rocky gorge. You can view it from above and from below; the last 200 meters run through a rocky gorge up to 25 m deep.
In winter, in severe frosts, this mountain stream freezes completely and turns into a bizarre 20-meter ice figure of icicles that attracts photo hunters. To some, this shape resembles an organ — a large instrument made of a system of metal pipes and keys.
A little higher upstream there are a couple more cascades about two meters high, beneath which small “baths” have formed.
Seven kilometers from the waterfall stands the Manyava Skete — an active ancient men’s monastery of the 17th century and an architectural monument.
Also in the Central Gorgany, in the village of Bukhtivets, another waterfall is worth attention — the Bukhtivetskyi, 8 meters high. It’s lower than Manyava but more powerful, and lies in a beautiful rocky “bowl.” At its foot a plunge pool up to 4 m deep has formed; on hot days the bold refresh themselves here, but even in July the water stays around ≈ 8–9 °C. An interesting fact: since 1972 the waterfall has had official status as a protected hydrological natural landmark of local significance, and is under state protection.
The stream falls from the Bukhtivets River — a left tributary of the Bystrytsia Nadvirnianska — at an elevation of about 660 m above sea level, in a narrow Gorgany canyon. The flow has cut through multilayered flysch rocks, splitting into two main jets — this gives photos and videos shot near the waterfall a cinematic dramatic feel.
To reach Bukhtivetskyi Waterfall, you need to leave your car on the village road and walk only about three hundred meters. In summer you can get a burst of freshness here, and in winter — see incredible views of frozen water streams.
Very close by, hidden in the forest, is another waterfall — Krapelkovyi. Although its official height is 10 m, the water pressure itself is small; but as it runs over emerald mosses in the shade of trees, it creates a special beauty and atmosphere. Under an overhanging rock you can stand “behind the scenes” of the flow, watching the sun play among the droplets, forming rainbows. In drought the water reaches the bottom only in separate drops—hence the poetic name of the smaller neighbor.
In the Eastern Gorgany the best-known and most accessible for visiting is Probiy Waterfall, located right in the town of Yaremche on the Prut River. Probiy is Yaremche’s signature waterfall, lying within the Carpathian National Nature Park and protected as a hydrological natural landmark. It is not high but is water-rich, consisting of several cascades. The current drop is 8 m, but until the mid-19th century it reached almost 25 m: the rocks were blown up several times so the Prut could “swallow” timber rafts, so only a third of the initial tier remains.
The stream falls at an angle of about 45°, carving a deep (up to 20 m) plunge bowl beneath it — and in fact the name of the waterfall comes from the Ukrainian word “to break through.”
A pedestrian bridge crosses the river, offering a great view of the turbulent flows. Downstream the 40-kilometer float from Vorokhta ends here, so during high water the waterfall turns into the finish of rafting routes and a photo zone for adrenaline seekers. However, slippery boulders and the churning cauldron have already led to accidents, so rescuers advise watching the elements only from the bridge or the bank, and not tempting fate by jumping into the “boiling” water.
Around it there’s a market where you can buy various souvenirs, Carpathian cheeses, and lots of other interesting things. Just a few steps away is the legendary Hutsulshchyna restaurant-museum, built back in 1965 — a wooden structure erected without a single nail and decorated with Hutsul woodcarving.
Two more waterfalls of the Eastern Gorgany, only 40 meters from each other, can be visited near the village of Tatariv. These are Zhenetskyi Huk and Yuryn. Among the Hutsuls, the word “huk” means a roar or rumble; you can hear this very noise hundreds of meters before you reach the stream.
Interestingly, both waterfalls were formed as a result of floods — Huk in the mid-20th century, and Yuryn in 2024. Huk, 15 meters high, is more powerful and has already formed a small “bath” at its foot. Yuryn is picturesque and graceful, about 20 meters high, but in dry periods it almost completely dries up. Its 20-meter “blade” is still being “polished” by the current, and its name, according to one version, came from a forester named Yurii who first saw it. Geologists of the Carpathian National Nature Park continue to monitor how this young location is changing the relief of the gorge.
How to get to Zhenetskyi Huk and Yuryn: after leaving your car in the parking lot or arriving by bus, you need to walk about 5 km along the road to the desired location. Everyone walking this forest road passes a checkpoint of the Carpathian National Nature Park; the eco-fee is roughly up to 80 UAH (the price may change).
The Chornohora Range also has hydrological sites worth attention. If you climb Mt. Pip Ivan of Chornohora from the village of Dzembronia, you should definitely visit the Dzembronia (Smotrych) Waterfalls. The name “Dzembronia” comes from the village of Dzembronia, and “Smotrych” from Mt. Smotrych; in this way one location reminds you of two Carpathian calling cards at once.
This is an entire cascade with a total height drop of up to one hundred meters, formed on the mountain stream Munchel. The cascade begins at an elevation of ≈ 1,450 m, making it the highest-altitude complex of waterfalls in the country; during thaws the jet can be seen even from the neighboring peaks. The largest of the waterfalls is 10 m and is located two minutes’ walk from the main tourist trail. From the upper terraces you can see the cascades “pouring down” against the backdrop of the “White Elephant” — the 1930s observatory on Pip Ivan.
Even in August the water warms only to 6–7 °C; humidity and spray create a local mist and “cool” the air by 3–4 °C compared to the open slope.
On the eastern slopes of Hoverla, the Prutskyi or Hoverlianskyi waterfalls rush headlong. The full length of the six cascades is 80 meters, and the highest drop is 12 meters. Therefore this water feature is considered the highest multi-cascade waterfall of the Ukrainian Carpathians.
If you’ve planned a hike to Hoverla, you should also see this natural landmark. From the Zarosliak base it’s only 2.3 km to the lower cascade, or 30–40 minutes on foot. A trail leads to the waterfalls, branching off the “blue route” to the summit. It has steep sections, so trekking poles and shoes with good grip will come in handy.
Further south, closer to the Romanian border, spreads the Marmaros massif. On the slopes of these wonderful mountains another beauty is hidden — Yalynskyi Waterfall. Its height reaches 26 meters, and it is the highest single-drop waterfall of the Ukrainian Carpathians. It’s most beautiful in spring or after heavy rains. To get there you’ll need to put in a bit of effort — a narrow trail leads to the waterfall, which without an experienced guide may seem challenging. But the path starts from the village of Dilove — the geographical center of Europe — so the road itself already makes this trip special. It’s a great chance not only to see the waterfall, but also to touch a unique point on the map!
The route to the waterfall takes about three hours. First you need to follow the road along the Bilyi stream, keeping to the red waymarks, then turn onto the trail to the left, which gains elevation and is at some points marked in yellow.
In the western part of the Ukrainian Carpathians stretches for dozens of kilometers the meadowed Borzhava ridge. On its northern slopes, on the outskirts of the village of Pylypets, Shypit Waterfall attracts tourists with its beauty. Fairly water-rich and picturesque, beautiful in all seasons, it is 14 meters high. Its water scatters into hundreds of crystal jets that soar with a roar, break on rocky ledges, and create enchanting cascades. It gives the impression that the waterfall is woven from living silver…
Nearby there is a souvenir market and trailheads for interesting tourist paths onto Borzhava. The most convenient way to get here is by car, or by public transport or taxi from the town of Volovets. A little higher on the same stream is the lesser-known Upper Shypit. Its surroundings are a rather interesting and mystical location where you can meet representatives of various subcultures. They live here all summer in tents, wigwams, and other curious structures. Formerly, on Ivan Kupala night a large-scale festival was held here with various rituals and round dances around huge bonfires. And what an otherworldly night sky there is! Filled with sparks from the campfires — it enchants!
In the south of Lviv Oblast there is a large mountain massif called the Skole Beskids. In addition to low but beautiful ridges and graceful, whimsical rock formations, there are waterfalls. They are small, but worth attention. The most visited is Kamianskyi Waterfall, located between the villages of Dubyna and Kamianka. Its wow-worthy beauty amazes in any season, but especially striking views open in spring and autumn. At this time the waterfall comes alive against a backdrop of nature blazing with colors: in spring with tender greenery and flowers, and in autumn the forest shimmers with golden, crimson, and copper tones. Nearby there’s a souvenir market where you can also have a tasty meal.
Another waterfall can be admired on the way to Mt. Parashka — the highest peak of the Skole Beskids. Hurkalo drops its waters from a height of 5 meters; the flow is split by a rocky ledge into two parts, and at its foot a plunge pool up to 2 m deep and about 10 m in diameter has formed. Locals call this cauldron the “chalice of youth.” According to legend, the water in it has healing power, strengthens health, and washes away fatigue. They say it’s enough to immerse yourself in the cool mountain water to feel a surge of energy and replenishment.
By the way, many of these waterfalls can be visited while taking part in KULUAR programs:
Or you can book a custom trek with an individual program that includes the waterfalls you want.
So if it’s the Mountains — go with KULUAR!
