This route passes along the Montenegrin ridge - the most popular place in the Ukrainian Carpathians. The highest peaks in the country are located here, but this is not the main thing. Clouds under your feet, crazy wind and fantastic landscapes will be your companions on the way to the Black Castle on Black Mountain (former observatory). This is a fairy tale - so feel like a knight and save the princess (princesses of all ages are also invited to join the campaign).
Ivano-Frankivsk - Kvasy village - Petros town (2020m) - Goverla town (2060m) - Nesamovytoe lake - Brebeneskul town (2036m) - Observatory on Pop Ivan mountain (Black Mountain, 2028m) - village. Dzembronya — Ivano-Frankivsk
Trek plan:
RouteRoute map
Open the map →The GPS track is not digitised yet, the line is approximate (by key points).
Along the trailWhat you will see
Day by dayItinerary
1 Day 1. Ivano-Frankivsk, Kvasy village, Vesnyarka valley
The group gathers at the Ivano-Frankivsk railway station and travels by bus to the village of Kvasy, nestled between two majestic mountain ranges (Chernogorsky and Svidovets). This place is famous for its mineral springs and we will have the opportunity to taste their healing water. From here we will begin the ascent towards the town of Petros. Gradually, the meadows will be replaced by a coniferous forest with dense thickets of blueberries. We will spend the night in the Vesnyarka meadow. Polonina is a high mountain pasture. In the Carpathians there are many mountain cows and sheep, as well as their colorful shepherds.
Distance 9 km. Elevation gain: 600m.
2 Day 2. Sheshul town, Petros town (2020m), foot of Goverla
The northern spurs of Petros are similar to taiga: tall spruce trees, emerald mosses, dense berry fields. Gradually the trees will become lower and will be replaced by thickets of elfin wood. The trail emerges onto an open ridge leading directly to the summit, topped by a tiny chapel. And here we are on Petros (2020), opposite is Hoverla, and from it the Montenegrin ridge stretches to the very horizon. All the most interesting things are yet to come. Including the descent from Petros. It is very cool and will require maximum concentration. We will set up our camp on the bridge between Petros and Hoverla.
Distance 10 km. Elevation gain: 900m.
3 Day 3. The highest peak of Ukraine - Hoverla (2060m), Lake Nesamovytoe
There is an excellent path along the bridge connecting Petros and Goverla - you can accelerate to storm Goverla. Hoverla is not only the highest, but also the most popular peak in Ukraine. Every day, all year round, it is stormed by hundreds of tourists and vacationers. Therefore, we will try to get to the top early to enjoy it alone. Then we will walk along the ridge and before evening we will have time to visit the peaks of Breskul (1911m), Pozhizhevskaya (1822m) and TurKul (1933m), and spend the night at the high-mountain lake Nesamovytoe (1750m).
Distance 13 km. Elevation gain: 600m.
4 Day 4. Rebra town, Brebeneskul town (2036m), Menchul town, Smotrich-Chernogora saddle.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Polish-Slovak border passed along the ridge. Border posts are an excellent landmark for tourists (they are numbered). Today we will start from the 32nd pillar and try to reach the 18th. The path along the ridge is not difficult, but the wind here is very strong and you will have to rest hiding in small trenches and behind stones. Just below us, Lake Brebeneskul will flash by, surrounded by a majestic amphitheater of rocks.
Distance 11 km. Elevation gain: 350m.
5 Day 5. Observatory on Black Mountain (Pop Ivan), Dzembronya village
The border reminds of itself not only with border pillars - scraps of barbed wire, dilapidated dugouts and trenches are becoming increasingly common. And Black Mountain is getting closer. This is a gloomy fairy-tale peak and, in accordance with the laws of the genre, it is decorated with the castle of an evil wizard. In fact, these stone walls and towers are the remains of an old Polish observatory. But the imagination does not agree with such a banal explanation and continues to draw fantastic images. After resting under the arches of the observatory, we will begin a long descent from the ridge. By evening we should be in the valley of the Dzembronya River.
Distance 10 km. Elevation gain: 300m.
6 Day 6. Nizhnyaya Dzembronya village, Verkhovyna, Ivano-Frankivsk.
In the morning we will continue our descent and find ourselves in the village of Nizhnyaya Dzembronya near the Cheremosh River. From there (with a transfer in Verkhovyna) we go by bus to Ivano-Frankivsk station.
Distance 4 km.
ReviewsTraveller reviews
Thanks to instructor Friedrich... He is a very sociable person and I can’t imagine any other guide in the mountains. In difficult moments, he helped, did not let those lagging behind hang out at the end, helped in word and deed. In general, an instructor is what you need. Well done, Friedrich!
Climbing the highest peaks of Ukraine brought a lot of delight. I wanted to remember everything exactly - the views, the coolness of the mountains, even the pain of the muscles, and the unspeakable pleasure of being so high.
So is it worth touching the beauty of the Carpathians? Yes, it's worth it. But the Carpathians will ask you to make an effort for this and you decide to be or not to be, to try or not. I tried it and was satisfied.
Although a summer hike in the mountains is not a walk to the beach and everyone was pretty tired, the group was 100% satisfied and Oleg’s great merit in this. I really hope that next year I will have the opportunity to go hiking in the Carpathians again and I know whose group I will definitely sign up for.
If you haven't seen the Carpathians with your own eyes, then you haven't seen Ukraine yet. So, put a backpack on your shoulders and confidently walk forward, or better ahead of everyone, and up, to become taller than the rest of the world for a moment.
I want to thank Outdoor Ukraine and especially our guide Oleg Boyko for a wonderful tour, he told many interesting stories, answered all questions about tourism and equipment for us as beginners for the future. After this tour, he had a lot of rest mentally, and worked hard physically and tested what he was capable of. The desire to go to the mountains in the future also increased...)
In a short period of time for myself, I received probably one of the most important things in life - emotions and impressions. Things are erased, money comes and goes, but emotions remain and help us move on, rejoice and remember. Always find time for yourself to have unforgettable experiences!
Mountains give endless inspiration. This is a wonderful combination of physical fatigue, incredible elation and moral relaxation. You can only love hiking in the mountains because of the wonderful, interesting, brave, incredibly beautiful people with whom you can discuss eternity and dreams, smile from the heart and say stupid and clever things, make wishes while looking at the starry sky.
Quite unexpectedly for myself, I found myself in conditions that required the full exertion of all my strength - both physical and moral. And it was great. Thoughts and feelings are cleared at once. During these five days I was able to relax as in a normal two weeks.
The mountain landscapes made me more and more happy, and at some intervals it seemed to me that all this was unreal, because nature cannot be so beautiful, but it turns out it can.
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