Interesting places. Hoverla

If there is a place in the world where you can truly feel free… If there is a place that gives an incredible influx of energy and strength… If there is a place where beauty surrounds you from all sides for thousands of kilometers of space… It is only the CARPATHIANS! Where each peak is imprinted in your memory forever, you only have to see everything with your own eyes once.

You can win many small victories in life. And this, undoubtedly, also deserves recognition. However, real winners immediately conquer the highest and most powerful peaks. So, start conquering the Carpathians—a place of unbelievable power that also obeys only the strongest.

The Carpathians are beautiful at any time of the year. Therefore, if you have not been to the mountains yet, quickly plan your vacation, prepare comfortable shoes, and collect equipment.

Hoverla is not without reason called the pearl of the Carpathians. Every year, this monument of pristine beauty attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. You can see it in different ways—strewn with crocuses or covered in tons of snow—the peak will not leave anyone indifferent. This is not only the highest point of the Chornohorsky ridge, and it is not about meters and routes—it is a place of inspiration and purification.

2061 m. Snow Mountain

This is the very name translated from Hungarian as Hoverla. Interestingly, initially the name in the local dialect sounded like Govirla, but a small mistake in the signature of a map by a little-known Austrian artist laid the foundation for the future original name. The history of the mountain’s origin is also shrouded in legends—as always, dedicated to a tragic love story. According to legend, Hoverla and Prut were previously a couple in love who were not destined to be together.

The route, which has already been overcome by millions of conquerors, was first laid back in 1880. Choose your own starting point for the climb because there are several of them. Vorokhta, Lazeshchyna…. The Breskula and Petros ridges… And best of all, chat with the locals who know all the vagaries of the mountain and have their routes. Then this vacation full of mystery will definitely be unforgettable.

The path trodden by tourists, as if in a frame from a movie, will not let you get lost on the way to the top. The most popular is the route that starts beneath the mountain on the southern side, right near the Zaroslyak base. The color of the route markings (red, blue, green, and the least known yellow route) determines the distance to the mountain in kilometers and the approximate time of the climb.

Green route

The green route is the most gentle. Having selected it, you will overcome 4.5 km to the top in 2–3 hours. So, this route is suitable for tourists with any level of physical fitness, since the ascent will be as comfortable as possible. The blue route is the most optimal for the descent, as it is the shortest and steepest. You can cover a distance of 3.7 km in 2 hours using this route. The yellow route, 7 km long, can be completed in approximately 5 hours; if you successfully complete this path, you will be able to enjoy a magnificent view of Lake Nesamovyte. The red route runs parallel to the green one, but the main difference is that it does not stop at Hoverla. We recommend choosing this route if you are planning a two- or three-day vacation on the massif. Walking along the red route, you can cover the entire ridge: Hoverla Mountain, Pozhezhevskaya Mountain, Mount Breskul, and Dantsizh Mountain.

First hike to Hoverla!

If you are conquering Hoverla for the first time, the best option would be to do it accompanied by an experienced guide. In the summer, be sure to take a tent with you. One night at the top is like a small life… You will never see such a sunrise again, and at night you will hardly be able to fall asleep because you can grab the stars with your hands. The mountain is sometimes capricious, shrouded in fog and sprinkled with light rain. However, in any weather: beautiful and unforgettable!

The best time to conquer Hoverla is in the summer, when the surrounding landscapes are full of incredible beauty, and the process of climbing will be the fastest and most interesting. A pleasant surprise will be the opportunity to meet the dawn with a cup of delicious hot coffee. Yes, you did not think so! Your favorite drink will taste even better because it will be prepared with spring Carpathian water by residents who overcome this path twice a day every morning.

Beginning of the climb to Hoverla

Beneath the mountain, souvenir shops and cozy cafés await you, where you can stop and admire nature with comfort and convenience. And if you want to feel the local flavor, stop at one of the private estates, where you will be treated not only to the best dishes of Ukrainian cuisine, but also to the richness of its original culture. You will not hear such songs and unique dialects anywhere else.

Now just close your eyes and be transported there. Imagine that you are already on the hill itself. But no. This is not the peak yet, but its pocket, which is called Hoverla. Your most difficult section of the route will begin precisely from this point, when it appears that you can already touch both the top and the sky with your hands. In fact, this hill will only reveal the future landscape.

The best reward for every conqueror will be the observation deck at the very top. The grandeur and boundless space will simply take your breath away. Touch the obelisk that once divided the borders of Czechoslovakia and Poland. Admire the giant yellow-blue flag in the very center of the platform: and a sense of pride will completely take over you because this treasure partly belongs to each of you.

Only mountains can be better than mountains…

Hoverla is a real treasure trove of the Carpathians, which makes you come back again and again. It is not for nothing that they say that anyone who has been there at least once will definitely want to visit this incredible place again. Hiking in the mountains is the best type of active recreation, which will teach you not only to confidently go to the goal, but also to perceive the surrounding beauty.

Fans of active recreation are provided with active leisure not only in summer, but also in winter. In summer, we recommend trying extreme tourism and rafting. Fans of karting, zip-biking, and mountaineering will also be able to get unforgettable impressions. It is also worth trying quad biking and cycling. Of course, the best option is to get new emotions accompanied by experienced travelers.

The winter Carpathians offer many interesting recreation options: skiing, snowboarding, sledding, paintball, and winter fishing are far from a complete list of entertainment, so everyone will be able to choose a vacation to their liking.

How to get to Hoverla

By train to Rakhiv—Vorokhta station*. In Vorokhta you need to change to the Ivano-Frankivsk—Verkhovyna minibus. It departs almost from the station; you need to walk a couple of steps towards the pizzeria (but it is alone there: you won’t get confused). You have to warn the driver in advance that you must get to the crossroads (Verkhovyna-Hoverla) so as not to miss your stop. Then you have to get to the checkpoint (about 4 km.). You can also cover the path on foot, but it is better to use the accompanying transport, in the summer, this is not a problem at all.

After passing the checkpoint, where you need to register, we go to the foot of the mountain to the Zaroslyak sports base: it is another 8 km. The option, as last time, is on foot or accompanying transport. Usually, here you will be helped by the checkpoint workers, who themselves often ask the drivers to help tourists.

The Zaroslyak sports base is considered the beginning of the route for climbing Hoverla.

*Another option is to choose Yaremche, but the village is located before Vorokhta, and getting to Hoverla is much further. And secondly, it is more popular among tourists and, accordingly, housing prices are higher here, and it is more difficult to find it.

What you need to know about climbing Hoverla

First, this is the season—from October 1 to April 30, climbing Hoverla is allowed only to climbers and mountain tourists. Furthermore, from May to October, it is advisable not to climb in rain and fog. The most favorable period for a beginner is from July to August—when there are the most sunny days.

IT IS WORTH KNOWING AND REMEMBERING: HOVERLA is a protected area, so you should not light a bonfire, fish, pick mushrooms, or berries on its territory. But you will be warned about this during registration at the checkpoint.

What to bring

• Passport or driver’s license. Without them, you won’t be able to go beyond the checkpoint. The entrance fee is 50 UAH.
• Nordic walking poles. They will make the climb much easier. You can rent them at the base or bring them with you. As a replacement, you can find a regular wooden pole on the way to Hoverla.
• A light snack. Fruit, nuts, and energy bars are suitable.
• A few sandwiches. If you don’t feel like eating during the climb, you can get by with a light snack. Then, at the top, you will definitely regret the lack of food supplies.
• Water.
• Backpack. You don’t need a lot of equipment for one day, but the backpack should be comfortable.
• Raincoat. The weather in the mountains is changeable. So, in order not to regret its absence, be sure to take it with you, or buy it at the checkpoint—the approximate cost is 150 UAH.
• Warm clothes. It is worth having warm clothes; the wind in the mountains is a common thing.
• A camera or action camera. A few good pictures for memory and for “envious” likes of friends on Facebook.

When the Carpathians call into their embrace—do not delay!