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Iltsi village — to Zaroslyak base, via the Smotrych Waterfalls, Mount Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi, Mount Shpytsi

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42.2 kmLength
2 427 mAscent
1 921 mDescent
2 021 mMax. altitude
634 mMin. altitude
Unmarked trailmore

It may be partly marked. Unmarked trails have no information boards, signposts or auxiliary signs (water, campsite, etc.). The decision to walk the trail is entirely your own responsibility.

Trail map

Where to stay nearby

Near the start · Verkhovyna
Hotel
Райдуга
from 2,160 UAH per night
Cottage
Трембіта
from 1,000 UAH per night
Hotel
Sharm karpaty
from 1,000 UAH per night
Hotel
Околиця
from 1,440 UAH per night
Hostel
Дараба
from 540 UAH per night
Hotel
Гостинна хата
from 840 UAH per night
Near the finish · Vorokhta
Hotel
Training and Sports Base "Zaroslyak" at Hoverla
Hotel
Біля Говерли
from 1,320 UAH per night
Hotel
Hotel "Desyatka" Vorokhta (near Hoverlyansky Checkpoint)
Cottage
Cottage "Try Hory" Vorokhta (Tenth Kilometer)
Homestead
Homestead "Sosnovyi Dvir" Vorokhta (Tenth Kilometer)
Homestead
Homestead "PID YAVOROM" Vorokhta (Tenth Kilometer)
Weather and adviceLoading the forecast…

About the trail

Route Iltsi village, via the Smotrych Waterfalls, Mount Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi and Mount Shpytsi to Zaroslyak base. Along the route you will see: Museum of mushrooms, Iltsi, Museum of Hutsul life, Krasnyk, Mount Smotrych, Mount Pip Ivan of Chornohora (Pip Ivan, Black Mountain), The White Elephant Observatory on Mount Pip Ivan Chornohirsky, Mount Dzembronya and 8 more.

At a glance

A multi-day route of 42.2 km with 2,427 m of ascent from Iltsi village to Zaroslyak base. Estimated time: 2 days of 6–9 h of walking (about 14.5 h in total, not counting stops). Difficulty: hard. Waymarking is missing or partial.

Route stages

  1. 0–13 kmGentle ups and downs at 630–830 m
  2. 13–22 kmClimb of 1,160 m to Mount Pip Ivan of Chornohora (2,028 m)
  3. 22–34 kmAlong the ridge at 1,800–2,000 m, past Mount Menchul, Mount Brebeneskul, Mount Gutin Tomnatik, Mount Rebra
  4. 34–42 kmDescent of 810 m to Zaroslyak base

Steepest kilometre: km 18–19, a climb of 280 m (≈27%), near Mount Vukhatyi Kamin.

Water and overnight stays

Springs near the trail: at km 3, 5, 8, 9, 16, 19, 21, 25, 29 and 31 etc.. Some springs run low or dry up in late summer.

Huts and shelters near the trail: Cabin “The Dairy” (km 15), Mountain shelter “White Elephant” (km 22). Places to stay near the start: Verkhovyna; near the finish: Vorokhta.

A possible split into days:

  1. Day 1: km 0–22, ≈8.5 h — overnight: Mountain shelter “White Elephant” (hut)
  2. Day 2: km 22–42, ≈6 h — finish

When to go

Best time: June to September. In winter only for experienced hikers with proper gear: avalanche danger is possible. About 20 km of the route runs above 1,500 m, where the weather changes quickly — check the forecast.

Getting there

Start: Iltsi village. Most places to stay near the start are in Verkhovyna. This is a one-way route: the finish is 16 km from the start in a straight line, so plan your way back in advance.

Directions to the start in Google Maps

FAQ

How long does the route take?
Estimated time: 2 days of 6–9 h of walking (about 14.5 h in total, not counting stops).
Is there water on the route?
Springs near the trail: at km 3, 5, 8, 9, 16, 19, 21, 25, 29 and 31 etc.. Some springs run low or dry up in late summer.
Where can I stay overnight?
Huts and shelters near the trail: Cabin “The Dairy” (km 15), Mountain shelter “White Elephant” (km 22). Places to stay near the start: Verkhovyna; near the finish: Vorokhta. Possible overnight stops: Mountain shelter “White Elephant” (km 22).

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Drinking water (Krasnyk, 2)km 2.7 from the start · Not verified · 654 m
  2. Drinking water (Krasnyk)km 4.6 from the start · Not verified · 713 m
  3. Spring (Topilche, 2)km 7.7 from the start · Not verified · 719 m
  4. Spring (Topilche, 3)km 8.8 from the start · Not verified · 723 m
  5. Cabin “The Dairy”km 15.1 from the start · Standing · 1 209 m
  6. Spring below Mount Smotrych (4)km 15.2 from the start · Not verified · 1 232 m
  7. Spring below Mount Smotrych (2)km 15.7 from the start · Not verified · 1 276 m
  8. Spring below Mount Vukhatyi Kamin (8)km 19 from the start · Not verified · 1 780 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

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What to see on the trail

Museum of mushrooms, IltsiMuseum of mushrooms, Iltsialtitude 813 mThe Mushroom Museum opens its doors to the fabulous and amazing world of mushrooms and forests.Museum of Hutsul life, KrasnykMuseum of Hutsul life, Krasnykaltitude 699 mThe museum has been open since 2011. It is housed in a Hutsul house, which was built in 2009 on the model of the eighteenth century. ...Mount SmotrychMount Smotrychaltitude 1 898 mMount Smotrych (also known as Smotrets) is an 1898-meter peak of the Ukrainian Carpathians.Mount Pip Ivan of Chornohora (Pip Ivan, Black Mountain)Mount Pip Ivan of Chornohora (Pip Ivan, Black Mountain)altitude 2 028 mPip Ivan Chornohirsky (also known as "Pip Ivan" and "Black Mountain") is the third highest mountain (2028 m) after Hoverla (2061 m) and Brebeneskul...The White Elephant Observatory on Mount Pip Ivan ChornohirskyThe White Elephant Observatory on Mount Pip Ivan Chornohirskyaltitude 2 028 mThe construction of the White Elephant Observatory on Mount Pip-Ivan Chornohirsky(the route along the Chornohirsky ridge starts from this two...Mount DzembronyaMount Dzembronyaaltitude 1 877 mMount Dzembronia, with a height of 1877 meters, is one of the most famous peaks of the Ukrainian Carpathians, located in the Carpathian National...Mount MenchulMount Menchulaltitude 1 998 mMenchul (also known as Munchel, which comes from the Romanian "munteul" meaning "mountain"), with a height of 1998 meters, is the seventh largest...Mount BrebeneskulMount Brebeneskulaltitude 2 035 mMount Brebeneskul is the second highest peak in the Ukrainian Carpathians after Hoverla (2061 m), located in the middle of the Chornohora ridge on...Lake BrebeneskulLake Brebeneskulaltitude 1 801 mBrebeneskul is the highest mountain lake in the Ukrainian Carpathians (1801 m above sea level), a hydrological natural monument of local importance...Mount Gutin TomnatikMount Gutin Tomnatikaltitude 2 016 mHutyn Tomnatyk is one of the highest and most beautiful peaks of the Ukrainian Carpathians.Mount RebraMount Rebraaltitude 2 001 mMount Rebra, with a height of 2001 meters, is located in the central part of the Chornohora ridge.Polonyna GadzhinaPolonyna Gadzhinaaltitude 771 mIt seemed that the Chornohora massif was literally crowded with people, but sometimes you can come across places that either locals or tourists who...Mount ShpytsiMount Shpytsialtitude 1 863 mShpytsi is a mountain of the Ukrainian Carpathians, 1863 m high, which lies on the territory of Verkhovyna district of Ivano-Frankivsk region.Mount GomulMount Gomulaltitude 1 788 mGomul (also known by another name - Khomul) is a 1788-meter peak in the Ukrainian Carpathians, which is located in the Carpathian National Nature...

Trails nearby

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