Manyavsky Waterfall

Manyavsky Waterfall is a true wonder that deserves the attention of every traveler, one of the highest in the Carpathians and even in Ukraine (the water falls in several cascades from a height of 16-20 m), alongside the waterfalls Probiy in Yaremche and Shipit at the foot of the Borzhava meadow, considered one of the wonders of Ukrainian Carpathians and Frankivshchyna in particular. To appreciate such beauty, one must walk at least 2 km along a dirt road. This will take a little less than an hour. The road to the waterfall is very picturesque, with the height of the granite walls of the canyon sometimes reaching 20 m. The water falls to the ground in cascades from three waterfalls. At the foot of the waterfall, there is a small lake. Locals say that the water in the lake has the property of rejuvenating those who bathe there.

Manyavsky Waterfall is located in the mountain gorge of the Horgany massif, surrounded by a stone canyon with granite cliffs, the height of which reaches 20 m. At the foot of the waterfall, a small pond with clean mountain water has formed, where everyone can swim. It is believed that it can rejuvenate anyone who dares to bathe here. According to legends, there was a temple of pagan gods here, who were the patrons of youth. In the canyon near the waterfall, it is quite cool, even on a hot summer day. In general, the valley of the Manyava River is surrounded by fairy-tale landscapes, and it is worth coming here to get unforgettable impressions and feel the true beauty of wild nature.

Around Manyavsky Waterfall, there is archaic and wonderful nature, with dense moss and ferns growing here, and at the edges of the gorge near the waterfall, ancient fir trees grow, giving the air a special freshness. The fir forests only partially let in light during the day, so this place is barely shaded and even more surprises with its unique beauty and aesthetic appeal. According to legend, it is dangerous to stay overnight here, as one might fall under the song of the mermaid and ruin one's life. The path to this hydrological natural monument passes through a dense and ancient forest, where strawberries and mushrooms can be gathered in summer and autumn. Ultimately, the road leads along paths to the waterfall, which suddenly appears in all its beauty.

Not far from the waterfall is the ancient monastery – Manyavsky Skit, founded in the 17th century by monk Yov Knyahynytskyi, the territory of this monastery is surrounded by mountain waters on three sides. Now the monastery belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate. And in the village, there is another wooden church of the Protection of the Mother of God.

You can reach Manyavsky Waterfall by walking along the riverbed of the Manyavka River (if the water is not much) or by the road through the village, which later deviates slightly into the forest. To avoid getting lost, one should orientate by the sound of the water. The waterfall is located about seven kilometers from the Manyavsky Skit. The mysterious area keeps many secrets and legends. Locals believe that at night near the waterfalls, one can hear the singing of nymphs, who entice anyone who decides to stay here overnight.

Since 2013, a rafting center has been organizing regular tours through the canyon, as well as descents down the waterfall on a rope. Every tourist who has visited Manyavsky Waterfall will be able to experience the miraculous power of mountain water, feel a surge of new life forces, and enjoy the beautiful views of the Carpathians. Manyava is the starting point of the Carpathians, so it is a great beginning to get acquainted with the Ukrainian Carpathians.

The best way to get to the waterfall is from the district center Bohorodchany (this is also the best place to spend the night in local hotels), from which it is about 27 km to the village of Manyava, then you need to walk for another 40 minutes. The distance from the end of the development to the waterfall is about three kilometers, most of which is covered by a dirt road and only the last few hundred meters is a path. However, one should be careful and avoid steep ascents near the waterfall and the marsh that is overgrown with ferns. This natural wonder is visited not only by tourists from various corners of Ukraine but also by foreign guests. Not far from this large waterfall, there are small waterfalls and gazebos where one can rest after the exhausting journey.

For the sake of such beauty that you will see, it is worth overcoming such a long journey again and again. So, wear comfortable shoes, take sandwiches, and start!

According to information from the site MapaKosiv, Taras Pasymok shared his memories of visiting Manyavsky Waterfall

The first time, in winter, we went to Manyava, also visiting Manyavsky Skit (monastery) and later, with the help of local residents' tips, we traveled along the river to the canyon. To be honest, Manyavsky Skit was a bit disappointing. It was expected that more historical buildings would be preserved there, not just defensive walls and towers. Also, on the territory of the Skit itself, people clearly do not know what architectural art is. A bunch of chapels and churches built from various materials and in different styles are crammed into a small space, with a very strong color dissonance.

However, the place itself is energetically strong, it is worth at least once to be there to understand this. Also, positively, it is worth noting that the UOC KP monastery, unlike other Orthodox shrines in Ukraine, is now under the UOC MP. When I visited Manyava for the second time, I didn't want to go to the monastery, it exhausts itself from the first time, unfortunately.

I would recommend tourists the route to the waterfall along the river, through the canyon. Almost to the waterfall itself, you can drive if the barrier is open, and if it is closed, even better — you can walk a few kilometers in a unique stone canyon with a height of 20 meters, where the mountain river turns many times, forming a stone serpentine. I liked this road to the waterfall no less than the waterfall itself. It is also worth taking non-waterproof shoes, as the water level in the river can vary, and there are no bridges, and the road to the waterfall is also used by logging trucks.

I would also recommend tourists not to go in the season (July, August), as the number of people near the waterfall is so large that it is even difficult to take a photo without other people. To avoid this "market", you can also stay overnight near the waterfall — it is possible there, there are places.

It is worth understanding that in summer the waterfall is far from being as full-flowing as in winter or during the rainy period, but this applies to all water tourist attractions.

The second time we went by another bypass road through the forest, which was recently opened for tourists, to have the opportunity to reach the waterfall from above. This bypass road through the forest starts to the right of Manyavsky Skit, and if you go left, then climbing the path up the mountain, you can find a healing spring with delicious water near the rock, where, according to legend, the first monks lived in the Middle Ages, before founding the monastery.

But this bypass is much longer and not very picturesque, and due to its low quality, it is quite tiring. And the tourist bus will not pass there, only a jeep or a car with high clearance. However, the positive aspect of this route is the views from the meadows, which rarely appear in the thick of the forest, as well as another very cool waterfall that can be seen a little off the road to the left — Bukhtivets or Bukhtivetsky Waterfall (in the photo). However, we did not find it). I will have to try again next time, as there are no signs or markings to Bukhtivets, and the roads are heavily damaged by logging trucks.

In general, both the lower – 5 km. (downstream) and upper — 15 km. (through mountains, forests) roads converge at one point — at Manyavsky Waterfall. Near the waterfall, there are many wooden gazebos and huts with benches for tourists to rest — there you can hide from the rain or sun. There are also information stands and maps of tourist routes through the Horgany, which can be started in that area!

As for the mystical component, which can be read about on the Internet, in my subjective opinion — it is indeed there. And although it is difficult to stay near the waterfall for long, as your head starts to hurt, as if this weight of water is crushing you, and you still don’t want to leave — it’s such a challenge of the hike). However, you can feel it when this thousands-strong flow of tourists to the waterfall stops, in summer I managed to do this for about 20 minutes, but in winter it was truly unique — I was mesmerized by the waterfall (by the falling water itself). It lasted so long and so deeply that I forgot who I was and where I was, good thing my friends took me away in time. To be honest, such a mystical and magical experience (Castaneda would cry), I have only experienced once in my life — when I spent the night at Sokolyn Oko with a friend, but that’s a story for the next article).