Mount Rivna (Polonyna Runa)

Rivna, or Polonyna Runa (“runa” means “flat” in the local Transcarpathian dialect), is a mountain massif and its highest summit in the western part of the Polonynskyi Ridge. The massif lies in the Perechyn and partly Velykyi Bereznyi districts of Zakarpattia Oblast, between the upper reaches of the Liuta, Shypit, Turytsia, Preluchnyi and Voievodyn rivers. Its highest point is 1480 m (sources give 1479–1482 m). The nearest villages are Lumshory, Lypovets and Polianska Huta.

Rivna is a broad, gentle ridge covered with mountain meadows, with mostly beech forest on its slopes. To the north and east the massif drops steeply. Its notable tops include Polonyna Runa itself (1479 m), Menchul (1295 m) and Runa-Plai (1227 m). On clear autumn days the Polish Beskids and the Slovak Tatras can be seen from the summit.

How to get there

The most popular start is the village of Lumshory. The loop Lumshory – Polonyna Runa – Lumshory is 22 km with about 1070 m of ascent; a shorter one-way option is Lumshory – Polonyna Runa (18.3 km). You can also climb from Polianska Huta on the loop Polianska Huta – Polonyna Runa – Polianska Huta (19.3 km) or cross the massif: Turychky – Polonyna Runa – Lumshory (26.5 km).

Water, shelter and safety

Our map shows no springs or huts near the summit, so carry enough water. The meadow is exposed to every wind and the weather changes quickly: in fog it is easy to lose your bearings on the wide plateau, so have a navigation app with an offline map. The best season is from May to October. In an emergency call 112 or 101; contacts are on the mountain rescue page.

Interesting facts

• Rivna is home to the “Sokolovi Skeli” ornithological reserve and the “Glacial Lake Velyke Trostia” natural monument; on its slopes lie the Turia-Polianskyi reserve, the Voievodyn waterfall and the Lumshory waterfalls.
• In 1870 a state stud farm for the army was founded on the meadow: about 800 Hutsul horses grazed here.
• The landscapes of Rivna inspired the painter Yosyp Bokshai.

Photos: MSha, Public domain; MSha, Public domain; Olexa Yur, CC BY 3.0; Сергій Стецюк, CC BY 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons.