Voievodyn Waterfall in Sokolyh Skelyah

The Voievodyn waterfall is one of the incredibly beautiful natural attractions hidden in the southern slopes of the Runa mountain range. Getting to the waterfall is not that easy, which is why most tourists prefer Shypit, from which, it should be noted, many miss out! After all, Voievodyn deserves a little more time and effort to reach it.

It is believed that the waterfall was formed as a result of an earthquake. The very name of this natural monument, although it sounds quite warlike, has nothing to do with voivodes or wars – "voievodyn" comes from the phrase "voy (or 'rev') of water," as the waterfall, crashing down from steep rocks, makes a very fierce noise.

The total height of the Voievodyn cascades is about 24 m. Streams of cold mountain water originate on one of the slopes of the Runa mountain range, flow through a fairly deep gorge, and then fall into the Shypit River. Long ago, Voievodyn had two branches, right and left, but today its appearance has changed significantly – water flows only through the right channel, while the left is completely blocked by rock debris.

The easiest and simplest way to reach the waterfall is from the village of Zhdieniievo. If you walk leisurely, the hike to Voievodyn can take up to 5 hours: first, you need to get to the village of Zbini, then climb a small hill, and from there descend to your hiking destination. In total, you will have to cover about 13 km (the total elevation gain is no more than 400 m).

The route is not difficult at all, and anyone can overcome it, even without special skills or physical training. This day hike will especially appeal to children. The road to the waterfall is very picturesque, and near Voievodyn, there are places where you can have a picnic or stay overnight.