З Парашкою у багатьох із нас особливі спогади. Будучи найближчою до Львова горою, вона не для одного майбутнього туриста стала однією з перших підкорених вершин і початком величезної любові до Українських Карпат.
Parashka (another name is Paraska) is the highest mountain of the same name ridge, located in the Skole Beskids. Its height is 1271 m (according to other data – 1268 m). The mountain is located about 8 km to the northwest of the city of Skole. A memorial plaque is installed on the slope of Parashka, and a tall metal cross stands at the very top.
Tourists love the summit not only for its, so to speak, "accessibility" and ease of getting there from any city (in this regard, Skole has a significant advantage over other settlements in the Carpathians), but also because from its peak, on a clear, cloudless day, wonderful surrounding views open up. Indeed, with a clear sky and a fine day, all the nearby ridges and their peaks will be at your fingertips.
In addition, in good weather, from Parashka, you can see not only the neighboring village of Korchyn but also Stryi, Mykolaiv, and even the city of Lviv, which, by the way, is located 90 km away (!).
Popularity of Parashka
The popularity of Parashka is explained by the incredible views of the Skole Beskids, very convenient transport connections with Lviv, and the easy, accessible height differences for most tourists.
The ascent to Parashka is the most popular route in this region. On sunny, fine days, you can meet numerous school excursions, scout camps, families with small children, mountain runners, and other active leisure enthusiasts who do not know how or do not want to stay at home.
Experienced tourists say that hiking to Parashka is not quite a climb; it is rather a pleasant leisurely walk for a weekend, covering a distance of 16 kilometers (there and back), which will take no more than 8-10 hours in total (depending on the walking pace).
Legend of the name origin
According to an ancient legend, the mountain is named after Paraska, who was the daughter (according to another version – the wife) of Vladimir the Great's son – Prince Svyatoslav. It was on this peak that the unfortunate woman was killed after the defeat and death of her husband in a battle against the army of Svyatopolk the Accursed in 1015.
However, although there is no direct evidence or refutation of this legend, it has lived on for many centuries and, I suspect, will live on long after us.
Route
The most popular and easiest ascent to the summit of Parashka begins in the city of Skole, and to be more precise – from the train station (both the railway and bus stations are nearby). Upon arriving at the station, you need to cross the tracks towards the "Kyiv-Chop" highway (you can clarify this with any local).
The best landmark for the start of the route is the supermarket "Rukavychka". The path upwards leads right behind this store. There is another option to start the ascent. For this, you need to walk along the highway for about 200 m towards Chop, and before the intersection, turn right and join the route.
After conquering the summit, you can return back to Skole. Alternatively, you can descend to the village of Korchyn, on the way to which you can also enjoy the beauty and power of the Hurkalo waterfall, and in warm weather – even take a swim.
Read about the route from Skole to Mount Parashka – Hurkalo waterfall – Korchyn village in our upcoming materials.
