Polonyna Apshynets

Apshynets polonyna (Apshyniaska) is a pasture in the upper reaches of the Apshynets stream on the northern slopes of the main Svydovets ridge, in the Rakhiv district of Zakarpattia, west of the village of Chorna Tysa. The polonyna stretches from the forest in the valley, at about 1,150 m, up to the glacial cirque below Mount Troiaska (1,702 m), where Lake Apshynets lies at 1,487 m. The register of protected areas describes the lake exactly so — "on the Apshyniaska polonyna".

It is one of the quietest polonynas of Svydovets: no road for cars leads here, and hikers come mainly for the lake, a night in the cirque and the calm that is missing at the more popular lakes.

What you will see

The upper part of the polonyna is an elongated glacial cirque behind a low moraine ridge. Lake Apshynets is small: about 126 by 100 m, roughly 1.2 ha in area and up to 3.3 m deep. The bottom is flat and silty, boulders lie by the shores, and the north-western part is a sedge and sphagnum bog. The lake is fed by a stream flowing in from the west, and the Apshynets stream flows out of it. In summer the water warms to 10–13 °C; in winter the lake freezes. Nearby there is an even smaller pool, Malyi Apshynets.

Lower down the polonyna gives way to the virgin spruce forests of the Apshynets reserve. The reserve covers 105 ha and protects forest that is important for keeping water in the upper Chorna Tysa. Plants of the reserve include narcissus-flowered anemone, globe orchid, martagon lily, Heuffel's crocus and other species from the Red Data Book of Ukraine; red deer, roe deer, pine marten and peregrine falcon occur here. Above the cirque rise the slopes of Troiaska, Tataruka and Dohiaska.

Shepherds, huts and cheese

Near the lower edge of the polonyna stands the Apshynets hut, but it is now ruined and unfit for an overnight stay. Sources do not mention a working sheepfold on this polonyna itself. According to hikers, the nearest cheese hut is on the neighbouring Ripta Apshynetska polonyna, where a flock grazes on the ridge guarded by dogs and cheese can be bought. Another cheese hut works on the Vorozheska polonyna. Nobody can say in advance whether shepherds will be on the pastures this summer — ask locally.

History and legends

Lake Apshynets is a hydrological natural monument of local importance: it was given this status in 1969 and confirmed in 1984. It is part of the Apshynets hydrological reserve, of national importance since 1974.

Routes

• Main ridge. The red-marked Svydovets traverse from Ust-Chorna to Yasinia (about 51.5 km) passes Lake Apshynets between Troiaska and Heryshaska.
• From Drahobrat to Chorna Tysa. Our route "Drahobrat – Velykyi Kotel – Dohiaska – Troiaska – Chorna Tysa" descends from the ridge across the polonyna.
• Svydovets lakes. Chorna Tysa – Drahobrat – lakes Vorozheske, Dohiaska and Apshynets – Stih – Kvasy: a multi-day route linking the main lakes of the massif.
• Long traverse. Kvasy – Blyznytsia – Velykyi Kotel – Dohiaska – Yablunytsia Pass runs along the ridge above the polonyna.
• From Chorna Tysa up the valley. From below, from Chorna Tysa, the polonyna is reached up the Apshynets valley by forest roads and paths.

There is no easy option for non-hikers here: reaching the polonyna means a long walk. The easiest way is up the valley from below, without going onto the ridge.

Getting there

Take a train or bus to Yasinia, then go on to the village of Chorna Tysa. From the village walk up the Apshynets valley. Alternatively, descend from the main ridge near Troiaska, which hikers reach from Drahobrat, Kvasy or Ust-Chorna.

When to go and weather

The Svydovets polonynas are free of snow roughly from June to October; the best time is July to September. In autumn there can be storm-force winds, and clouds come down right onto the lake. In winter the lake freezes, and snow stays in the cirque until late spring.

Water, shelters and overnight

A stream flows near the lake, but the way down to it is very steep and the climb back hard. There are springs on the polonyna, such as the spring below Troiaska and the spring below Tataruka. The Apshynets hut is ruined, and the shelter below the summit of Troiaska burned down in summer 2026 — it can only be used as a last resort. Tents are pitched by the lake. Hotels and guesthouses are in Chorna Tysa, Yasinia and Drahobrat.

Safety

• Near flocks do not run from sheepdogs: stop and call the shepherd.
• There are no shelters on the ridge and the weather changes fast: fog, thunderstorms, strong wind. Follow the forecast.
• The slopes from the lake to the stream and down to the valley are steep — take care in wet weather.
• The polonyna borders a nature reserve: do not cut trees, do not light fires outside old fire pits and do not leave litter.
• In an emergency call 112, the mountain search and rescue service of the State Emergency Service (101), ambulance 103.

What visitors say

• The lake is described as a very atmospheric and quiet place, with far fewer people than at other Svydovets lakes.
• Some consider a hike to Apshynets with an overnight stay one of the best easy options for getting to know Svydovets.
• To fetch water from the stream by the lake you have to go steeply down and then climb back up with effort.
• In autumn you can be caught in a storm wind, when clouds literally descend onto the lake.
• The shelter below Troiaska has burned down, so count only on your own tent.

Polonynas and peaks around

• Mount Troiaska (1,702 m) — the summit above the cirque of Lake Apshynets.
• Mount Tataruka (1,707 m) — a neighbouring summit on the northern spur.
• Mount Dohiaska (1,761 m) — a high summit of the main ridge to the east.
• Heryshaska polonyna and Lake Hereshaska (Dohiaska) — on the other side of the ridge.
• Vorozheska polonyna with Lake Vorozheska — the neighbouring cirque to the east, with a cheese hut.
• Mount Velykyi Kotel (1,771 m) — above Lake Vorozheske.

Photos: Мокрицький Павло, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Haidamac, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; АСивуля, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Петро Малофій, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Wereskowa, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.