Wolf Valley Eco Park, Synevyrska Poliana

Wolf Valley Eco Park (Dolyna Vovkiv) is a private animal park in Synevyrska Poliana, in the Mizhhiria area of Zakarpattia, where several kinds of wolves, red deer, fallow deer, camels, a lynx, llamas and other animals live among the spruce-covered slopes of the Tereblia valley. It was founded in 2017 by local resident Yurii Tiukh: it all started with three orphaned wolf cubs that he bought from a hunter to save them. Since then the collection has grown to more than a hundred animals, and Wolf Valley has become one of the most popular stops on the way to Lake Synevyr. If you are wondering where to see wolves in the Carpathians up close and safely, this is the place.

What to see

Wolves are the stars here. The park keeps Carpathian grey wolves, white Arctic wolves and black Canadian wolves; visitors usually linger longest at the enclosure of the white wolf family, where cubs can be seen in the warmer months. Some of the grey wolves have grown up here from puppyhood, so they calmly come up to the fence, and the keepers know each of them by name. Besides the wolves, the enclosures are home to red deer and spotted fallow deer, Bactrian camels (one of them was nursed back to health after life in a circus), a Carpathian lynx, llamas, donkeys, goats and birds.

Many of the animals came from poor conditions: cramped private enclosures, circuses, or owners who could no longer keep them. So Wolf Valley is not a show but rather a refuge where the animals live in peace, and guests can watch them and hear their stories from the staff.

Good to know: older articles about the park still mention lions and tigers, but according to visitor reviews from 2026 there are no big cats here any more. When planning your trip, expect wolves, hoofed animals and the lynx.

For families with children

• Feeding the animals. You can buy feed at the entrance and hand-feed the deer, fallow deer and camels, which children love most of all.
• A short walk. A visit takes 40–60 minutes: the paths run along the enclosures and the grounds are compact, so even the youngest can manage.
• Real stories. The staff happily explain where each animal came from and what it eats.
• Photos. The best light and the most active animals are in the morning, before the crowds.

In the summer heat the wolves hide in the shade and barely move, so in summer it is better to come in the first half of the day. Wear comfortable shoes: the paths are unpaved and can be muddy after rain. Facilities are basic, so bring water and snacks for the children.

Practical information

• Address: Synevyrska Poliana village, Khust district, Zakarpattia region, by the road along the Tereblia river on the edge of the village.
• Opening hours: daily 08:00–18:00 (according to Google Maps; in the cold season it is worth checking).
• Prices: according to visitor reviews from August 2026, UAH 150 for adults and UAH 50 for children; feed is paid separately. Check current prices at the ticket desk or by phone.
• Phone: +380 68 085 8614.
• Season: all year round; in winter the deer and wolves look especially striking against the snow.

How to get there

Synevyrska Poliana lies on the road from Mizhhiria to Lake Synevyr. By car it takes about half an hour from Mizhhiria and roughly one and a half to two hours from Khust via Mizhhiria. The eco park sits right by the road, so it is easy to combine with a trip to Lake Synevyr and the Brown Bear Rehabilitation Centre in the same valley. By public transport you can take a minibus from Mizhhiria or Khust to Synevyrska Poliana, but services are infrequent, so check the timetable in advance. Mobile coverage in the valley is patchy, so download your route beforehand.

At a glance

• Address: Synevyrska Poliana
• Opening hours: Daily 08:00–18:00 (per Google Maps)
• Season: All year round
• Prices: Adults UAH 150, children UAH 50 (per visitor reviews, Aug 2026); feed extra — please check
• Phone: +380680858614

Photos: lh3.googleusercontent.com.