The Best Waterfalls in the Ukrainian Carpathians

If you are visiting Ukraine and like natural sights and landscapes, going to mountain waterfalls is what can give you a lot of joy. In the Carpathians, there are many picturesque places where nature proves to be the best artist. Among these places are waterfalls. We offer you a list of waterfalls, the largest, most beautiful, most affluent, as well as difficult to access.

Eleven waterfalls are in Ivano-Frankivsk region (six of them are in the Gorgany mountain range, in particular in Nadvirna district). Transcarpathia presents five waterfalls in our list, including the largest one-cascade waterfall in the Carpathians, Yalynskyi, with a height of 26m. Four of the described waterfalls are in the Lviv region and one in the Chernivtsi region. You can visit some of them on our tours.

You may also be interested in a holiday tour Around the Carpathians in 7 Days.

One-Cascade Waterfalls

1. YALYNSKYI

This waterfall is located in the Ukrainian Carpathians in Rakhiv mountains (part of Marmarosy range), located within the Rakhiv district in Zakarpatska region. It is a one-cascade waterfall, with a height of 26m. It formed at the place where the waters of the Yalyn river (the right tributary of the Bilyi river) flow almost vertically from the high rock ledge.

The waterfall is especially picturesque when it is full-flowing, in the spring during snowmelt or after showers. Yalynskyi waterfall is considered the highest one-cascade waterfall in the Ukrainian Carpathians.

2. MANIAVA WATERFALL

It is located on the river Maniavka (a tributary the Bystrytsia Solotvynska), in a picturesque gorge, between steep mountains in Gorgany range, within the Bohorodchany district in Ivano-Frankivsk region. It is a local hydrological natural monument almost 20m high and one of the highest waterfalls in the Ukrainian Carpathians.

You can visit this waterfall during the tours:

The Mountain Petros, Maniava and Much More (2 days/1 night)
Maniava, Drahobrat, Pertsi Valley (2 days/1 night)
Saffron-Tour to Drahobrat (2 days/1 night)

3. ZHENETSKYI HUK

The waterfall is in the Carpathian National Nature Park at an altitude of 900m above sea level at the Zhenets stream (left tributary of the Prut river), between the ridges of Yavirnyk and Khomiak – Syniak (the mountain ridge Gorgany), near the villages of Mykulychyn and Tatariv (Nadvirna district, Ivano-Frankivsk region). It is about 5 km from the highway, 9 km from Tatariv station and 10 km from Mykulychyn station.

It formed in the postwar years as a result of flooding. Here, water freely falls from a height of 15m. The locals called the waterfall Huk because of the noise and rumble coming from it.

You can visit this waterfall during the tour:

Khomiak Mountain Hike (2 days/1 night)

4. SHYPIT WATERFALL

It is located on the northern slopes of the mountain range in Borzhava Valley, in a deep gorge of the river Pylypets (tributary of the Repynka, Tysa basin), within the Mizhhiria district in Zakarpatska region. The 14m waterfall formed at the exit of stable sandstones of Paleogene and gritstones with thin layers of shale.

You can visit this waterfall during the tours:

Cheese and Wine Tour to Transcarpathia (2 days / 1 night);
10 Highlights of Transcarpathia (3 days / 2 nights);
Around the Carpathians in 7 Days (7 days / 6 nights)
Lake Synevyr and the Waterfall Shypit (1 day)

and on other tours to Transcarpathia.

5. LUZHKIVSKYI WATERFALL

One of the highest waterfalls in the Hutsul region with a height of more than 14 m is in the Pokuttia-Bukovyna Carpathians, in the Kosovo district in Ivano-Frankivsk region. In this area, a small forest stream rapidly and sometimes steeply runs down an inclined rock. Below the waterfall, it flows into the river Verkhnia Serednia, which is a right tributary of the Velykorozhanka (basin of the Cheremosh).

6. LAZNYI WATERFALL

The waterfall is on the stream Laznyi (a tributary of the Stryi), a few kilometres to the south-east of the village of Dovhe, within the National Park Skolivski Beskydy. It is 10.5m high and about 2m wide. The waterfall, which consists of three cascades, emerged at a place where a small mountain river crosses the rock range of the flysch type. It is especially picturesque when the stream is full-flowing, as well as in winter when the cascades freeze.

7. KRAPELKOVYI WATERFALL

The 10m high waterfall is on a small tributary on the river Bukhtivets, a left tributary of the Bystrytsia Nadvirnianska (Gorgany), near the village of Bukove in the tract of Buhtivets. It formed at the place where a small mountain stream falls from the top of the flysch type rocky range to the bottom of the canyon of the river Bukhtivets.
Here, water flows in a continuous stream. Because it is small, in the dry season only separate drops fall, that’s where the waterfall got its name.

Krapelkovyi Waterfall is one of the few Carpathian waterfalls, which can be viewed from the other side, going under the overhanging rock.
It is relatively easy to get to the waterfall. You can travel there by car or bicycle, and only in some places, the road is impassable (especially for vehicles).

You can visit this waterfall during the tour:

Synyogora, Pniv Castle + Buhtivetsky Waterfall (2 days/1 night)

8. BUKHTIVETSKYI WATERFALL

Located in the mountain range Gorgany on the river Bukhtivets (a left tributary of the Bystrytsia Nadvirnianska ) near the village of Bukove in the tract Buhtivets, a one-cascade waterfall with a height of about 8m and an average width of 2m, emerged at a place where a small stream crosses the rock range. It runs through a narrow trough-shaped gutter, from which two streams fall almost vertically to the foot of the rock. Then it flows through a narrow canyon-like valley surrounded by high cliffs. Since 1972, the waterfall has been under state protection as a local hydrological natural monument.

You can visit this waterfall during the tour:

Synyogora, Pniv Castle + Buhtivetsky Waterfall (2 days/1 night)

9. WATERFALL SOPIT

The waterfall is in Skolivski Beskydy, near the southern outskirts of the village of Sopot in Skole district, Lviv region. It is 7-8 m high and located on the stream which flows into the river Sopit or Sopotianka (a right tributary of the Stryi river). The stream rapidly runs over the flysch type rock and at its foot, the waterfall forms a spreading funnel.

10. WATERFALL KAMIANKA

It is in Skole district, Lviv region, in the National Natural Park Skolivski Beskydy. The one-cascade waterfall with a height of about 7 m is divided into two streams by a rock ledge. It is a natural hydrological monument.

You can visit this waterfall during the tours:

The Carpathian Novelties in 5 Days (5 days/4 nights)
The Carpathians in 1 Day (1 day)

11. VOIEVODYN

This natural hydrological monument of local importance is located on the southern slopes of the mountain range Polonyna Runa, on the stream Voievodyn, within the State Reserve Sokolovi Skeli. The height of the main cascade is 5-6 m.

The stream takes its beginning in Rivna valley (maximum height, 1497m), runs through a deep gorge and flows into the Shypit River.

They believe that the waterfall emerged as a result of an earthquake, during which a crack appeared in the rock across a deep, narrow valley. Voievodyn has aesthetic, scientific and recreational significance.

12. HURKALO

Hurkalo is located in the Skole district in Lviv region and within the National Natural Park Skolivski Beskydy – on the river Velyka Richka (a tributary of the Stryi), 4 km to the south-west of the road bridge in the centre of the village Korchyn. It is a natural hydrological monument which is 5m high.

The waterfall is 570m above sea level. A rock ledge divides a one-cascade waterfall into two streams, one of which is much deeper than the other; in dry seasons, the smaller stream almost disappears. At the foot of the waterfall, there is a water pool of about 10 m in diameter; the water depth in it is 2m.
Near the waterfall, there are several clearings (the first terrace above the floodplain of the river Velyka Richka ), where you can find a place to put tents and stay overnight. Upstream, the river has rapids that the locals consider a separate waterfall and call it Malyil Hurkalo.

Hurkalo justifies its name during floods (after heavy rainfalls) when the capacity of the Velyka Richka reaches its maximum, and the murky water stream runs rapidly from the slopes of the Parashka Range and with a great roar falls from the rocky outcropping of the rocks of the Menilite formation.

There is a marked hiking trail to the waterfall (a white rectangle with a yellow stripe in the middle of the trunks of trees) from the village of Krushelnytsia; you can also get there from the village of Korchyn.

It is almost impossible to get to the waterfall by car even in dry weather, because of the poor condition of the road.

You can visit this waterfall during the tour:

Trostian, Hurkalo Waterfall, Goat Farm (1 day)

13. SKAKALO

This natural hydrological monument of local importance lies within Vyhorlat-Hutyn volcanic range, in the tract Nyzhnie Hrabovyshche 3.5 кm from the town of Chynadiievo in the Mukachiv district, Zakarpatska region. The total height of the waterfall is more than 4m. It formed on the site where volcanic rocks came to the surface, the evidence of which is the rocky cliffs deep in the forest on the sides of the waterfall. A stone ridge crossing the wooded slope of the mountain blocks the way to the brook, which flows into the river Matekova (a right tributary of the Latorytsia in the Tysa basin). The stream falls from the ledges in three steps, forming a cascade of streams, as if they are jumping from stone to stone. That is why the waterfall has its funny name.

The hike to the waterfall begins from the health resort Vodohrai, about 500m away. There is a marked trail from the health resort to the waterfall.

You can visit this waterfall during the tours:

Unusual Transcarpathia + Silver Tatosh festival (2 days/1 night)

Cascading Waterfalls

1. HOVERLIANSKYI (PRUTSKYI) WATERFALL

It is located in the Chornohora range, in the south of the Nadvirna district in Ivano-Frankivsk region, between the north-eastern spurs of Hoverla and Breskul mountains. The waterfall has six cascades. The height of the largest one is 12m and the total height of the waterfall is 80 m. The waterfall is a popular tourist attraction and a natural monument. Not far from it, there is a trail leading to the top of Hoverla. There is also a trail along the stream itself. The distance to the waterfall from the campsite “Zarosliak” is 2.3 km. (30-40 min. walk).

You can see the waterfall scenery on the tour:

Yaremche Bukovel + Hoverla (2 days /1 night)

2. TRUFANETS

It is on the south-eastern slopes of the mountain range Svydovets, within Rakhiv district, Zakarpatska region, near the southern outskirts of the village of Yasini and the mouth of the river Trufanets (a right tributary of the Chorna Tysa, Dunai basin). The total height of the waterfall is 36 m, and it consists of numerous cascades. The waterfall emerged at the site where sandstones, resistant to erosion came to the surface. At the foot of the waterfall, there is an observation deck-gazebo. Trufanets has a considerable aesthetic and recreational value.

You can visit this waterfall during the tours:

Solotvyno, Molochnyi Kamin, Karstovyi bridge (2 days/1 night)
To the Hutsul festival Berlybaskyi Banush (2 days/1 night)

3. BUKOVYNA WATERFALLS

A group of waterfalls, a landscape reserve of local importance, is located in the Pokuttia-Bukovyna Carpathians, within Putyla district, Chernivtsi region, in the eastern part of the village of Roztoky (the suburb of Smuhar). The riverbed of the Smugariv (a right tributary of the Cheremosh river) and most of its left ones cross the massive areas of sandstone, limestone and shale, and form several waterfalls. At a distance of 2 km, there are seven waterfalls of different strengths and heights: from 3-18m, a unique phenomenon for the Ukrainian Carpathians.

Bukovyna Waterfalls have another name, Smuhar Waterfalls:

Kovber is a waterfall whose width is larger than its height (3.5m). It got its name to honour a landlord who built a concrete wall for the water intake to the watermill during Romanian times.
Sych is 20m up from Kovber. It is a vertical waterfall with a height of 10.5 m. It was called so for the particular hiss of the water running.
Nyzhnii Huk is further up from Sych. It is a vertical cascading waterfall 9 m high.
Vorota is almost 1 km up from Nyzhnii Huk, with a height of 3.5 m.
Serednii Huk is 250m away from Vorota. It is a vertical cascading waterfall 10,5 м high.
Velykyi Huk is another 500 m upwards. It is the most beautiful and highest waterfall; its height is about 19 m.
Verkhnii Huk, the last, seventh waterfall, has a height of 5 m.

These waterfalls took part in the National competition for the title of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine, and according to the results of the Internet voting, took the ninth place.

4. KUDRYNETS

The waterfall is to the south-east of the village Zelena, on the river Kudryntsi, which is a right tributary of the river Sytnyi (a left tributary of the Zelenytsia river). It formed at a place where a small mountain stream crosses a flysch type rocky range. The total height of the waterfall is about 5 m, and the average width is 3.5 m. The waterfall is very picturesque; it is unique because the water flows down in numerous low cascades, resembling steps.

5. DZEMBRONSKI (SMOTRYTSKI) WATERFALLS

They are in the south-eastern part of Chornohora: 1 km to the north of the peak Smotrets, on he river Munchel which flows into the Dzembronia river (a left tributary of the Chornyi Cheremosh), and 5 km to the south-west of the village of Dzembronia in Verkhovyna district in Ivano-Frankivsk region. The total height of the waterfall is 100 m, and the height of the highest cascade is 10 m.

6. SALATRUCHIL

Located in Gorgany in Nadvirna district, Ivano-Frankivsk region, 6.3 km to the south-west of the village of Bystrytsia, the waterfall forms at the place where a small forest stream, which flows down from the slopes of the ridge Tavpyshyrka, crosses the rocky range and flows into a small lake opposite the confluence of the stream Salatruchil to the Salatruk river (a left tributary of the Bystrytsia Nadvirnianska). The total height of the waterfall is 6 m. It has two cascades, the lower of which forms two streams.

7. SRIBLIASTI WATERFALLS

The other names of the waterfalls are Sheshorskyi Huk or Sheshorski Waterfalls. These are cascading waterfalls on the river Pistyntsi (a right tributary of the Prut river), in the Kosovo district in Ivano-Frankivsk region, within the village of Sheshory. There are three cascades, and the height of the waterfalls is 4-5 m. The river Pistynka stretches for 56 km (34.8 miles), 9 of which flow through the village of Sheshory. It crosses a big rocky range, forming a cascade of waterfalls. Among Sheshorski Waterfalls, the loudest are Velykyi Huk and Malyi Huk. Below them on the river, there emerged a stream pool, which the locals call Synipliaso (possibly affected by the Polish language influence). Sribliasti Waterfalls are especially picturesque in the winter in a frosty time when the streams of water freeze with ice “growths” of bizarre forms.

You can visit these waterfalls during the tour:

Ternoshorska Lada, Sheshory + Hutsul wedding (2 days/1 night)

8. PROBII

It is one of the most full-water waterfalls in the Carpathians. Its other name is Yaremchanskii waterfall because it is in the town of Yaremche in Ivano-Frankivsk region. The height of the waterfall is 8 m, and the angle of inclination is about 45 degrees. It emerged in the lower part of the Yaremchanskii canyon of the river Prut, where erosion-resistant mountain rocks – Yamnenski sandstones – come to the surface. Above the waterfall, they built a 20 m high bridge, from which the bravest locals jump for money. Below the waterfall, there is a deep basin with a quieter current.

You can visit these waterfalls during the tours: