Upper Dzembronya — Pip Ivan · out and back
- Distance
- 18.2–21 km · out and back
- Elevation gain
- ↑ 1522–1540 m
- By trail
- Past the waterfalls and Vukhatyi Kamin21 km · ↑ 1522 m
- Over the top of Smotrych18.2 km · ↑ 1540 m
- On the trail
- 11 h
- Highest point
- 2028 m
- Trailhead elevation
- ~813 m · Upper Dzembronya
- Max steepness
- ≈49% over 200 m
- Difficulty
- Hard
ROUTE OVERVIEW
Ukraine's third-highest summit, crowned by the 1938 «White Elephant» observatory.
An ascent of Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi (2028 m), the third-highest summit of Ukraine, from Upper Dzembronya. Above the Smotrych meadow the blue waymarked trail splits into two branches: one goes past the Dzembronya waterfalls to Vukhatyi Kamin, the other over the top of Smotrych. Below Smotrych the branches meet; then the yellow trail leads up to the main ridge, and the last 1.2 km to the summit is red, the Transcarpathian Tourist Trail. Back the same way.
These waymarks are given by Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap and Marian Slabinoha's description (2023). According to karpaty.rocks, on the Smotrych variant they are missing or partial; in 2023 the State Emergency Service put up markers there from the forest to Smotrych.
The summit holds the building of the «White Elephant» observatory, opened in 1938. Since 2017 State Emergency Service rescuers have been on duty there round the clock.
Wikipedia gives about 6 hours up and 5 down. Weather on the ridge changes fast, so carry a rain shell and a warm layer, and turn back in a thunderstorm or fog.
In autumn daylight in Dzembronya shrinks from 13.4 hours in early September to 8.7 at the end of November, and from mid-October it is shorter than the 11 hours of walking. So late in autumn part of the way will most likely be walked in the dark: carry a headlamp.
Pip Ivan, Smotrych and Vukhatyi Kamin lie in the border zone, where nobody is let in without a border-guard permit.
- Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi is 2028 m — the third-highest summit of Ukraine after Hoverla and Brebeneskul
- The summit holds the building of the «White Elephant» observatory, opened in 1938; since 2017 State Emergency Service rescuers have been on duty there round the clock
- From Dzembronya the route follows waymarked trails — blue, then yellow and red
Elevation profile
21 km · ↑ 1522 m
The blue trail passes the Dzembronya waterfalls and climbs to Vukhatyi Kamin. According to Marian Slabinoha (2023), there are no waymarks between the Vukhatyi Kamin rock and the pass. Then the yellow trail, and the red one along the ridge.
Route map
All routes on the mapSTAGE BY STAGE · Past the waterfalls and Vukhatyi Kamin
- 0 kmUpper DzembronyaStart by the bus stop, a dirt road uphill
- 1.8 kmSmotrych meadowOut onto the meadow; at km 2.4 the road turns into a path
- 2.8 kmTrail forkPast the Molochna Khata cheese dairy the blue trail splits into two branches; they meet again below Smotrych
- 4.7 kmDzembronya waterfallsAbout 20 cascades on the Munchel stream, the highest 10 m
- 6.6 kmVukhatyi KaminA top on the blue trail
- 7.1 kmEnd of the blue trailFrom here the yellow trail
- 9.2 kmMain ridgeThe yellow trail joins the red one, the Transcarpathian Tourist Trail; on to the top past old border posts and First World War trenches
- 10.5 kmPip IvanThe summit with the observatory building. Back the same way2028 m
BEFORE YOU GO
The permit comes from the 31st Border Guard Detachment: Pip Ivan, Smotrych (spelled «Смотрин» in the order) and Vukhatyi Kamin are on the list of places the State Border Guard Service closed to visitors without one (order of the 31st Border Guard Detachment No. 1663-АГ of 23 May 2024, para. 1.11, checked 26 October 2026). 24 Kanal wrote in 2025 that the climb is possible with the detachment's permit; do not set out without an answer to your application. Apply in advance: an application is decided within 10 working days; carry an ID document and, for men aged 18–60, a military registration document. How to apply for the permit
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS
- 101State Emergency Service — mountain emergency call
- 112Single emergency number: goes through any network in range, even without your carrier’s coverage
- Rescue in the MountainsThe rescue service’s app, install in advance — it sends your coordinatesApp StoreGoogle Play
- "White Elephant" observatory (Pip Ivan)Rescue post · ≈ 7.3 km in a straight line from the start
OTHER APPROACHES
Hard, entry feePermit: The route enters the border zone. The permit comes from the 31st Border Guard Detachment (DPSU): apply in advance with your route and dates; review takes up to 10 working days.Chornohora Traverse: Hoverla → Pip Ivan
A traverse of the Chornohora main ridge from the Zaroslyak base: up Hoverla, 18 km along the ridge on the red trail to Pip Ivan and down to Upper Dzembronya, one way, usually over two days.
MediumPermit: The route enters the border zone. The permit comes from the 31st Border Guard Detachment (DPSU): apply in advance with your route and dates; review takes up to 10 working days.Pip Ivan from Shybene
An ascent of Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi (2028 m) from Shybene on the green trail — across the Vesnarka meadow and past Lake Maricheika, out and back.