We're setting off on a journey through the protected landscapes of the Carpathians, beginning somewhere the mountains feel especially wild, the forests have stood for centuries, and even the stones seem to have stories to tell. Welcome to the Gorgany Nature Reserve.
Nestled within the Gorgany Dovbushanski mountain range, the reserve covers more than 5,300 hectares. It was established in 1996 to protect the area's remarkable natural ecosystems, flora and fauna. Its landscapes rise from around 690 metres to 1,754 metres above sea level.
The reserve's highest summits are Dovbushanka (1,754 m) and Vedmezhyk (1,736 m). But these mountains look quite unlike the familiar image of the Carpathians. Here, stone dominates the landscape. Huge sandstone boulders blanket the slopes and summits, creating the extensive rocky scree fields for which the Gorgany are famous.
Locally, these formations are known as gregoty or tsekoty. On steep slopes, gravity causes the stones to shift slowly over time. As the boulders move and strike one another, they produce distinctive sounds – the origin of the name tsekoty. Stand quietly among these vast fields of stone, and you'll discover a very different side of the Carpathians: austere, untamed and almost prehistoric.
Some of these rocky expanses stretch for hundreds of metres. Mosses and lichens, mostly in shades of yellowish green, spread across the boulders. Seen from afar, the mountainsides resemble an immense sea of stone, gradually giving way to the encroaching forest.
Among the Gorgany's greatest natural treasures are its ancient forests, particularly those where the European stone pine grows. This remarkable tree has become one of the region's defining symbols. A relict species in the Carpathians, it has adapted to the demanding conditions of the high mountains. Growing alongside Norway spruce and other mountain trees, it helps create forest communities found nowhere else in quite the same form in the Carpathians.
Climb higher, and the landscape gives way to thickets of dwarf mountain pine, known locally as zherep. Short, twisted and remarkably hardy, these trees seem to embody the challenges of life at high altitude. Their roots help hold soil in place on steep slopes, regulate water movement and protect fragile mountain terrain from erosion. Together with the boulder fields, spruce forests and towering peaks, they shape the unmistakable scenery of the Gorgany.
The reserve also protects the natural habitats of wildlife, including brown bears, wolves, lynx and red deer, alongside many other species.
The natural importance of the Gorgany is recognised far beyond Ukraine. A 753.48-hectare section of the reserve belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage property “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”. This international designation recognises forests of exceptional ecological value, where natural processes continue and the original structure of forest ecosystems remains intact.
It is a reminder that the Carpathians are much more than beautiful mountains to explore. They are an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage, and protecting them is a responsibility we share towards future generations.
The Gorgany is a strict nature reserve, which means special conservation rules apply. Visitors cannot freely enter or explore its protected territory.
However, the reserve is also actively involved in scientific research and environmental education. Designated educational nature routes can be visited under established procedures and with reserve staff accompanying visitors.
And restricted access doesn't mean the beauty of the Gorgany is out of reach. Their dramatic rocky ridges, dense forests and high mountain summits can still be admired from hiking trails and locations beyond the reserve's boundaries. For travellers, this offers a chance to experience another face of the Carpathians – beyond established tourist attractions, in vast natural landscapes where human beings are simply one part of a much larger world.
The natural surroundings of Bukovel reveal many different sides of the Carpathians.
There are the resort's welcoming, well-developed spaces, where we come to relax and enjoy time with family.
There is the Carpathian National Nature Park, with its network of hiking trails, mountain summits, lakes and waterfalls.
And there are the Gorgany – rugged, rocky and almost untouched by time. This extraordinary variety is one of the Carpathians' greatest treasures.
Our journey through the region's protected natural areas is only beginning. There are more places to discover, more fascinating stories to share and more natural treasures worth knowing, understanding and preserving.
Let's keep exploring the Carpathians together – with curiosity, respect and a genuine love for nature.
Written by Oleksandra Mecheva