«Urochyshche Vilkhava» is an ecological and educational trail of the Derman-Ostroh National Nature Park in the south of Rivne Region. It starts near the T-18-20 highway on the outskirts of the village of Mosty in the Mizoch hromada, towards Zeleny Dub, and runs through the mixed forest of the «Vilkhava» forest reserve. The trail was opened on September 30, 2022; according to the park's data, its length is about two kilometers, while the track on the map is slightly shorter because it does not include all the branch paths to the stops.
The route is designed for a unhurried walk of an hour to an hour and a half, suitable for children or a school class. The trail is marked with yellow signs, the terrain is hilly—the slopes of the Mizoch Ridge begin here, so there are short ascents and descents.
Seven stops
Information stands, benches for rest, and directional signs with images of animals of Rivne Region have been installed along the trail. The stops have their own names:
- «Pochatok mandrivky»;
- «Mertva derevyna — vichne zhyttia lisu»;
- «Ekoklas pid vidkrytym nebom»;
- «Dyvovyzhnyi svit orkhidey»;
- «Dub — tsar derev»;
- «Velyka koryst malen'koyi murakhy»;
- «Roslyny-chuzhyntsi».
The largest place on the route is the eco-class: log benches among pine trees where park employees hold open-air nature lessons.
Nearby stand boards about mushrooms, as well as a wooden stand with cross-sections of local tree species—sweet cherry, aspen, birch, black alder, maple, oak, pine, hornbeam, ash, and spruce. It makes it easy to show children how wood differs.
A trail for visually impaired people
In the spring of 2024, «Vilkhava» was adapted for blind and partially sighted visitors. Stands and plaques in Braille, a trail map with relief markings, wooden borders for orientation, and cables at crossings appeared along the route. On April 23, 2024, the route was inspected by accessibility experts, and inclusive tours are conducted by park staff.
«Vilkhava» Reserve and Derman-Ostroh Park
The «Vilkhava» local forest reserve covers about 539 hectares and protects a section of mixed forest featuring oak, hornbeam, pine, and birch. Rare plants grow here, including orchids from the Red Data Book of Ukraine; in spring, the forest is filled with birdsong.
The reserve is part of the Derman-Ostroh National Nature Park, created in 2009. The park lies in the valley of the Zbytynka River between the Mizoch Ridge and the Kremenets Mountains, at the junction of Polissia, Volyn, and Podilia uplands. Its flora numbers 954 plant species, 51 of which are in the Red Data Book; among animals, there are 68 red-listed species.
The Mizoch Ridge is a hilly range about 50 km long, with its highest point reaching up to 342 m. The slopes are covered with oak forests and cut by ravines; the Struve Geodetic Arc passes through the ridge.
What is nearby
A few kilometres away is the Hurby tract with the Holy Resurrection Monastery and the memorial at the site of the battle of Hurby: on 21–25 April 1944, one of the largest battles between the UPA and NKVD troops took place here. After the battle, the surrounding villages of Hurby and Antonivtsi were burnt down, and the residents were deported. The trail can be conveniently combined with a visit to the monastery.
Nearby, in the Zbytynka valley, are the Bushcha Botanical Reserve and the village of Bushcha, which was already mentioned in a charter of Prince Lubart in 1322.
How to get there
The trail begins near the T-18-20 highway on the outskirts of Mosty, about 10 km from Mizoch. By car from Rivne, it takes about an hour via Zdolbuniv and Mizoch. By public transport, it is most convenient to get to Mizoch, and then take a taxi. The «How to get to the start» button on this page will plot a route to the entrance of the trail.