Buhaivka Eco-Trail Through Kazkovyi Yar, 4,9 km

About the route

The Buhaivka eco-trail leads through the Kazkovyi Yar reserve between Vasylkiv and the village of Velyka Buhaivka in the Kyiv region. This is about 4.9 km from the ravine itself to the village of Zarichchia — a linear walk of one and a half to two hours, without difficult climbs, unless you descend to the bottom of the ravines. On maps, the trail is marked as a reserve route; there is no official description of the stops yet, so you should navigate by the track on this page.

Kazkovyi Yar

The ravine is not visible from the road: the precipices suddenly open up a few dozen meters from the Vasylkiv — Velyka Buhaivka highway, on the right if driving from the direction of Vasylkiv. This is a branched system of ravines and gullies with steep slopes up to 30 meters high, light crumbling ridges, and pines holding on to the very edge of the precipices. Because of its similarity to desert canyons, the ravine is jokingly called the "Ukrainian Grand Canyon".

Top view of branched ravines next to a field — Kazkovyi Yar from above. Photo: Ryzhkov Oleksandr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Locals have long called this place Didentsev Provallia after the surname of the former owner of the fields. The name "Kazkovyi Yar" appeared later due to the unusual landscapes. The films "Zakhar Berkut" and "Toloka", the series "And There Will Be People", and Jamala's music video were filmed here.

Sharp crumbling ridges of the ravine with pines and a birch — Ridges of the ravine. Photo: Kiyanka, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Reserve

On March 21, 2023, the Kyiv Regional Council declared the ravine a local landscape reserve with an area of almost 170 hectares, and in December 2024 the regional administration approved its regulations. The reserve protects the gully-ravine system and natural feather grass-fescue steppe vegetation. Thyme, oregano, and immortelle grow on the slopes.

Roe deer, hares, foxes, wild boars, martens live in the reserve, moose are also encountered; among reptiles — grass snakes, lizards, and vipers. Entomologists have found red-data-book insects here: the musk beetle, the hairy rove beetle, the longhorn beetle *Dorcadion holosericeum*, the carpenter bee, and the mammoth wasp.

Green soddy gullies with pines and willows — Soddy gullies of the reserve. Photo: Kiyanka, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The reserve did not appear out of nowhere: an industrial zone with an asphalt concrete plant was planned nearby, and in the spring of 2024 the ravine was set on fire. Ecologists and residents of Velyka Buhaivka are asking to expand the reserve. On the other side of the village lies another landscape reserve — "Vasylkivski Karpaty" (226.8 ha, since 1999), with which Kazkovyi Yar is often confused.

Tips

It is best here in late spring, when the steppe blooms, and in autumn. Do not approach the very edge of the precipices and do not descend to the bottom of the ravine: the loose slopes crumble. In summer, it is hot in open areas with little shade — bring water and a hat. Making fires in the reserve is prohibited.

How to get there

The ravine lies about 40 km from Kyiv. By car — to Vasylkiv, then along the highway to Velyka Buhaivka; the approach to the ravine is unpaved. The nearest bus stops are in Zarichchia and Pohreby, about 3 km away. The "How to get to the start" button will plot the route to the beginning of the track.

Before you go

Polissia is flat: there are hardly any climbs, but there are swamps, sandy roads and long stretches of forest with no mobile signal and no water. Plan on 4 km per hour, 3 km on sand and rough ground.

Water. There are few springs, and water from rivers and swamps is not safe to drink. Take at least 1.5 litres per person per day; you can refill in villages — at a shop or ask at a well.

Swamps and floodplains. Do not leave the trail in wet places: peat bogs and floating mats can be deep. In spring after floods and in autumn after rain some roads may be under water.

Ticks and mosquitoes. From April to October wear covered clothing, use tick repellent and check yourself after the walk. In June–July there are many mosquitoes and horseflies near swamps.

Fire danger. In summer forests are often closed to visitors because of fire danger — check announcements of the forestry or community. Do not make fires outside designated places.

Explosive objects. Since 2022 mines and munitions may be found in the forests of northern Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Zhytomyr regions. Stay on well-used paths and roads and do not pick anything up. If you see a suspicious object, keep away, mark the place and call 101 or 102.

Signal and navigation. Mobile signal in the forests is weak. Download the GPX track and an offline map before you go, take a power bank and tell your family where you are going and when you will be back.

Chornobyl zone. The exclusion zone is closed to free visits — do not enter it without an official permit.

Emergency: 112 — free from any phone.

Buhaivka Eco-Trail Through Kazkovyi Yar

Route map