Ecological Trail Staryi Park nad Stokhodom in Liubeshiv

Route map

Map © OpenStreetMap.

About the route

“Staryi Park nad Stokhodom” is a short ecological trail in the Prypiat-Stokhid National Nature Park in the urban-type settlement of Liubeshiv in northern Volyn. It leads through the old Liubeshiv Park to the Stokhid floodplain and is about 900 meters long. The trail was created by the park and the Liubeshiv settlement community, and in July 2026 it was updated: stands with QR codes and audio stories about plants, animals, history, and legends of Liubeshiv appeared, as well as an insect house. You can walk it independently or with a guide — to join a tour, register at the national park administration.

Ecological trail stand with a map-scheme of the park — Trail stand of “Staryi Park nad Stokhodom.” Photo: Viacheslav Galievskyi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Seven stops

“We are on the ecological trail” — a stand near the entrance;
“Colony of rooks”;
“Hill and valley”;
“Stokhid floodplain”;
“Old oak — witness of ancient times”;
“Temple of nature near the Lord’s temple”;
“Historical traces of the past.”

The park was established in the 18th century on the remains of a forest — as evidenced by old oaks, hornbeams, and alders. In spring, the rare Bushe’s buttercup blooms here; collecting and selling it is prohibited.

Stokhid river floodplain near the park — Stokhid floodplain. Photo: Viacheslav Galievskyi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Park and estate

Liubeshiv Park is a garden and park art monument covering 12 hectares; there are only five such old park monuments in Volyn. Once there was the Vyshnevetsky estate here, later the Charnetsky estate. The baroque gate from the 18th century has been preserved — the last stop of the trail. Nearby stand the church and cells of the former Capuchin monastery.

Baroque gate of the Vyshnevetsky–Charnetsky estate — Gate of the Vyshnevetsky–Charnetsky estate. Photo: Viacheslav Galievskyi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

From the park, the trail leads out to the Stokhid floodplain — one of the most winding rivers of Polissia, which gave its name to the national park along with the Prypiat.

Tips and route

From Lutsk to Liubeshiv is about 140 km — two hours by car via Rozhyshche, Kolky, and Kamin-Kashyrskyi. The trail starts near the central entrance to the settlement park. According to the trail passport, the best time for it is from June to September. Liubeshivshchyna lies near the border with Belarus: restrictions do not apply to the park itself in the settlement, but before walking in the forests and floodplain, check the current regime in the national park. The track on the map is drawn with straight lines between the stops.

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.

Ecological Trail “Staryi Park nad Stokhodom” in Liubeshiv