A Walk Through Drevlianskyi Park in Korosten: Cliffs Over the Uzh and the Iskorosten Hillfort

Route map

Map © OpenStreetMap.

About the route

Drevlianskyi Park in Korosten stretches along the granite banks of the Uzh River, which is why the town is called "Little Switzerland". A walk through the park from the entrance to the suspension bridge and Pobieda Park takes about 2–3 km and an hour to an hour and a half. This is not a marked eco-trail, but an urban route, yet it brings together almost the entire history of the Drevlians' capital of Iskorosten — from Olga of the chronicles to a 1930s bunker.

Barani loby boulders in the bed of the Uzh — "Barani loby" in the bed of the Uzh. Photo: Yuriy Prykhodko, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

What is on the route

Near the entrance from Hrushevskoho Street stands the 2009 derun monument — every year on the second Saturday of September, the Derun Festival takes place here. Further on, the alley leads past monuments to Volodymyr the Great (2015), Malusha with her son, and Dobrynya Nikitych.

Above the river are "Olha's Baths": granite hollows-"tubs" in the bed of the Uzh, and a monument to Princess Olha (2008). At the highest point where the hillfort used to be stands the monument to Prince Mal (2005) and a wooden wall with towers and gates.

The hillfort of Iskorosten

The hill above the Uzh is the hillfort of the chronicle Iskorosten of the 9th–11th centuries with an area of about 1.3 hectares, rising 30–40 m above the water. This is a heritage site of national importance, and in December 2025 UNESCO included it in the list of properties under enhanced protection.

Rotunda on a granite ledge above the river — Rotunda on the rocks. Photo: Yuriy Prykhodko, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Rocks and Skelya

The rotunda on the rocks overlooks the "Veletenski Kotly" tract — round hollows carved into the granite by water. In the riverbed lie the "Barani loby" boulders, polished by the current. In spring, kayakers raft down the rapids of the Uzh. Nearby is the "Skelya" military-historical complex: a former underground command post of the Korosten fortified district, carved into the granite in the 1930s, which is now a museum.

At the end of the route is a pedestrian suspension bridge across the Uzh and Pobieda Park. From there, if you wish, you can walk to another hillfort — Chervona Hirka.

Tips

The granite slopes are slippery after rain; be careful with children near the water and rocks. Korosten is a junction railway station; it is convenient to get here by train from Zhytomyr, Kyiv, or Zviahel; it is about 2 km from the railway station to the park.

What you will see on the route

Skelya Museum in Korosten: A Secret Bunker Under Granite 1,0 km from the start · Historical museum, Fortress

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.