Syniak (1665 m) is a sharply rising peak in the Gorgany range of the Ukrainian Carpathians, and it punches well above its weight when it comes to views. It's a favourite weekend hike for visitors to the nearby Bukovel ski resort area — and for good reason.
The mountain's character changes dramatically with altitude. Dense forest covers the slopes up to around 1300 m, giving way to open alpine meadows and then, near the summit, vast fields of grey moss-covered boulders. It's those stones that likely gave the peak its name — seen through layers of mountain haze, they take on a distinctly bluish hue ('syniy' means blue in Ukrainian). From the top, the views stretch across the Dovbushanka ridge to the northwest, Yavirnyk to the northeast, and on a clear day you can pick out the Chornohora massif — the highest range in the Ukrainian Carpathians — with Hoverla (2061 m) and Petros (2020 m) on the horizon. The glittering slopes of Bukovel resort are visible right below. Syniak shares a ridge with its neighbour Malyi Horhan (1592 m) and the whole area falls within Carpathian National Nature Park.
How to reach the summitThe name 'Syniak' most likely comes from the Ukrainian word for blue — the moss-draped summit rocks take on that cool blue tint when seen from a distance through mountain air.