Pip Ivan

1,938 m

Ukraine, Romania

Also known as Pop Ivan Marmarožský, Pip Iwan Maramureș, +7

Pop Ivan Marmarožský · Pip Iwan Maramureș · Pip Ivan Marmaros · Pop Ivan · პოპ-ივანი · Pop Ivan / Піп Іван Мармароський · Pop Iwan · Поп Иван Мармарошский · Піп Іван Мармароський

Elevation: 1,938 m
Prominence: 542 m
Difficulty: 3/10; Mountain hike
Best Season: Jul–Sep
Routes: 1

Path closedReported 27 May 2022
The Zakarpattia regional defence council closed tourist routes near the borders on 27 May 2022 for the duration of martial law, including Mt Stih – Mt Mezhypotoky – Mt Pip Ivan Marmaroskyi – Lysycha meadow – Dilove and Dilove – Pip Ivan. A TSN article of October 2025 still lists the Marmarosh ridge and Pip Ivan as restricted, visitable only with a border-guard permit.
zaxid.net

Routes

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SACT3HikeNormal route

Sources differ: difficult (dificil), 18.6 km, 1,633 m, 9 h 40 circuit (jurnaldedrumetii.ro) · medium/difficult, 17 km, about 1,700 m, 9–10 h circuit (ro.thechillinbear.com)

The practical way up while the Ukrainian side is closed: from the former Cabana Paltinu above Crasna Vișeului (Romania) to Vârful Paltinul (1,711 m), then along the unmarked border ridge past Vârful Râpa to the tall Ukrainian marker on top. About 5 hours up, 17–19 km and 1,650 m for the circuit; Border Police permit required.

Elevation Profile

approximate line

Distance: 8.5 km; one way
Ascent: +1,515 m; −191 m lost on the way up
High Point: 1,938 m
Time Up: 6h 29m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 4h 44m; DIN 33466 · same way back

Drive through Crasna Vișeului and about 8 km up the TAF forest road (rough but passable by ordinary cars with care in 2022–2023) to the Paltinu Information and Documentation Centre, the former Cabana Paltinu, which no longer offers lodging. Climb on the blue stripe (with the yellow-dot circuit alongside) through forest, past an old observatory building and a sheepfold, to the junction where the marks turn right towards Poiana cu Narcise; keep straight up the ridge to Vârful Paltinul (1,711 m), about 3 hours from the start. From Paltinul the route is unmarked on the Romanian side: turn left towards the border and contour round Muntele Râpei to border marker 368, then follow the frontier ridge between the markers over Vârful Râpa (about 1,870 m) to Pop Ivan, marked by a concrete Ukrainian monument over 3 m tall; a second top with a cross and signpost lies 350 m away at almost the same height. Allow about 5 hours to the summit. The usual return continues along the border ridge past markers 363–360 and Vârful Strunga to Vârful Șerban (1,793 m, marker 359), then descends Culmea Șerban past Stâna Șerban (spring) and through forest to the TAF road: 9–10 hours for the circuit. Do not take paths that drop north into Ukraine. Water is scarce; dwarf pine and long grass soak you in wet weather, and cornices can linger on the crest into June.

Start

Cabana Paltinul610 m

No public transport to Cabana Paltinu; a car or taxi is needed from the Vișeu valley through Crasna Vișeului (Bistra commune) and up 8 km of forest road.
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Cabana Paltinul → Pip Ivan	8.5	1,515	191	6h 29m

Waypoints

Parking:
Cabana Paltinul610 m
No lodging; parking at the end of the forest road from Crasna Vișeului
Feature:
Vârful Paltinul1,709 m
Leave the blue marks where they turn right towards Poiana cu Narcise and keep to the ridge
Feature:
Râpa1,866 m
Border ridge; follow the border markers 368–365
Summit:
Pip Ivan1,938 m

Key Passages

Unmarked traverse from Vârful Paltinul to border marker 368
Border ridge over Vârful Râpa
Pathless grass on Culmea Șerban in descent

Equipment

0/5 packed

Mandatory by Regulation

Identity card or passport and the Border Police approvalRomanian border protection stripMandatory

Footwear

Hiking bootsRequired

Clothing

Waterproof jacket and trouserswet dwarf pine and grass; rain and cloud commonRequired

Navigation

GPS track and mapthe Romanian part of the ridge is unmarked and paths fade on Culmea ȘerbanRequired

Other

Water (2 l or more)springs only at the start and near two sheepfoldsRequired

Downloads

Route confidence 60%

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Overview

Pip Ivan Marmaroskyi (1,938 m) is a summit on the frontier ridge of the Maramureș (Marmarosh) Mountains, crowned by a tall Ukrainian concrete marker on the Ukraine–Romania border. With the Ukrainian side closed, it is climbed from Romania: a long, partly unmarked 9–10 hour circuit from Cabana Paltinu with a Border Police permit.

Pip Ivan Marmaroskyi (Romanian Pop Ivan; not to be confused with Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi, 2,028 m, on Chornohora) rises on the main ridge of the Maramureș Mountains, which carries the state border between Ukraine and Romania. The highest point lies practically on the border line, marked by a concrete Ukrainian monument more than 3 m tall, and a second top with a cross lies 350 m away at almost the same height.

Before 2022 it was mostly climbed from the Ukrainian side, from Dilove or via the Stih–Mezhypotoky ridge. Since May 2022 those routes have been closed under martial law, and the summit is now reached from Romania. The usual circuit starts at the former Cabana Paltinu above Crasna Vișeului, climbs Vârful Paltinul, follows the frontier ridge past Vârful Râpa to the top and returns over Vârful Șerban: 17–19 km, about 1,650 m of ascent and 9–10 hours.

The ridge is grassy with dwarf pine and short, easy rocky sections, but Romanian law does not allow marked trails on the border, so navigation is by GPS track and border markers. Water is scarce, and the route lies in the border protection strip of a country neighbouring a war zone: you need a permit, must not cross into Ukraine, and are not supposed to photograph Ukrainian territory.

Climbing Notes

Plan a long day: fitness for 1,600–1,700 m of ascent and 9–10 hours, a GPS track (the Romanian part is unmarked), at least 2 litres of water, full waterproofs and an early start. The forest road to Cabana Paltinu was passable by ordinary cars in 2022–2023 but is rough; there is no lodging at the cabin.

Before the hike obtain Border Police approval for tourism in the border strip: apply in person at the Border Police sector in Poienile de sub Munte (approval took about 10 minutes in 2022) or by email (spf.poieniledesubmunte@mail.igpf.ro) with a list of participants and ID documents. Ask for the whole section between border markers 359 (Vârful Șerban) and 368 to cover the full circuit. Carry the IDs on the hike. Border paths are used by smugglers and by people crossing from Ukraine illegally; stay on the Romanian side and follow any instructions from patrols.

Season

Best Jul–Sep

January: Not advisable
February: Not advisable
March: Not advisable
April: Possible
May: Possible
June: Good
July: Best (best window)
August: Best (best window)
September: Best (best window)
October: Good
November: Possible
December: Not advisable

Jan: Deep snow on a remote border ridge; not advisable
Feb: Deep snow; not advisable
Mar: Deep snow
Apr: Snow on the ridge; forest road may be impassable
May: Snow patches; wet
Jun: Cornices can linger on the crest into early June
Jul: Thunderstorms
Aug: Thunderstorms
Sep: Often settled
Oct: Autumn colours; forest road passable in 2023; short days for a 10-hour circuit
Nov: Early snow
Dec: Winter

Access & Permits

Permits

Romanian Border Police approval for the border protection stripRequired
Written request listing all participants with their ID documents, submitted in person at the Border Police sector in Poienile de sub Munte or by email (spf.poieniledesubmunte@mail.igpf.ro). Request the section between border markers 359 and 368. Carry ID cards on the hike.
Ukrainian border-guard permitRequired
The Ukrainian route Stih–Mezhypotoky–Pip Ivan Marmaroskyi–Lysycha–Dilove has been banned for tourists under martial law since May 2022. A 2025 article says Marmarosh routes may be visited with a written or electronic permit from the border guards (Mukachevo detachment), but other sources report the area closed; do not count on it.
tsn.ua

Rules

Romanian border protection strip: permit required; do not cross into Ukraine (paths dropping north from the ridge lead illegally into Ukrainian territory)
Photographing or filming the neighbouring country's territory is not allowed under the permit conditions
Romanian law does not allow marked tourist trails along the border; the ridge section is unmarked
Ukrainian side: Marmarosh routes, including Pip Ivan from Dilove, closed to tourists under martial law since May 2022

Getting There

Crasna Vișeului and Bistra (Romania); Vișeu de Sus; Poienile de sub Munte (Border Police)

Baia Mare (BAY); Satu Mare (SUJ); Cluj-Napoca (CLJ)

Car: through Crasna Vișeului (paved), then about 8 km on the TAF forest road to Cabana Paltinul (about 20 minutes)
No public transport to the trailhead

Hazards

Weather
Remoteness