Mount Vysokyi Verkh (Rosokhatskyi)

Vysokyi Verkh (Rosokhatskyi) is a 1,176.8 m summit on the border of the Skole Beskids and the Stryi-Sian Highland. It lies on the boundary of the Drohobych and Stryi districts of Lviv Oblast, 5 km north of the village of Rosokhach and 8 km north-west of the Tysovets ski base. It is the highest summit of the Rosokhatski Polonyny ridge and the highest point of the Drohobych district. Do not confuse it with Vysokyi Verkh near Volosianka (1,242 m), which is a different mountain.

The mountain lies within the Skole Beskids National Nature Park. The north-eastern side of the summit is covered with spruce and beech forest, the south-western side with mountain meadows that open wide views.

How to get there

The summit is quite popular: hiking and horse-riding trips go up mainly from Rosokhach, and there is also a route from the village of Bahnuvate. From Rosokhach the summit is about 5 km away in a straight line, so plan most of the daylight hours for the round trip. Our site has no dedicated route yet, so download a track in advance. Other villages nearby are Zavadka and Sukhyi Potik.

Water, shelter and safety

Our map shows no springs or huts within 2.5 km of the summit, so bring water from the village. Rosokhach or the bases near Tysovets are convenient for an overnight stay. On the open meadows the weather changes quickly, and in fog it is easy to lose the path. Take a rain jacket, a warm layer, a torch and a charged phone with an offline map: even on a modest summit a day in the mountains can run long. Follow the national park rules. In an emergency call 112 or 101 — the mountain rescue units work around the clock.

Interesting facts

• In 2011 the church of the Holy Prophet Elijah was built on the summit; it is considered the highest-located Orthodox church in Ukraine.

Photos: Maxym mysak, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.