Nežabec

Nežabec is a 1023 m summit and the third highest peak of the volcanic Vihorlat Mountains in eastern Slovakia. It lies on the main ridge, in the north-eastern part of the remains of the caldera of a former stratovolcano, above the village of Strihovce. The boundary of the Prešov and Košice regions, and of Snina and Sobrance districts, runs over the summit. The nearest villages are Kolonica, Strihovce, Ladomirov and Zemplínske Hámre.

Nežabec's neighbours on the main ridge are Sninský kameň (1006 m) to the west – one of the best-known rocky summits of the Vihorlat – and Fedkov (978 m) to the south. There are several rock formations on the summit, and picturesque crags line the path between Sninský kameň and Nežabec. The whole mountain is covered by dense forest, so the summit itself has no views.

How to get there / routes

The main red ridge trail of the Vihorlat crosses Nežabec: from the village of Podhoroď via Strihovské sedlo (644 m), Nežabec, Sninský kameň, the Tri tably and Rozdiel saddles and Lysák to Remetské Hámre.

• The easiest way – from Strihovce: yellow trail to Strihovské sedlo, then red to the top – about 3 h up, 2 h 15 min down, 587 m of height difference.
• From Zemplínske Hámre via Sninský kameň – about 3 h 25 min up, 676 m of ascent.
• From Snina via Sninský kameň – about 4 h 50 min up, 807 m of ascent.
• From Ruská Bystrá via Pilníková lúka (812 m) – about 4 h 40 min up.
• From Podhoroď along the whole ridge – about 5 h 50 min up; from Remetské Hámre – about 5 h 15 min.

What you can see from the top

The summit itself offers no views – it is surrounded by continuous forest. The best panoramas on the route open from the neighbouring Sninský kameň, from where you can also see Nežabec and its wooded slopes. So it is worth planning the walk to take in both summits.

Nature and history

The Vihorlat is a volcanic range, and Nežabec lies on the rim of the former caldera. The summit belongs to the Vihorlat primeval forest (Vihorlatský prales), inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list in 2007 in the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians category because of its well-preserved beech forests with trees over 240 years old. Today the site is called Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. The summit is also part of the Morské oko site of European importance in the Natura 2000 network, and the whole area lies in the Vihorlat Protected Landscape Area (CHKO).

On the densely wooded top stands a hiking signpost with a box and a summit book; an older sign from 1990 also survives. Since 1986 the LOKO Humenné hiking club has held every May a multi-day traverse of the whole main Vihorlat ridge, "Poď na Podhoroď", which also passes here.

Safety, season and rules

The routes are long and wooded, with few landmarks, so plan your time and carry enough water. In the UNESCO primeval forest and the Natura 2000 site do not leave the marked path, do not damage trees and do not light fires. In the Slovak mountains help comes from the Mountain Rescue Service HZS: 18 300 (+421 18 300) or 112.

Interesting facts

• Nežabec is the third highest summit of the Vihorlat Mountains.
• The beech forests around the summit are part of a transnational UNESCO site that brings together ancient beech forests of many European countries.

Photos: Jiří Komárek, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jiří Komárek, CC BY-SA 4.0; Milan Bališin, CC BY-SA 4.0; Milan Bališin, CC BY-SA 4.0; Milan Bališin, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.