Ihrovets (1,804 m) is the third-highest peak in the Gorgany massif of the Ukrainian Carpathians, and it has a trick up its sleeve: unlike most summits in the range, its top is almost completely flat. That unexpected plateau makes the moment you crest the ridge genuinely surprising and rewarding.
The peak sits at the centre of the crescent-shaped Ihrovy'shche ridge, curving from east to north-east. The western and north-eastern slopes are steep and strewn with the rocky scree fields that define the Gorgany's wild character — footing here demands care and trekking poles are a good idea. From the flat summit you can take in a sweeping panorama that includes the neighbouring peak Vysoka (1,803 m) and, further south-east, the Syvulia ridge with Syvulia Velyka (1,836 m) and Syvulia Mala (1,818 m). Autumn is a particularly magical time, when the forests blaze with colour and visibility stretches for miles. Winter brings deep snow and icy boulders, making the mountain significantly more challenging.
How to reach the summitA small hydrological curiosity: the Kuzmenets-Velykyi stream rises on the north-eastern slopes of Ihrovets at 1,608 m above sea level, something to look out for on the way up.