Maly Kanusiak (1620 m a.s.l.) is a sharply conical peak rising from the wild Gorgany range of the Ukrainian Carpathians — a region that remains one of the least-trodden mountain areas in all of Europe. If unspoiled wilderness is what you are after, this summit delivers it in full.

The slopes are cloaked in dense spruce forest up to around 1450 m, above which the terrain opens up into rocky scree fields and dense thickets of mountain pine. The peak's clean cone shape makes it a striking landmark when viewed from neighbouring ridges. To the southwest, a clear saddle connects it with Velykyi Kanusiak (1642 m), while Grofa (1748 m) and Kin-Hrofetskyi (1735 m) rise to the west and northwest respectively. The mountain sits between the valleys of the Petrosa and Limnytsia rivers, giving the surrounding landscape a layered, dramatic quality. Summer brings lush green colours, while autumn transforms the forest slopes into a blaze of gold and amber.

• The village of Osmoloda is the nearest settlement and the natural starting point for any approach into this part of the Gorgany. For detailed route planning, use the 'Western Gorgany' tourist map at 1:50 000 scale.

• The Gorgany massif has limited tourist infrastructure — a detailed paper map or GPS device is strongly recommended.
• Above the treeline, open scree and mountain pine thickets can make navigation tricky in poor visibility.

The Gorgany remain one of Ukraine's best-kept mountain secrets — a landscape of ancient spruce forests and boulder fields that rewards those willing to venture off the beaten path.