Stiy is the highest peak of the Polonyna Borzhava massif, standing at 1681 m a.s.l. in Zakarpattia, Ukraine. It combines ancient beech forests, vast blueberry fields and open alpine meadows into one rewarding mountain experience.
The western slopes are steep and draped in primeval beech forest mixed with isolated spruce and fir — a wild, untouched landscape that feels far removed from the modern world. Above the treeline, extensive blueberry thickets take over before the summit opens up into wide panoramic views over the Carpathian ridges. The southern and eastern slopes are gentler, covered with polonyna grasslands that are perfect for an easy stroll with a view. The northern flanks drop sharply in rocky cliffs, sheltering several rare plant species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine — including the Arolla pine and Carpathian groundsel. A glacial cirque survives on the northern side of the mountain, a quiet reminder of the Ice Age.
The western slopes are partly protected by the Rosishnyy nature reserve.
How to reach the summitDuring the Soviet period, a military radar installation operated on the summit of Stiy — today it is gone, but that Cold War history gives the peak a quietly intriguing character.