Velký Máj (1,385 m a.s.l.) is a rewarding off-the-beaten-path summit in the Hrubý Jeseník range of northeastern Czechia. The eighth highest peak in the whole range, it sits on the main ridge between Kamzičník and Jelení hřbet, offering a genuine sense of wild mountain solitude without the crowds of the nearby Praděd summit.

The summit area has a gently domed shape, covered in alpine meadows and dwarf pine thickets, with a small pond right at the top. Nearly all slopes are blanketed in dense spruce forest, with patches of mixed woodland on the western side. One of the most fascinating geographical facts about Velký Máj is its position on the Great European Watershed — some slopes drain toward the Baltic Sea (Oder basin) and others toward the Black Sea (Danube basin). In winter, the southern slope carries an avalanche risk, while the main ridge path doubles as a cross-country ski trail.

• Ovčárna (mountain hut and bus stop) — red hiking trail heading southwest, approx. 4 km to the Nad Malým kotlem crossroads (1,335 m), then approx. 190 m off-trail to the summit — moderate difficulty
• From Nad Malým kotlem crossroads — green trail toward Františkova myslivna — alternative approach via the western slope — moderate difficulty

• No marked trail leads directly to the summit — the final approx. 190 m must be navigated off-trail using a detailed map.
• The entire summit area falls within the Praděd National Nature Reserve (est. 1991); hiking to the very top is not recommended due to ecosystem protection rules.
• Avalanche risk on the southern slope in winter.
• The closest shelter is Františkova myslivna (approx. 1.6 km northwest), one of the oldest mountain huts in Hrubý Jeseník, with just 16 beds — book ahead.
• A nature trail called 'Po hřebenech – světem horských luk' (12 km, 12 stops) runs along the main ridge and was established in 2009.

On the western slope, along the green trail between Nad Malým kotlem and Františkova myslivna, stands a 1937 memorial plaque dedicated to Baron František III Klein von Wiesenberk — whose family played a key role in developing tourism throughout the Jeseníky mountains.