Velký Polom (1,067 m a.s.l.) sits right on the Czech-Slovak border in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, offering a ridge walk that feels like striding between two worlds. What makes it truly special is that the European watershed between the Oder and the Danube runs right along its crest — raindrops here choose their river, and their sea.

The summit area has a wonderfully wild feel, dotted with frost scarps — rocky formations sculpted by repeated freeze-thaw cycles over millennia. The ridge stretches eastward through the sub-peaks of Severka (957 m) and Skalka (932 m), rewarding hikers with sweeping views across both countries. Summer brings lush green forests and pleasant walking, autumn turns the slopes into a canvas of colour, and winter transforms the ridge into a popular ski and snowshoe destination. The northern slopes of the peak are protected as the Velký Polom Nature Reserve, covering elevations from 840 to 1,067 m.

• Mosty u Jablunkova — red trail, approx. 4.5 km to Skalka hut, then along the ridge to the summit; difficulty: moderate
• Horní Lomná — yellow trail, approx. 7 km via the summit to Kamenná hut; steep ascent, difficulty: demanding

• Three mountain huts line the ridge: Skalka (rebuilt after a fire), Severka (with a ski area), and Kamenná chata.
• The ridge is very popular with cyclists — an asphalt road leads up from Mosty u Jablunkova.
• The summit straddles the Czech-Slovak border, so standing on the very top means crossing an international boundary.

The easternmost point of the massif, Skalka, faces the peak of Girová across the valley, together framing the historic Jablunkov Pass — the natural gateway between the Moravian-Silesian and Silesian Beskids.