Rising to 614 metres above the sandstone plateaus of northern Bohemia, Vlhošť is the highest point of the Polomené hory hills and the crown of the Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj Protected Landscape Area. It is a striking volcanic cone — solitary, forested and unmistakable on the horizon — and a rewarding destination for anyone exploring this quietly beautiful corner of the Czech Republic.

The mountain is built from phonolite (sodalite phonolite), an igneous rock that punched through the surrounding sandstone around 31 million years ago, giving Vlhošť its steep, distinctive profile. The entire summit is covered in forest — beech woodland, pine forest, heather and lichen — so panoramic views from the top are limited, but the journey through the Nature Reserve more than compensates. Look out for peregrine falcons and stock doves nesting here, and in autumn the beech forest turns a spectacular gold. The western and south-western slopes are flanked by impressive sandstone rock terraces that attract climbers during the permitted season.

• Village of Hvězda (roadside parking) — red trail to Vlhošťský důl valley, then yellow trail around the summit; approx. 30–40 min; easy to moderate
• Dubá or Holany — red trail to Vlhošťský důl, then yellow trail; longer approach, good for those arriving by public transport
• Nearest railway station: Blíževedly (line 087 Lovosice – Česká Lípa), approx. 5 km away

• The summit lies within the Vlhošť Nature Reserve (81.81 ha); CHKO Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj rules apply
• No marked trail leads directly to the very top — the yellow trail circles the summit rather than climbing to it
• Rock climbing on the sandstone terraces is permitted from July to December only
• Cycling route 0059 passes through the Vlhošťský důl valley below

The name 'Vlhošť' has been recorded since 1406 and is thought to derive from the Slavic personal name Vělgost — making this quiet, forested hill one with a history as layered as its geology.