Mała Wołowa Szczerbina is a narrow, rocky notch tucked deep within the Wołowy Grzbiet, one of the most remote sections of the main ridge of the Tatra Mountains. This is a destination for experienced mountaineers seeking raw, untamed high-mountain scenery far from any marked trails.

Sitting at roughly 2355 m, the pass lies between two distinctive rock towers known as the Wołowe Rogi (Ox Horns), whose horn-like shape is best appreciated from the Mięguszowiecka Valley side. From the Rybi Potok Valley side, this striking form is far less noticeable. The landscape is stark and rocky, and the narrow cut of the pass adds to the sense of isolation. On the Slovak side, from Wołowa Kotlinka, the approach follows an easy scree-and-grass slope, while towards the Upper Czarnostawiański Basin the terrain drops away in a steep depression that lower down turns into a distinctive wet chimney, its brown colouring visible from a distance. Snow lingers on the northern side for much of the year, making passage difficult.

How to reach the viewpoint

• Wołowa Kotlinka (Slovak side) — no marked trail, high-mountain terrain, difficulty: demanding, suitable only for properly equipped mountaineers
• Upper Czarnostawiański Basin — via the ridge, climbing route grade II UIAA, approx. 1 hour 30 minutes

Practical information

• The pass has no marked hiking trail access — it is reachable only through mountaineering routes
• It serves as an important access point to the Wołowy Grzbiet ridge
• Snow on the northern slopes persists for most of the year, significantly complicating passage

The pass takes its name from the Wołowy Grzbiet ridge and was formerly known simply as Wołowa Szczerbina. The first recorded crossing dates back to 1905, while the first winter ascent was not recorded until 1934.