Taganay National Park

Taganay National Park is one of Russia's most popular hiking areas, located near the city of Zlatoust. It is famous for its unique mountain ridges, bearing names like 'Response Ridge' or 'Moon Catcher'. Visitors are drawn by the dramatic landscape, ranging from rugged peaks to deep taiga forests. The phenomenon of the 'Great Stone River', a huge field of giant aventurine blocks stretching like a river through the valley, is unique worldwide. For climbers and hikers, Taganay provides routes of various difficulty levels. The paths are well-marked and lead to dramatic viewpoints like Black Rock. The wildlife is equally impressive: with a little luck, you can spot moose, lynx, or rare birds of prey. The air here is considered particularly pure and healing. Access to the park is through the main entrance in Zlatoust, which is easily reachable by train from Chelyabinsk or Yekaterinburg. The best time for a tour is summer for multi-day hikes or September for the spectacular autumn colors. In winter, the park features fairytale snow landscapes for snowshoers but requires good equipment against the cold.

Nearby cities

Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg is located on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains and marks the geographical border between Europe and Asia.

Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod is situated at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers.

Kazan

Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan and is known for the harmonious coexistence of Christian and Muslim cultures.

Chelyabinsk

Chelyabinsk is a major industrial center located in the Ural Mountains.

Omsk

Omsk is one of the largest cities in Siberia, located at the confluence of the Irtysh and Om rivers.

Ufa

Ufa is the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan and is located at the confluence of the Belaya and Ufa rivers.

Volgograd

Volgograd was formerly known as Stalingrad and was the site of one of the most important battles of World War II.

Perm

Perm is located on the banks of the Kama River in the European part of Russia, near the Ural Mountains.

Saratov

Saratov is a major port on the Volga River and a center for industry and education.

Tyumen

Tyumen was the first Russian city in Siberia and today serves as a major hub for the country's oil and gas industry.

Tolyatti

Tolyatti is the center of the Russian automotive industry and home to the manufacturer AvtoVAZ (Lada).

Izhevsk

Izhevsk is the capital of the Udmurt Republic and is known worldwide as the armory of Russia.

Ulyanovsk

Ulyanovsk is known as the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin and was originally called Simbirsk.

Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl is part of Russia's Golden Ring and is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers.

Makhachkala

Makhachkala is the capital of the Republic of Dagestan and is situated on the western shore of the Caspian Sea.

History & landmarks

Murom

An ancient Russian city on the Oka River, known as the home of the epic hero Ilya Muromets.