How to get to the Grand Canyon of Crimea. Route Sokolinoe - Grand Canyon of Crimea (to the bath of youth)

From the article you will learn everything about the Grand Canyon of Crimea: why it is interesting, how long the tour lasts, what sights are included in the route.

grand canyon occupies a special place among natural monuments Crimean peninsula. A huge majestic gorge is located about four kilometers from the village of Sokolinoye - on the northern slope of the Main Ridge of the Crimean Mountains. The height of the canyon bed varies from 500 to 600 m above sea level. The mighty cliffs of the gorge rise 300-350 m above the sea area.

The depth of the Grand Canyon of Crimea is also impressive - it reaches 320 meters. The length of the gorge is about 3500 meters.

Why is the Grand Canyon in Crimea famous?

The Grand Canyon took thousands of years to form. It was washed by the waters of the Auzun-Uzen mountain river, which still flows between the Ai-Petri and mountain range Boyka. The flora in these places is diverse. The rocky slopes are overgrown with Crimean pines. In the lowlands, trees form dense thickets. There are birch, hornbeam, ash, beech, etc. There are relic yew trees in the gorge. Rare species of ferns also grow here, as well as the relic butcher's broom and saxifrage - one of the Crimean endemic species. Evergreen ivy is found almost everywhere.

The Grand Canyon in the Crimea is famous for its picturesque waterfalls, rapids and monumental stone chaos formed by the heaps of marble-like limestone. The waters of a mountain river have been moving stone blocks downstream for thousands of years. It was they who “drilled” the baths and basins in the softer limestone bed.

Grand Canyon of Crimea - how to get there

• Independent tourists. As a rule, those who go on a hiking trip to the canyon are ready for difficulties and know that public transport is tight at this point in Crimea. The easiest way to get to the Grand Canyon is to take a taxi in the village of Sokolinoe. The locals have been driving for a long time and, most likely, they will figure you out from afar and offer you a lift to the beginning of the route. The point is small - to get to the Sokolinoye itself;
• Solo travelers with a car. By car, Sokolinoye is easily accessible from (a little closer) and (a little further). Then climb up to Ai-Petri, following the signs. There is only one road, so there should not be any discrepancies. The second option is, on the contrary, to go down from the Ai-Petri plateau. A little below the middle of the path, the sign "Grand Canyon" awaits you;
• Group tourists (with excursion). The best option. You will be brought and taken with comfort, and during the walk everything will be told and shown.

The Grand Canyon is a landmark that is difficult to access by public transport. But it's worth visiting. Therefore order organized excursion seems to us the most profitable solution.

Where to stay in the Grand Canyon

For those who have their own car, we have an idea even better than day trip to the Grand Canyon. Especially it will appeal to Sevastopol residents and guests of the hero city. In the village of Sokolinoe there are two camp sites where you can have a great weekend. So to speak, at the foot of Ai-Petri, half an hour from the reserve.

We like both, which is better - choose for yourself.

#one. Manor Kutler

Landscapes of the Belbek Valley (Manor Kutler)

A family guest house in the Belbek valley, where at different times poppies bloom, then alpine herbs. In the Kutler estate, the rooms are decorated in the style of a "chalet", they have air conditioning, panoramic breakfast terraces, a bathhouse and a well-groomed territory.

#2. Fisherman's Farm Chalet

A new hostel with nice cozy rooms, which few people know about. In addition to standard amenities (bathroom, air conditioning, wi-fi), microwave ovens and electric kettles are available. On the territory of a well-groomed garden and a view of the mountains.

Grand Canyon - full itinerary

The excursion route along the Grand Canyon starts behind the village of Sokolinoe. After about 5 km the trail comes to the gorge. It leads through a beech forest to a small picturesque clearing where the Postal Oak stands - one of the most famous trees - about 350 years old. Oak is famous for the fact that since the middle of the last century, a tradition has appeared to leave notes with desires in the hollow of a centuries-old tree. If you make a wish from the heart, it will certainly come true.

In the early 80s. 20th century oak burned down. The dry, burned-out giant gradually turns into dust, but still continues to stand at the entrance to the Grand Canyon.

Stop #1. Blue Lake

Waterfall "Silver Streams"

If you go from the Postal Oak along the path to the right, then soon you will see Blue Lake and Waterfall Silver Jets- two amazingly beautiful . Blue Lake is the widest erosion basin in the gorge. It is filled with unusually clean and clear water with a soft blue tint. The water temperature in the lake does not rise above 12 degrees even in the summer heat season. Bathing in a shallow cool bath gives tourists strength for the further journey.

At a height of two meters above the basin there is a picturesque waterfall Silver Streams. It fully justifies its name. From above, a green cap of moss hangs over it, and water flows down over the stones, splitting into streams that shimmer in the sun like threads of silver.

Stop #2. apple ford

Apple ford - one of the stages of the tour of the canyon

After the descent from the Watchtower cliff, tourists are waiting for another of the natural beauties of the Canyon - Apple Ford. Here, upstream of the river, wild apple trees grow in large numbers. With the advent of autumn, their fruits and foliage fall into the water. The current brings them to a ford opposite the mouth of the Almachuk - a tributary of the Auzun-Uzen, the name of which is translated into Russian - "apple".

Stop #3. Source of Pania

Pania Spring (Grand Canyon)

Beyond the ford, the river valley gets deeper and deeper. Not far from it is the source of Pania. Its name is a simplified form of the word "Panagia" ("All Holy"). In Crimea, there are many holy springs discovered in the Middle Ages. Most likely, Pania also applies to them. This is one of the largest sources of fresh water on the peninsula. In an hour, up to 1400 m3 of water comes out of it. Near the spring there is a flooded cave of the same name.

Stop #4 bath of youth

The end point of the route - "bath of youth"

The tour ends at the Bath of Youth - one of the main attractions of the Grand Canyon of Crimea. This is the deepest boiler (5 m) along the Auzun-Uzen. From above, a waterfall falls into the basin. This is the most famous "youth bath" on the Crimean peninsula. It is filled with cold clear water, which does not warm up above 11 degrees even in forty degrees of heat. Swimming in the basin tempers and invigorates. By tradition, most tourists plunge into it.

Viewpoints of the Grand Canyon

Panorama of the canyon from the observation deck

There are several viewpoints in the gorge. The most popular of them is the top of Sentinel Cliff, from which a magnificent panorama of the canyon is visible. good review on the tract also opens from the Fifth cliff. From this observation deck, the Grand Canyon is perfectly visible for almost its entire length.

What to bring on a tour

Walking through the Grand Canyon takes about 2.5-3 hours. The difficulty of the route is below average. However, it can be equated to hiking in the mountains. You have to go through the forest, jump over ravines, rivers, overcome obstacles. So note that For an excursion to the Grand Canyon of Crimea, you need to wear comfortable shoes. Girls climbing forest bumps in open sandals, sometimes even in heels, evoke not only a smile, but also sympathy. Take care of yourself!

And don't forget to bring a liter bottle of water per person. The tour is long, there will be nowhere to buy on the route.

Route map to accompany you on your journey

Ticket prices for the Grand Canyon 2020

The Grand Canyon is a nature reserve, but they charge a fee at the entrance. Ticket price for adults - 100 rubles. The route is in excellent condition. Railings and steps are equipped along the trails, along the way you will see signs and maps.

Where to stay.

Photo tour of the Grand Canyon. Enjoy nature, forest, clear water in the springs and, of course, the bath of youth!

Grand Canyon Photo: Oleg Smolninov, photographers.ua

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For those connoisseurs of nature who have visited Grand Canyon of Crimea for the first time, this grandiose, forested gorge with deep baths, invigorating waterfalls, clear springs and boulders of rock remains a lifelong favorite. The desire to return here will never leave.

The main drawback of the canyon in the middle and end of summer is an overabundance of tourists. Tour buses they come from all the cities of Crimea, and from eleven to three a string of people wanders along the stream in a continuous two-way stream along a single path, the latter just getting off the bus, and the former are already jumping into the Bath of Youth, waiting in line, as if in front of another water slide in a water park.

The second disadvantage of organized visits is the short route (about three kilometers round trip). The main beauty of the canyon, yes, in fact, the canyon itself begins above the Bath of Youth. The trail in it is more difficult, but after a hundred meters you can find yourself completely alone. Only yours will be transparent baths, rocks heated under the sun, overgrown with yew and euonymus shore. A little more - and you will see a real canyon.

The Grand Canyon was formed as a giant split of the Ai-Petri massif, when a mountain moved away from it boyka. The edges almost did not crumble, and the gorge in shape resembles an incompletely split log. Its depth is 250-300 meters, and the minimum width inside is such that two tourists can join hands and touch opposite walls. It is this steepness, this narrowness, this twilight and coolness on a July afternoon, and silence, and a sense of the grandeur of nature (and, therefore, the insignificance of their own problems) that attract people who are tired of civilization here.

Even a very small pebble that accidentally fell from the 300-meter wall of the Grand Canyon is dangerous for the life of a pedestrian on the lower path. It is better not to linger under this natural fortress, not to throw stones, not to shoot, not to whistle, and most importantly, not to call to those who are walking along the upper path (what kind of jokers you will not meet in the mountains). Those who wear helmets are very sensible.

The route along the Grand Canyon of Crimea

The tour bus stops above the road, near the foresters. The scheme of the canyon - near the highway, having studied it, we can go down the wide path - the remainder of the Roman road, to the Sary-Su river - "Yellow Water". In fact, in the Sary-Su river there is not water, but yellow-brown stones from a raid of salts and algae. The river itself is so clean that one could drink from it ... although it is better to be patient and go up to the spring.

After crossing the bridge, you need to pay for the entrance to the Grand Canyon of Crimea. The trails here are marked and so well trodden that you can not talk about them. All the same semi-priming-half-path will lead you to the long-burned Post Oak with a steep long ascent. The trail here will turn left, to Sokolinoe, and the main road (still the same Rimskaya) will lead to the right, deep into the canyon.

The five-hundred-year-old oak was considered a place of meetings and memorable messages that visitors to the canyon left in a large dark hollow. This tradition arose during the Great Patriotic War - this is how partisans passed important messages to each other.

In 1982, someone set fire to the tourists' letters, and a huge tree died from the fire. In outdated guidebooks, they write that the oak caught fire from lightning. It would have been more effective, but the questions of local residents left no doubt - the oak was set on fire. Nevertheless, notes are still placed in a charred hollow to this day. There is also a legend about the Post Oak.

From the remnants of the oak, the path leads past the Parus rock, and opposite Cape Sosnovy Descent to the widest bath in the canyon - Blue Lake. Here they usually swim, even swim, although the depth is not more than one and a half meters. Hardened with pleasure sit tied up swimming trunks with a rope, in an inclined "whirlpool waterfall". The test is not for sissies - water 10-12 ° C.

The trail then leads to a karst spring. Pania, one of the most abundant in the Crimea. Above the source, under the yews, you can find the entrance to the cave of Pania. But it is better not to do this: the cave is almost impassable. Yew roots interfere, the water level changes, and you can easily drown. Even the professional pioneer Nikolai Leonov, who discovered a dozen caves in the Crimea, abandoned his attempt to dive through Pania's water siphons.

It is only 600 meters to the Bath of Youth from the Pania spring, this is the most interesting way - along the stone bottom of the Auzun-Uzen stream (the "Estuary River") that has carved a canyon, past the three hundred-meter Watchtower cliff, which "guards the entrance to the canyon". Here you can see traces of the work of water - erosion boilers, as Professor I. I. Puzanov called them in the first brochure about the Grand Canyon. Stones fall into a random recess, a fast current twists them, grinds and rounds the hole. This is how these "cauldrons" are formed, of which there are more than a hundred in the canyon, and this is how the deepest of them was formed - a four-meter Bath of youth. One can see traces of the river spilling into the flood; it is dangerous and difficult to follow the lower path in the spring. There is a winter path for this, a little higher, although it is also inconvenient on it.

After the Bath of Youth, the path goes along the right side of the stream, along the rock, from where people jump into this bath. But it’s crowded there and you can slip off after the jumpers, so it’s better to go a little higher, around. Then you will have to jump from stone to stone, make your way along the left side, then on the right, climb somewhere on all fours, somewhere go a few steps through stagnant (even stagnant in summer) water ... But if you feel normal on mountain trails, hiking through the canyon will be quite affordable, according to the Adonis website.

There is eternal darkness here. Spring and summer, judging by the time of flowering, come in this gorge a month later ... Let's give the floor to Professor Puzanov: "After a few hundred meters of the path, the walls of the canyon begin to hang more and more menacingly, and the channel is cluttered with gigantic boulders, turned by water, forming puzzling cataracts and even stairs.Deep erosive cauldrons, drilled with water in the stone bed of the stream with the help of round stone cores, partly were filled with never-drying... water, on the surface of which bugs, fast as mercury, scurried around. Everything... darker and the gorge becomes darker, only a narrow blue stripe remains visible from the sky. At the bottom of the canyon, fresh rubble from blocks that fell from the vertical walls and shattered to smithereens is increasingly common. There was a real danger of getting such a "present" on your head.

The Grand Canyon is convenient for botanical research. At the bottom of it there is only one path, around which plants are concentrated. Just there, among the numerous trunks of a yew, strange, rare for the Crimea, sublingual needle and centipede fern are visible. You can’t confuse them with anything if you know what the Mediterranean needle looks like, which is abundant in the forests South Shore, and growing in forests, more often in places of fires, an ordinary fern. Among the lilies of the valley you can suddenly see the rarest orchid "lady's slipper".

During the summer daylight, it is possible, if desired, to go through most of the canyon along the bottom and return by the upper path, which is above blue lake again merge into the main "Roman road".

There are different paths leading to the canyon. Having crossed Ai-Petri, buses usually stop above the main entrance to the canyon. If you start a hike from there, it is better to immediately go down to the river. You can also go through the forest, along the Almanchuk stream (Apple stream), through the crossing "Apple Ford"- on a common path. Or, not reaching the ford, climb the path up, through a small pass, in order to immediately come to the Pania cave under the yews, to the spring.

What to bring

Comfortable sports shoes. Forget tight pants, skirts and sandals with slippery soles. A bathing suit and a towel will also come in handy. You don’t have to worry about food, because in the vicinity of the canyon, locals sell all kinds of yummy.

How to get to the Grand Canyon of Crimea

Highway Simferopol - Bakhchisarai. The first option: from the bus station by minibus to the village of Sokolinoe. Then 5 km to Mount Orliny Zalet. A restaurant located nearby will serve as a reference point.

The second option: from Yalta by car along the old asphalt road Bakhchisaray - Yalta across the Ai-Petri plateau to the reserve, about 5 km before reaching the village of Sokolinoe.

GPS COORDINATES: N 44°31.120, E 33°59.092

We invite you to take a walk along the Grand Canyon together with the famous Crimean blogger Sergey Anashkevich.

"The Grand Canyon of Crimea itself is located between the Ai-Petri and Boyka massifs just above the village of Sokolinoe. In fact, this cleft is the border of two massifs, separating the mountainous part from the northern foothills. You can get into the canyon from the Sokolinoe-Ai-Petri highway, as well as several tourist trails.
On the highway, at the entrance, a man in camouflage naturally stands and cuts the money for the entrance well, although they don’t ask you to pay extra for photography separately.

3. At the very beginning of the trail into the canyon, you will come to the edge of a shallow, noisy stream. It is called Kokkozka and... this is the very river that washed out this canyon in 1.5 million years.

4. The trail along the canyon passes through a picturesque beech forest, bright green in summer and incredibly beautiful in autumn, literally tomorrow or the day after tomorrow I will be in these places again, but by a different route.

5. Remains of postal oak. Once, even before the collapse of the USSR, this oak was known in many parts of our country. This tree served as a kind of mailbox for tourists visiting the canyon. They left letters in the hollow for those who came here after them - in fact, it was a kind of prototype of geocaching. But in 1981, the oak was gone, it burned down from a lightning strike.

6. At this point the trail will split. Going to the left, you can climb the Oguz-Chikargan-Bogaz pass and then go to the Boyka massif, and also go along the top of the Canyon. The right branch leads to the bottom of the canyon. We're going right this time.

7. There are still low side walls and a rather calm Kokkozka current.

8. But the lower, the more stormy it becomes, rapids and rifts appear. The stones are very slippery and if you want to cross the stream, you need to do it very carefully.

9. True, bridges have been built in some places

10. No wonder they say that you can always watch how water flows.

11. The Kokkozki Current just above the Blue Lake

12. Milk water

13. Here you can see how the river continues its work to deepen the canyon. Every year, drop by drop, by a grain of sand, it washes away the rocks. This is clearly visible from the exposed roots of the trees.

14. Roots look like crooked fingers clinging to rocks.

15. The largest karst source of Crimea - Paniya. It was first studied and described only in 1915. By the way, it is interesting that the canyon itself was studied in detail only in 1925. This was done by Professor I.I. Puzanov.

16. In summer, the spring is often waterless. Only wet stones covered with a green layer of moss indicate that at certain periods there is a lot of water here.

17. Stones of the Pania spring

18. In its narrowing part, the gorge looks really impressive. In some places, the absolute height of the walls reaches 550 meters.

19. And there, a little ahead you can see the end of the canyon. At this point, its narrowing reaches 3 meters, but getting there is not so easy.

20. The tourist trail along the Grand Canyon actually ends at the so-called Bath of Youth (Lake Kara-Gol)

21. This is a natural bowl formed by the turbulent waters of the river, the water in which is very cold even in extreme heat. Apparently, therefore, it is believed that bathing in this stone bath brings youth. In general, be that as it may, tourists who have reached the end of the trail bathe en masse in almost icy water, jumping out of it like stung

22. And for many years now, two pine trees have been watching all this daily high on a cliff

23. Looking from above at the opposite end of the canyon, you hardly realize that once it was an almost continuous surface, not yet cut by a small turbulent rivulet...

Grand Canyon Crimea one of the most interesting and visited sights of the Crimean peninsula. Among hiking trails, the Grand Canyon occupies one of the first places, here you can visit: mountain streams and lakes, extreme suspension roads, youth baths, waterfalls and beautiful, environmentally friendly, mountain routes.

Geographical coordinates of the Grand Canyon on the map of Crimea GPS N 44.527778 E 34.016667

The Grand Canyon is located not far from the village of Sokolinoe, on the old Yalta road, which passes through the Ai-Petri plateau, from Bakhchisarai to Yalta. The length of the Grand Canyon of Crimea is 3.65 km, the width is from 375 meters to 5 meters, maximum height mountains, from the bottom to the top - 372 meters. The average duration of the route is 2.5 hours. The length of the entire route along the Grand Canyon of Crimea is 8.4 km, measured with a pedometer. The price of tickets for entering the Grand Canyon of Crimea is absent; since 2016, it has been forbidden to charge money for visiting. Of the paid services, only guides remained, the cost of payment from a group is from 1000 rubles. The Grand Canyon of Crimea is open for visiting all year round, during spring floods, the water level rises strongly, so most of the trails become impassable.

Grand Canyon of Crimea - the beginning of the route

Entrances to the Grand Canyo n - several: if you go from Bakhchisaray, the first entrance will be in front of the bridge over the mountain river. There is a large parking lot, several cafes open during the summer season, and private guides are on duty at the entrance. They are ready not only to show the way, but also to brighten up leisure with amazing stories and legends associated with the canyon. Also, the guides quite competently pave the way in order to facilitate the descents and ascents along the route as much as possible. To take or not to take a guide, this decision is up to you, but even if you decide to explore the canyon on your own, you will definitely not get lost. All major attractions will be painted on billboards along the way. hiking trail. The entire route is completely marked with signs, so it is very difficult to go astray.

Second entrance to the Grand Canyon of Crimea located 2 km from the bridge up the mountain. There is a small market (souvenirs, tea, coffee, herbs, etc. in the Crimean style), this entrance is most often preferred by guides from Yalta. But if you go by your own transport, then it is quite difficult to leave the car there, but in terms of time or the beauty of the route, you will not win anything and will not save. Entrance to the Grand Canyon is free, but sometimes in the summer, money is collected at the entrance, saying that this is a tourist tax or a contribution to the forestry. The best option for building a route along the Great Canyon of Crimea is to start the route from the upper entrance and finish at the lower one. It is in this sequence that the route will be as easy to travel as possible.

How to get to the Grand Canyon in Crimea

Get to the Grand Canyon in Crimea, the easiest way is along the highway Yalta - Bakhchisaray, through Mount Ai-Petri. On the descent from Bakhchisaray there will be a small market, it is the only one there, and below it there will be a bridge and a large parking lot with a sign - the Grand Canyon of Crimea. In general, it will be quite difficult to drive. If you go down only 5 km along the highway, then you will enter the village of Sokolinoe. Immediately at the foot of the mountain, along the main road, there will be a large local market with quite low prices. Here you can buy: hazelnut or hazel, peaches, apples and much more that grows in the area. There are not many resellers on the market, mainly the local population with reasonable prices and excellent quality.

A bit of history of the Grand Canyon of Crimea

The name of the Grand Canyon of Crimea gave the geologist Puzanov II. This happened back in 1925, when the researcher was absorbed in the study of this natural creation. It is believed that the Grand Canyon was formed in ancient times, several tens of thousands of years ago. It is the result of a tectonic fault of the Crimean mountains. Thus, the Grand Canyon is a huge crack that has arisen between Mount Ai-Petri and the mountain ranges of Sedam-Kaya and Boyka. The length of this crack was more than three and a half thousand meters. The height of the rocks hanging over the canyon reaches 320 meters, and in the narrowest places the passage takes a little less than two meters. Here, even a loud speech can cause stones to fall.

Tourist route along the Grand Canyon of Crimea

Tourist route through the Grand Canyon, in general, simple. Therefore, to overcome it, special preparation is not needed. But, of course, it is better to walk in comfortable shoes. You will have to go along the path along which the Auzun-Uzen River is located. As a rule, tourists move against its current. On average, the duration of the route through the Grand Canyon is about 2-3 hours, this time is calculated to the Bath of Youth. Usually 95% of tourists end their route at this point, and then only trained or extreme people go.

The most popular route in the Grand Canyon is called the Grand Circumnavigation. At the beginning of the path is the famous Postal Oak. Next, you can see many natural bowls filled with water. One of the largest forms a lake called Blue. Then the road comes to a picturesque place - Apple Ford. It is so called because in autumn the river carries wild apples along with the water. The source of Paniya is also located here. It is so powerful that it could provide water for a small town.

The end point of the tour is the Bath of Youth, which was once called Karagol. It is located at around 6 kilometers from the start of the route. As the name implies, if you swim in it, then youth is prolonged. At least that's what the legend says. Therefore, there are more than enough people who want to plunge into this bath. Tourists are not even stopped by the invigorating water temperature - no more than 8 ° C even in summer. The bath is quite deep, so extreme people like to jump into it from the top of the nearest boulder, but it is very obvious that this idea is not suitable for everyone and is very unsafe. After the Bath of Youth, most of the tourists turn around and go to the exit along the upper path, but after the Bath of Youth, you can extend your route by another 6 km.

The trail will go all the time approximately evenly, but its complexity increases several times, due to the low-traffic nature of this road. From the main trail there will be several branches to the left and right, but they all lead to the ridges of the canyon. The trails are quite dangerous, and in spring they are very slippery and almost impassable. Therefore, if you decide to go for a walk, then do not turn off the main route. Also, there is an interesting trail that leads along the peaks above the Grand Canyon, but it is also extreme, and most importantly, if you make your way along it, remember that there are people at the bottom of the canyon. Finding this trail is not difficult, it starts from the post oak and leads up the mountainside. Climbing training is of course not necessary, but it should be remembered that the road leads up 200 meters, and then winds over the abyss of the Grand Canyon. The trail is quite extreme, but the views and scenery are worth it.

If you decide to visit the Grand Canyon of Crimea, then be sure to check out in order to correctly plan your route and not miss interesting places. A visit to the Grand Canyon will be quite a bright and informative journey, swimming in the baths of youth and mountain lakes, will add an unforgettable flavor to this journey.

The Crimean peninsula - with these words, many travelers' hearts begin to beat rapidly. And the reason for this is the many beauties of natural and man-made, with which the area is generous and rich.

Mountain peaks interspersed with flat plateaus, cave cities monasteries, but everything pales in front of the majestic canyon! The Grand Canyon in Crimea (LBC) is truly a sight to be seen at least once in a lifetime. And do not think that this is a small crevice, exaggerated by impressionable tourists - this is a place of power, incredible emotions, beauty and joy.

Where is the Grand Canyon in Crimea?

Between the Boyka mountain range and the Ai-Petrinsky highlands, on the southeastern side of the village of Sokolinoe, lies the most beautiful Grand Canyon of Crimea. The natural attraction is the deepest on the territory of the peninsula and reaches 320 meters, while the narrowest part is only 2 meters, while the length of the crevice is 3.5 km. The large Crimean canyon is rich in water flows, there are countless streams, and the Azu-Uzen River runs along the bottom - incessant and stormy, originating from the very upper reaches and “seeing off” travelers throughout the route.

Grand Canyon trails

Travelers are always offered a route starting from the Three Minnows cafe - it is believed that even a novice tourist will go from here to the Bath of Youth. The entrance fee is still charged (about 100 rubles each), but you can also go for free if the collectors have already collected revenue and left. So, from the post of foresters, which is next to the cafe, the path leads to Sary-Uzen.

The river fills up only during heavy rains, so in summer you can literally cross without getting your feet wet. The stone boulders are smooth, safe, you just need good shoes to walk easily and comfortably. Following the first there will be a second crossing - this is the Kokozka River, which is formed at the confluence of a pair of other rivers. It is not difficult to cross Kokozka, at the same time admire the local beauties, bushes and go on a well-marked path leading up.

There, where oak and hornbeam forests spread freely. For “wild” travelers, there is an opportunity to turn along the river and move along with the channel, but this path is a little more difficult.

And along the path, which is well trodden by hundreds of tourists' feet, it is easy, free and simple to walk. Having risen, the travelers will find themselves at a crossroads: the roads separate, you choose, but going to the left, you will definitely go to the village of Sokolinoye, and to the right there will be the Grand Crimean Canyon - we go there. From the fork in the road becomes more difficult, so calculate your strength.

A little ahead and you can already see the attraction itself, you can hear the sound of water and you can take a picture of a huge gorge with steep slopes covered with trees and shrubs. On the left, the watchtower cliff rises, it is the first to meet all travelers and escort them to the Second, Third and Fourth (Cave) cliffs. But this is all on the left “side”, on the right, the Pine Cliff is freely spread, hiding the Almanchuk tract with the playful river Yabloneva (Almanchuk) behind it. The name of the tract Almanchuk comes from a grove of wild apple trees that grow here to this day. After walking a little, you can stand on the observation deck and enjoy the stunning panoramic views.

And now further! The water is no longer just heard, but also seen - soon the entire expanse of the Blue Lake will open, so named because of the bluish reflection of the water playing in the rays of the sun. In general, this is not a lake, but just a backwater, but if the Bolshoi canyon, then let everything be called “big”. Through the Apple ford to the confluence with Kokozka, the path is fast, and there is already a floodplain with dogwood bushes, hazel, wild apple trees - a little further the channel will lead to the Ai-Petri plateau, but it’s better to first have a good rest in a small grotto under an overhanging stone. This is where the parking of all tourists who do not violate the rules of travel happens. Rest is a must as the trail becomes more difficult and narrower, with steep descents, ascents and zigzag turns.

If the trip takes place in the summer heat, you can walk along the river bed, the stones are covered with a thick soft layer of moss, which pleasantly springs under your feet. Well, in spring or autumn, the stream is always full-flowing, so you have to follow the path. Going on a hike along the Crimean canyon, grab a fishing rod - a little further the river becomes full-flowing and brook trout frolic superbly in it. It is not difficult to agree with the foresters to catch a couple of pieces, and you will be pleased to bake the catch, of course with the permission of the guide. If you didn’t take an umbrella from the heat, pluck a huge leaf of butterbur - there are plenty of them here. The protection is short-lived, but replaceable, and it saves perfectly from the sun.

A short path to the ford with a turn of the river over the rock will fly by quickly, but further, a little to the right, a real miracle awaits - the source of "Paniya". The fullness of the source is amazing, as always cold water in him. Get your cameras ready, we're going to shoot the most beautiful places kingdoms of stone pits and baths, including the famous bath of Youth. This is where the usual route to the Grand Canyon of Crimea ends.

But there are many others. For example, to go further, because all the most interesting opens just behind these cliffs. The path will be difficult, not every traveler will be able to pass. But if you have endurance and endurance, then go ahead! There, where sheer walls almost close, dimming the sunlight and settling gloom and twilight in the gorge.

It is quiet here, there is no sound of water, only pebbles rustle, gradually crumbling under the careless steps of travelers, and invisible trees rustle somewhere above. Even now, the dry bottom is lined with pebbles of limestone rock, often come across ledges of many meters in height and blockages rolled with stones. Sometimes you need to go through them, and this is where the minimum climbing skills and helping each other are required. There are rare paths that go around the rubble, but you will have to jump enough. By the way, you should not rush especially, the condensate settling on the stones is dangerous for fast movements - you can slip and fall.

Rockfalls also pose a danger to travel - at the bottom there are often huge pieces of limestone rock, crushed by falling. So far, no one has been hurt, but it's good to be careful. In addition, traces of destruction from water jets are everywhere visible on the walls: grottoes, niches, ledges. Because of this, the Great Crimean Canyon cannot boast of even plumb lines, but all the depressions are convenient for travelers, you can lean on them, and it’s also interesting to look at the temporary layers of the “pie” of plumb lines.

In general, there will be enough interesting things on the way for a lifetime of memories, the harsh beauty of the canyon is amazing, at every turn a new view opens up, a panorama and it seems that you have fallen into some other world, broken away from reality and now there will be an entrance to the kingdom of the dwarves. But the two-kilometer difficult path ends, the walls move apart, become lower, and soon a magnificent basin with an anhydrous channel of the Kuru-Uzen (Dry River) and incredibly beautiful glades lined with soft grass opens before your eyes.

Now it remains to go to inspect Cape Trapis, go down to the Johan-Su valley with its springs and carefully look down from the huge Fifth Cape! The spectacle is definitely not for the faint of heart - a view of the entire gorge from a great height leaves such a storm of emotions in the memory that it is impossible to cope with them right away. Then a quiet passage along the path, at first gentle, and then steeply running down, and finally, again the murmur of water, the trunks of ancient beeches and the spring of Dzhevizlyk, where you can rest before leaving the canyon.

There are plenty of routes along the Great Crimean Canyon, they differ in different lengths and complexity. And there is always the option to choose a lighter version, for example, to go on an adventure with the kids.

Crimean canyon map

Looking at the map, you should pay attention to a large number of rivers, springs and other sources. Formed as a result of a break in the earth's crust, the Grand Canyon of Crimea is indicated on the map as a deep crevice with a length of 3.5 km. The difficulties of crossing the gorge force agencies to offer routes along the upper edge, but if you wish, it is worth looking at the map and taking the risk of laying your own routes. Moreover, there are plenty of turns that allow you to shorten the path and go back to the confluence and exit to the cafe.

However, if tourists are not afraid of difficulties, they will open new world- these places are not accessible to many travelers and have retained almost the original freshness of natural beauties. It is impossible to see all the beauty of the gorge from above, ledges, dense vegetation interfere, but from below the view enchants and does not let go, the secluded corners of the Grand Crimean Canyon are so beautiful.

The tectonic fault has a lot of sights, both encountered on the way, and requiring a separate inspection.

Waterfall Silver Jets

It is only 4.5 kilometers to the south from the village of Sokolinoe to the waterfall, which is an hour's journey, but the time spent on the road will more than pay off! The luxurious waterfall is located at the entrance to the Small Canyon and is a "creation" of the Sary-Uzen River. But, contrary to the name (Yellow River), the waterfall is Silver, not yellow, and pleases travelers with its mellifluous tints.

Visually, the entire flow of water resembles strings that the wind “plays”. In winter, the jets freeze and the waterfall turns into a "Crystal" waterfall - icicles hang in the most bizarre way, forming an intricate pattern and slowly ringing from the wind. The form itself is very unusual: countless streams of water escape from under the cap of moss, and behind the stream a back entrance to the grotto opens. Add to this a hornbeam forest interspersed with beech, mountain ash, ancient oaks and you get a complete feeling of a fabulous place, which is what this waterfall is!

bath of youth

The Grand Canyon of Crimea gives youth not only to the soul, but also to the body. The famous bath of Youth is believed to return the joy of life even to the older generation. It is this legend that attracts many travelers to bathing in the font, who want to plunge into the water, the temperature of which rarely exceeds 9-10 degrees. A pleasure that makes you think. The depth of the bath is 5 meters, so you can even dive, but few people dare such an enterprise, but you can always try!

post oak

The postal oak is another attraction that pleases the Grand Crimean Canyon. Once upon a time, partisans used the opportunity to put a letter in the hollow of an oak for transmission. And for a long time the tree of travelers was pleased with beautiful letters, where people wrote about their dreams and achievements, shared their joyful emotions. In fact, writing a letter and leaving it at the Postal Oak was the same as sending a message to Santa Claus. But in 1982, the tree was burned, and today only the skeleton of a mighty oak remains at the fork.

But this should not upset travelers, the Grand Canyon of Crimea is replete with miracles and remarkable places:

1. Blue Lake is a place where love confessions gain indestructible power;

2. On the Apple Ford, look who will give a hand - this often turns out to be the very person you have been waiting for all your life;

3. Source Pania always fulfills the most secret desires.

As you can see, here in the canyon nature takes on the fulfillment of the most secret dreams, and therefore you should thoroughly prepare for the excursion.

Excursion to the Grand Canyon

A trip to the Grand Canyon of Crimea is an excursion that gives an opportunity to get acquainted with one of the most remarkable places of the peninsula. As a rule, the route includes: an overview of the South Coast, a trip to the Bakhchisarai region, a walk along the canyon and lunch in a cafe. The duration of the adventure depends on the length of the route and takes from 8 hours. You will have to walk 2-3.5 km of the way through different terrain, so you should take care of comfortable shoes, clothes, changeable socks and a swimsuit. At the end of the trip, tourists will have barbecue, wine, juices, pilaf, Tatar manti in the Three Minnows cafe.

How to get there?

Going to the Grand Canyon of Crimea, think about how to get there:

1. By public transport from Yalta, Sevastopol or Simferopol go Shuttle Buses from bus stations on the route to Bakhchisaray. Walk and fixed-route taxis. You need to go to the village of Sokolinoye, then walk three kilometers to southbound and you will see the entrance to the gorge.

Bus schedule Simferopol-Bakhchisarai

Bus schedule Sevastopol-Bakhchisaray

Bus schedule Yalta-Bakhchisaray

2. From Sokolinoye you can also walk along the Yusupov trail, it will just lead you to the beginning of the route into the canyon.

If you go by car to the Grand Canyon of Crimea, then here's how to get there by car:

1. Drive along the Yalta highway to Bakhchisarai;

2. Turn to the Ai-Petri pass;

3. Before reaching the pass, there will be the village of Sokolinoe, where you can leave the transport in the parking lot.

How to get from Simferopol to the Grand Canyon

From Sevastopol

From Yalta

Attraction coordinates: N 44.3140 E 34.10. And remember that the Grand Canyon in Crimea is a territory where not all areas are open to the public, it is forbidden to pick flowers, eat fruits and cut down trees. For making a fire, you can get a fine, as well as for an unauthorized overnight stay. It is best to travel during the dry season and in no case should you bathe in stone "baths" with black water. It's really black, besides, and contagious due to rotting algae, don't risk it!

Quite deservedly, the Great Crimean Canyon is called the heart of local mountains. This is an abandoned world of primeval beauty. A monumental depression with rocky boulders, reaching a depth of up to 3 km, rich in amazing baths, waterfalls, delights and surprises even the most seasoned tourists. The unique landscape reserve is under the strictest protection of the state. This means that in the protected areas it is impossible to camp with tents for the night, burn fires, cut down trees, bushes, and pick flowers.

Trekking to the Grand Canyon of Crimea includes some expenses. To visit it, travelers will have to pay a fixed amount, but this is not a hindrance for many thousands of travelers. Any expenses, difficulties are fully compensated by the received vivid emotions.

Where is on the map

The "Heart of the Crimean Mountains" is located at a distance of three kilometers from the village of Sokolinoye, in the Bakhchisarai district. A huge number of paved trails, roads lead to the northern zone of the Ai-Petrinsky massif, and therefore everyone can get to the holy of holies of Crimea. In fact, the best time to travel is during the dry season, as Big Crimean the canyon during periods of flood is able to absorb uninvited guests, because his heart is stone and does not feel pity.

By the way, in Sokolinoe you can stay for the night or stay there for a few days in one of the guest houses. This will give you the opportunity to visit not only the Grand Canyon, but also other attractions that are located in the area. For example, cave cities (Mangup-Kale and Eski-Kermen), the Bath of Youth, the hunting palace of Prince Yusupov, the cave-grotto "Danilcha-Koba" and much more.

Terrain specifics

The expanses of the canyon arose due to the activity of the river. She honed from year to year, still continues to form limestone. In our time here is deep depression, which has fairly smooth walls, waterfalls and boulders at the bottom.

Due to the specific microclimate, a variety of plants have been able to survive here since the Ice Age. The still lower temperature and lower humidity in comparison with nearby areas are considered to be the factors that determine the special composition of the plant world.

Depending on the composition of the flora, the Grand Canyon is considered to be a very unique territory, where a huge number of endangered and rare plants grow, including:

• Crimean orchids, including the surprisingly rare variety of the lady's slipper;
• exceptional species of ferns;
• yew grove, in which ancient relic berry yews grow, reaching up to 1.5 m in girth.

As for the local fauna, its composition practically does not differ from other territories of the south and the middle part of the state. Particularly noteworthy is the brook trout that lives in local waters, as well as a huge number of amphibian species.

Viewpoints on the gorge

On the territory of the gorge there are tourist viewing platforms. The top of Watchtower Rock is the most famous and popular of them, offering amazing panoramic views of the canyon. At the tract, a wonderful view opens from the Fifth cliff. From such a magnificent viewpoint, the Grand Canyon is perfectly visible almost along its entire length.

Panorama of the canyon from the observation deck

Current tourist routes

The excursion tourist route along the Crimean Canyon starts from the village of Sokolinoye. Somewhere after five kilometers the road turns to the gorge. The trail passes through beech forests to a small colorful clearing, where the Post Oak is located - the legendary ancient Crimean tree - whose age exceeds 350 years. Oak gained popularity due to the fact that since the second half of the 20th century there has been a tradition in the hollow of an old tree to leave notes with wishes. It is believed that if you sincerely make a wish, it will definitely come true.

But in the first half of the 1980s of the twentieth century, the oak burned down. A completely burnt out dry giant every year more and more transforms into dust, despite this, it still rises at the beginning of the Grand Canyon.

First stop - Blue Lake

If you follow the path from the Postal Oak, turning to the right, very soon the Silver Streams Waterfall and the Blue Lake will open before your eyes - these are two incredibly picturesque sights of the Crimean nature.

Incredible waterfall Silver Streams rises at a height of 200 m above the basin. This natural attraction fully justifies this name. In the upper part, a juicy green cap of moss hung over the waterfall, the water falls down over the stones, distributed into streams, sparkling in the sun like silver threads.

Waterfall Silver Strings

A wide erosion basin in the territory of the canyon. It is filled with incredibly clear, clean waters with a gentle bluish color. Even in the hottest time, the water temperature in the lake does not reach above +12 degrees. Whereas bathing in shallow refreshing baths will add strength to travelers for the further journey.

Second stop - Apple Ford

Descending from Watchtower Cliff, travelers will find another natural wonder of the Canyon - Apple Ford. Here, upstream along the river, there are a large number of wild apple trees. Starting in the autumn season, their foliage and fruits begin to fall into the water. The current carries them to the ford, which is located opposite the Almachuk delta - a tributary of the Auzun-Uzen, which means "apple" in Russian.

apple ford

Third stop - Source of Pania

The river valley behind the ford is gaining depth. Close to it is the source of Pania. This name is a simplified form of "Panagia" (translated as "All Saint"). On the territory of the Crimean peninsula there are many holy springs that were discovered during the Middle Ages. Obviously, Pania is one of them. This is one of the largest Crimean springs with fresh water. About 1.4 thousand cubic meters. water comes out of it within an hour. Near the spring there is a flooded Pania cave.

Source of Pania

Fourth stop - Bath of youth

The tour ends with the Bath of Youth - a well-known landmark of the Crimean Grand Canyon. Throughout the Auzun-Uzen, this boiler is the deepest (up to 5 meters). A waterfall falls from a height into the basin. This is the legendary "youth bath" of the Crimea. Such a “bath” is filled with clear cool water that never heats up above 11 degrees even in hot weather. If you swim in such a basin, you can cheer up and harden. Traditionally, many travelers plunge into it.

bath of youth

Excursion cost (status for 2020)

As mentioned above, the Grand Canyon is a protected area, and yet there is a fee to enter. For adults, the ticket price is 100 rubles. The general condition of the route is excellent. Along the paths there are steps, railings, during the entire route, tourists can use maps, follow the signs.

But if you do not want to spend time wandering along the trails, we advise you to overcome this route in the company of an experienced guide who will tell you a lot of interesting things along the way. In general, many places in Crimea keep their secrets, legends are made about them, signs and beliefs are passed from mouth to mouth. A good travel guide will tell you about what natural phenomena caused the formation of this gorge. We recommend using the services of a local guide:

How to get (get) by car to the canyon from Sevastopol, Simferopol, Bakhchisaray

The object can be reached by public transport - by bus "Bakhchisarai - Yalta" or "Bakhchisarai - Sevastopol" to the stop "Great Crimean Canyon", and then walk about 5 km on foot or hitchhike to Sokolinoye.

Information for those who want to get to the Great Crimean Canyon by car. Are you good with the map? You can get to the object from Bakhchisarai - highway H-06. If you are coming from Sevastopol, then you do not reach Bakhchisaray, but turn right.

Information for tourists

• GPS coordinates: 44.528127, 34.019346.
• canyon address: RF, Crimean Peninsula, Bakhchisarai district, the village of Sokolinoye.

If we talk about the Crimean Grand Canyon, we can safely say - more incredible and picturesque place on the territory of the peninsula, it will not be possible to find.

From such objects as the source of Pania, the "Bath" of Youth, Deep lake, the canyon was able to gain wide popularity outside the Crimea. And here everyone will find a good reason to visit it. For some, the unique flora, local beauties are important, for some, extreme pastime, and for some, they come here to find out to check the veracity of the terrible Tatar legends. In any case, everyone will find exactly what they need here. Despite the fact that the reasons for visiting differ, the common ones are unique, vivid emotions, impressions that remain for a long time. And in conclusion, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a video about such a delightful place.

Video