Quite deservedly, the Great Crimean Canyon is called the heart of the 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, 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.
hike in grand canyon 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 northern zone Ai-Petri 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. Nowadays, there is a deep depression here, with 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 observation platforms. The top of Watchtower Rock is the most famous and popular of them, from here you can see an amazing panoramic view to 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 Postal 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 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 Stream 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. General state 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 property can be reached using public transport- by bus "Bakhchisaray - Yalta" or "Bakhchisaray - 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, Sokolinoye village.
If we talk about the Crimean Grand Canyon, we can safely say that it will not be possible to find a more incredible and picturesque place on the territory of the peninsula.
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
Can't appreciate the beauty Crimean peninsula, unravel its secrets and comprehend the harmony of wildlife. But this will captivate us, this small world in the arms of a vast universe. Considered a young island, Crimea absorbed everything that is amazing, what nature is famous for. This is the world of violent winds of the vast steppe, the unattainable beauty of the Crimean mountains, and the enchanting expanse of the Black Sea. But among all the variety of natural areas that glorify it, there are places where time stops, where trees live an amazingly long life, where nature itself comes to the fore, acquiring the form of a living entity that lives in eternal contemporaneity. We are talking, of course, about the Grand Canyon of Crimea.
Nestled between two mountain ranges and Boyka, the canyon is a unique natural formation. The Grand Canyon of Crimea is an amazing area, enchanting with its colors and extraordinary liveliness. It is a perennial home of unique plants and animals. Here, every grain of sand, every sprout, every stream remembers the days when nature lived in harmony with man.
What is the Grand Canyon of Crimea
The Great Crimean Canyon is a unique geological phenomenon. The process of majestic changes in the natural environment. It was formed, more than two million years ago, in the process of displacement of lithospheric plates. The process of vibrations of earth rocks split the land into two parts. Under a hail of heavy rains, the mouth quickly filled with water, and over the years, the water washed away the earth's rock, widening and deepening the canyon, creating ideal conditions for the life of many species of plants and animals.
Nature of the Grand Crimean Canyon
The Grand Canyon on the map of Crimea is located in the southern part of the peninsula. It is an isolated area. Its impressive size allowed nature to create favorable conditions for the life of rare plants. The canyon has a length of more than 3 kilometers, its width, in the largest sections, can reach 185 meters, but for the most part does not exceed 50 meters. But the most important thing is the height of the canyon, which ranges from 350 to 600 meters. As a result of the gorges, the sun weakly penetrates deep into the canyon, forming a favorable climate. Even on the hottest days, the thermometer does not exceed + 18 degrees. As a result, most of the time, it is cool and humid in the depths of the canyon, which makes it possible for many plants to exist comfortably here. Among many plants there are very rare, which are almost impossible to meet anywhere in the world, these include:
- leaf scolopendra
- the only yew grove in Crimea
- sublingual needle
- orchid lady's slipper
The tourist route of the Grand Canyon of Crimea runs in two planes. You can go on a journey along the top of the Grand Canyon, appreciating from the height of a swallow flight, all the beauty and grandeur natural monument, or go, through the jungle, to the very heart of the reserve. One way or another, the impressions received from two different excursions are indescribable. The upper route is quite safe and suitable for travel at any time of the year, from here you can see a beautiful panorama of the beauties of the Crimean peninsula, the exaltation of its mountains. But the lower route is a truly unforgettable tourist trip. The route is a bit difficult, especially during the rainy season when the river fills up. But it's worth it, for the first time visiting the canyon, it is better to carefully listen to the instructions of the forester. The Grand Canyon is still a wild place, fraught with many mysteries.
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Where is the Grand Canyon of Crimea
Where is the Grand Canyon located? Everything is quite simple, it is located in the southern part of the Crimean peninsula, where two huge mountain ranges touch: Ai-Petri and Boyko. Nearest locality, the village of Sokolinoye. When setting off, remember that the last store you take away is located in this village. Therefore, buy water and food here.
Grand Canyon of Crimea how to get there
How to get to the Grand Canyon of Crimea? The main reference point for you will be Ai-Petri mountain. Moving from Yalta, head towards the top of Ai-Petri, as soon as you cross the plateau and go down, you will a large number of signs pointing the direction to the Grand Canyon. Attention! The path through Yalta is the most dangerous, and sometimes the road is completely blocked due to landslides.
Through Bakhchisarai, follow the signs towards the village of Sokolinoe. From Falcon the road goes to Ai-Petri. At the parking lot of the Grand Canyon, there is a parking lot and a cafe. You can walk along the canyon from below, you can go from above. As for public transport, there is a regular bus from Bakhchisarai to Sokolinoye. From Falcon to the canyon, it may take a little time, get all the necessary products from the nearest village store.
Having reached the beginning of the path, there will be a forester's ticket office, where the forester raises a symbolic fee for entering the reserve, and spends detailed instructions, about behavior on the track tourist route. In winter and early spring, the forester's booth is often empty, you can visit the reserve absolutely free of charge.
Trail
The path from the forester's point goes down and leads to the Sary-Uzen river, in summer time it can be easily crossed over the stone ledges, then the road leads to the bridge over the river Kokkozka. Two rivers will merge further into a pit, the road will lead to a beech forest, and you will meet the first sight of the route - “Post Oak”.
post oak
The Great Crimean Canyon in the photo, picturesquely painted forests dotted along the rivers. The most famous of the many plants is the ancient oak. The plant is over 350 years old. In the past, people put notes with wishes into it and the oak fulfilled them. Now a small trunk remains from the tree, the tree burned down. To a greater extent, it serves as a pointer to further attractions.
Blue Lake
Further along the route, the road leads you to blue lake. The bluish tint near the lake appears as a result of the reflection of the sun. The water in the lake is very clean and cool. In summer, the reservoir warms up enough to swim in it.
Source of Pania
As the great canyon of Crimea was formed, river flows began to wash out small pits. One of them is the Source of Pania. In the Middle Ages, there was a chapel next to the spring. It had the name "Our Lady", which in Greek meant "Panagia". The water in the spring is cool, bathing in it is good for your body, as it stimulates the circulatory system. Every second, more than 300 liters of water are washed out of the karst spring, this is the largest spring in Crimea.
bath of youth
From the source of Pania, the river of the Grand Canyon of Crimea will lead you to the final point of our tourist route - Bath of Youth. The water in the natural pool is very clean and cool. This reservoir is unique in nature, has cool water with high mineralization. Since ancient times, people have noticed the healing properties of water, bathing in it will allow you to significantly improve your health, and allow you to recharge with life-giving energy, which will be enough for you all the way back.
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On note tourist
It should be remembered that when going to the Grand Canyon of Crimea by car, you should stock up on drinking water and food for the entire route in the nearest store in the village of Sokolinoe. But if suddenly you didn’t manage to do this, in the parking lot, there is a cafe “Three minnows”, with a wide variety of delicious dishes, going on the route, it is advisable to refresh yourself. Set out on the route, wearing comfortable shoes, the path is not easy, with frequent rocky drops, and although the roads are well trampled and the routes are marked, there are difficult sections wildlife. Walking along the trail, strictly follow the signs and follow all safety requirements.
Great Crimean Canyon, amazing place striking beauty of living colors. This is a small planet where time is subordinate to the weather. This is a small oasis in the heart of the Crimean mountains, captivating with its beauty and uniqueness.
Updated 12/05/2019 Views 418 Comments 11
The Crimean theme never leaves my thoughts. I was sitting here reviewing photos from a hike in 2010, when we walked through the Grand Canyon of Crimea, and realized that not all of them were posted, the report on the hike was long, it was necessary to write about many places and show them in photographs. But in fact, this attraction is worthy of a separate article. Moreover, to see it, it is not necessary to be a hiker and go to camping trip. It is enough to take public transport and take the usual asphalt road from Simferopol (from Yalta is more difficult) to get to the canyon. Of course, you will not go through it all, but this is not necessary :)
I remember when we walked with backpacks along the top of the canyon and somewhere in the middle of it went down to wander along the bizarre stone recesses formed by water, we met a group ordinary tourists in flip flops and bathing suits that came from the bottom. True, they were already decently tired and obviously it was time for them to go back. I'm sure they were just as impressed as we are. So this is the natural attraction in the Crimea, which must be seen in the first place.
Photo of the Grand Canyon of Crimea
Of course, in order to see all its beauty, you need to go along the riverbed to the end, that is, beyond the Blue Lake and the Youth Bath. But even on this popular route there is something to see. Only it is best to go not after the rain and towards the end of summer, when the water is blue and clear and there is not much of it.
We walked along the entire length of the canyon only from above, and someday I would very much like to go through it along the channel. There, it’s true that you’ll have to “go” partly by swimming, because there are deep baths that you can’t get around, and in some places you will need to climb, but it’s even more interesting. You just need to figure out how to fuse a hiking backpack.
How to get to the Grand Canyon in Crimea
First you need to, so let's assume that you are already here and it remains only to find the canyon. The easiest way, of course, is to go to him by car (). But if you are not a driver at all, then it does not matter, I will tell you how to get to the Grand Canyon of Crimea in other ways. If you don’t want to think about the problems of transporting yourself to the place at all, then in any resort town you will be offered an excursion to the Grand Canyon, but this option is not for independent travelers.
From Simferopol along the Sevastopol highway through Bakhchisaray and to the village of Sokolinoe, you can take a regular bus. There are also buses from Bakhchisarai itself to Sokolinoye. The entrance to the canyon is located three kilometers from the village of Sokolinoye (further along the highway), they will need to be walked. There are many cafes and shops, you can't miss it. But you can take a taxi in Sokolinoye (this is not a problem) if you don’t feel like going.
There is no public transport from Yalta. But you can climb the Ai-Petrinsky pass by minibus that goes to the ski lift. You need to get off on the highway near the turn to Ai-Petri to the ski lift. And then catch the car in the direction of the Grand Canyon. For the money you can leave quickly enough, hitchhiking is reluctant to take.
Or initially take an excursion from the hotel, in fact a round-trip transfer. The most convenient option. The cost is about 1200 rubles per person.
Useful information and instructions on how to go to the Grand Canyon yourself, what time of the year is best to go, where to live and where to eat on the territory national park Grand Canyon. Weather in the Grand Canyon and tips on how to visit the Grand Canyon on a budget.
General useful information about the Grand Canyon
When we talk about Grand Canyon– we mean three main locations. national park Grand Canyon- the southern cornice, the North cornice of the Grand Canyon and the lands of the Hualapai and Havasupai Indians along the so-called West cornice of the Grand Canyon with observation deck skywalk.
More than 400 km. in length, one and a half kilometers in depth and more than 10 km. in width. The width between the northern and southern eaves varies between 200 meters - 20 km. A car detour from the South to the North cornice will take several hours and about 300 km. And also, when talking about the Grand Canyon in numbers, it is important to understand that this is just statistics that does not even convey the approximate scale of this number one attractions in the usa. Something more is the feeling that you get at the sight of this natural miracle.
This mini guide is all about South Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is the most popular due to its availability.
How to get to the Grand Canyon
The South Cornice of the Grand Canyon is located in Arizona near the Nevada border.
The most popular way get to the Grand Canyon from Los Angeles or another city - by car in transit through Las Vegas, where you can spend the night and relax. From Vegas also organize trips to the Grand Canyon helicopter rides for the rich and bus trips for the poor. All the rest get on their own or rented cars.
Grand Canyon, South Rim - Grand Canyon, South Eaves How to rent a car while traveling?
We were at the end of May, the weather was as follows. In the mornings and evenings - cool, I would even say very much - a windbreaker and a shirt / sweater are required. During the day it is warm - about 22-25 degrees Celsius. The first day in the morning it was raining, then the canyon was covered with dense fog, so dense that it was not visible even at 30 meters. The fog cleared after about a couple of hours when the sun and most of the tourists were up. In the evenings there was always a very beautiful light and picturesque clouds. This may not be the case in summer. I don’t know about autumn, but locals say that the end of September-beginning of October is a very cool period to visit Grand Canyon. Still warm during the day and very picturesque clouds. Weather surprises can happen any day, as Grand Canyon located at an altitude of about 2 kilometers, that is, the climate is like in the mountains.
Grand Canyon, South Rim - Grand Canyon, South Eaves Cellular communication and mobile Internet in the Grand Canyon
Mobile communication in Grand Canyon works for southern ledge better than on north ledge. But you should not expect a constant stable signal in all places of the park. In some places, the connection may be lost.
Where do we look for cheap flights?
You can reduce the cost of accommodation if you stay overnight in one of the inexpensive hotels in the nearby towns of Flagstaff, Williams or Tusayan.
The second option to save the budget is campsites in the park that have all the basic amenities - parking, showers, toilets and laundry. On the popular South Corniche of the Grand Canyon is Mather Campground, on the North Cornice - North Rim Campground.
Grand Canyon, South Rim - Grand Canyon, South Eaves The highest prices for housing - from the end of May to August, early spring and autumn, starting from the end of September, housing prices fall significantly.
