Южноуральская тропа - вход от Новохусаиново
The place
Entry point to the South Ural Trail from the village of Novokhusainovo
Why go
Bolshoy Taganay (1,178 m, the park's highest point). Stone River (Bolshaya Kamennaya Reka) — a river of quartzite rocks with no surface water. Waterfalls. Wildlife: brown bear, wolf, lynx, elk.
A bit of history
The Ural mountain range is one of the oldest on Earth (300 million years old), a natural border between Europe and Asia. The Southern Urals were explored by Russian naturalists in the 18th century (Peter Pallas, Ivan Lepekhin). Taganay National Park was established in 1991.
Getting there
Zlatoust: train from Chelyabinsk (2h) or Yekaterinburg (4h). Chelyabinsk: international airport.
Recommended gear
Technical hiking boots. Tent (mandatory). Insect repellent. Warm sleeping bag (cold nights). Bear spray.
Best season
June to September. Best period: July–August. Winters are very harsh (−30°C). Insects in June.