Taganai National Park

Taganay National Park, famous for its beauty, is one of the most popular in the Urals among tourists. There are many interesting places in the national park. Tourists can see here huge mountain ranges and quaint stone remains, scattering of chimneys and an amazing stone river stretching for several kilometers, relict forests, subgolts and mountain tundra, ancient mineral mines and mountain rivers flowing both to Europe and Asia (the watershed passes in the park).

The first mountain peak that will meet a tourist about 7 km from the entrance to the park is the Double-Headed Hill. The southernmost peak of the Big Taganay ridge. The double-headed hill is divided into two peaks – “Peria” (1034 m) and “Baranyi forehead” (1041 m). At the foot of Sopka flows the White Key - the most famous water source Taganaya. Its water is extremely clear and tasty. Its softness is higher than that of melted snow. And the water temperature even in hot summer is no more than 3-4 degrees. The White Key got its name from white quartzite, which covers the bottom of the source. It feels as if a soft light emanates from the bottom, this gives the key a special charm. It is not surprising that in ancient times this key was called Saints, and next to it stood a wooden cross. The next peak of Big Taganaya is the Responsive Crest (1155 m). It got its name for its crest-like outline and loud, repeated echoes arising from the reflection of sound from an almost vertical rocky wall. From afar, depending on the angle of view, it resembles a prehistoric lizard, then a sea wave frozen at takeoff, then an elongated scallop. In the north-eastern part of the Reflective Crest (in the place of traditional tourist sites) there is a large tectonic fault, which is the object of unloading underground fissure waters. Here are three springs of ascending type. However, in the summer they often dry up. On December 30, 1947, a plane crashed on the rock wall of the Reflective Crest, en route from Chelyabinsk to Moscow. All five people on board were killed. The body of one of them, found only a few months later, was buried immediately. The path from the Responsive Crest to the next peak of the Big Taganai Ridge - Kruglice - passes through the so-called Valley of Fairy Tales. This place is a site of subgolf low-growing coniferous forest surrounded by bizarre remains of sugar-shaped quartzites. Each resident here has its own name, depending on who or what it resembles. The mountains that make up this site easily crumble under the feet of tourists and the trails here are covered with coarse-grained quartz sand. Mount Kruglitsa (1178 m) is the highest point of the entire Taganai mountain range, which received its name for its characteristic rounded shape. Very interesting is the northern part of the top of the Kruglitsa, which is an ideal flat platform. Watching on a clear sunny day over the top of the Kruglitsa, you can notice the curious effect of rocking the mountain, as if it is about to break away from its foot. This phenomenon is explained by the streamlined shape of the top and the close position of pressure groundwater (the foot of Kruglitsy is a solid swamp). The sun, heating the stones, carries its heat moisture from the cracks, the air becomes mobile, creating such an illusion. The circle, like a magnet, attracts esotericists, occultists, psychics. On the stones paint here and there are various sacred signs. The most common is the Roerich sign. Also, there are many built of stones of small seids. According to the beliefs of many tourists, the wishes made on the Kruglitsa will certainly come true. To get to the next top of the Big Taganay ridge - Far Taganay, you need to go down and go through the tourist shelter "Taganai". The climb to Far Taganay is very long. Already on the approach to the top you will see a well and a sign nearby “Botanical Monument Podgoltsov Radwoods”. Far Taganay (1146 m) is the northernmost and most extensive peak of the Big Taganay ridge. It is separated by several low but beautiful ridges. It offers excellent views of the neighboring ridges and mountains. Here is a real tundra with its characteristic vegetation. In autumn there are berries inherent in the north. The Daltaganai mountain tundra is unique and is a natural monument. At the top are the houses of the weather station "Taganai Mountain" - the highest mountain in the entire Urals. It was opened in 1932. Further, to the north, from the Far Taganay is the Jurma Ridge. And to the east, beyond the Big Kialim river, - the Itsil ridge. In the same direction - east of Big Taganay - but closer to Chrysostom stretches the Small Taganay ridge. Between him and the Two-Headed Sopka is a beautiful stone river stretching for 6 kilometers. In the XVIII-XIX century Taganai forests were very popular among the Old Believers. Persecuted by the authorities, supporters of the schism found shelter here. The schismatic hermitages were built underground, skillfully masking themselves from the outside with granite blocks, moss, twisted roots of trees. It was almost impossible for the uninitiated to find them. In addition, the hermits were very careful in contact with the world. Among them were people who were saints. So in the 50s of the XIX century, the Elder Zosima, who enjoyed incredible popularity, died, to whom they came for thousands of miles for a blessing. After his death, popular rumor went that prayer at the grave of the elder (located somewhere on Taganai) cures diseases and works miracles. And in 1910, on Taganay, another elder Ambrose passed away, whose relics were declared incorruptible by the schismatics. A favorite place of the Old Believers was the area of the rock remains of the Three Brothers. These are three tall stone remains, up to 40-50 meters high. They stand in the middle of a forest in a valley between Kruglitsa and Dalni Taganai. You can see them in good weather. Here the schismatics conducted their secret rites. In June, the festival of the author's song "Black Rock" takes place on Taganay.

- Experienced guide.

Transfer on a comfortable bus with air conditioning (Chelyabinsk-Taganai-Chelyabinsk)

A professional photographer for all participants!

- forest lunch (optional)