Route no. 8 in the Caucasus nature reserve

Route 8 has been known since Soviet times. It starts on the Northern slope of the Caucasus mountain range and follows the course of the Malaya Laba river. Its length is from the Chernorechye range station (on the Northern slope) to the Pslukh range station (near Krasnaya Polyana) it is 54 kilometers long. Prepared groups complete it in 4 days, but most groups take 6 days to complete it.

One of the days on this route is dedicated to the radial exit from the camp on the Chistaya river to the Turquoise lakes. Thus, the total length of the hike reaches 75 kilometers and is 7 days.

For the first three days, the hike follows the Malaya Laba riverbed in a dense spruce forest. This forest is quite suitable for the definition of Colchis - stones and tree trunks are covered with moss and there is high humidity.

The most beautiful places of the Caucasian Reserve are located in the camp of the Chistaya river. It is surrounded by mountain peaks that exceed 3,100 meters in height. The mountain slopes are covered with rhododendrons.