Lower part of the Shkhelda Gorge

The length of the Shkhelda River is only 4 kilometers. Despite the small length of the gorge, we have divided it into two parts for the convenience of describing the route. The upper reaches of the Shkhelda River are a glacial zone, and the lower part of the gorge is overgrown with dense pine forest. The climb on the trail is small, and the scenery is so picturesque that a walk through the gorge can be called one of the best routes in the Elbrus National Park.

The source of the river is located in the Shkhelda Glacier of the same name, at an altitude of 2,300 meters. Approximately in the middle there is a small hollow. The river washed a lot of sand into it and a sandy glade was formed. Before 2022, the river made a picturesque bend in this glade, which was called the Smile of the Shkhelda Beach. The lower part of the Shkhelda Gorge is located between the Smile of Shkhelda Beach and the confluence of the Shkhelda and Adyl-Su rivers.

"Shkhelda" means "cowberry" in Balkar. There used to be a lot of it here. The route starts near the Skhelda Mountaineering camp. It is one of the oldest Mountaineering camps in Russia, founded in 1946. The hiking trail along the Lower part of the Shkhelda Gorge begins at an altitude of 1,940 meters. The distance to the Beach of Smile of Shkhelda is only 2.7 kilometers, and there is a hiking trail along this length. If you want to go further to Shkhelda Mountain, then you can only walk along the stone rubbles along the river.

Previously, a pass to the border zone was required for hiking along the Shkhelda Gorge, but this procedure has been canceled since 2024. It has also been canceled for hiking along the gorge along the River Adyl-Su to Lake Bashkara. If you go further to the Green Inn shelter and the Gumachi pass, then a pass must be issued.

Since the height of the Shkhelda River gorge above sea level is small, it is overgrown with tall trees. Pines predominate among them, although deciduous trees also grow. In some places, you can exit the trail onto the rocks or onto the steep riverbank to admire the beautiful views.

The trail runs along the left bank of the river, and the mountain peaks of Brzedukh (4280 m) and Chatyntau (4411 m) rise above the right bank. These peaks, like the Shkhelda, are part of the Greater Caucasus Range. The border of Russia and Georgia runs along it.

As you climb, the trail passes through a beautiful pine forest. Tourists walk along the mountain ridge among the pines and overlook a beautiful alpine meadow. Cows can be seen grazing among its grasses. Next, tourists cross a small stream flowing from the top of Mount Yusengi (3421 m). You can bottle water in it and then the trail opens onto a sandy mwadow. There is the Beach of the Smile of the Shkhelda. This is the end point of the route, where there is a trail. However, we recommend crossing the river by a suspension bridge and using the rubbles of stones to enter the glacial zone of the Upper Reaches of the Shkhelda River.