The valley of the Big Dukka River is one of the most picturesque in Arkhyz. Tourists visit it during the ascent to the Seven-Colored Lake, which fully justifies its name on a sunny day. Its waters shimmer in different shades in the sun.
The valley of the Big Dukka River is located 15 kilometers from the village of Arkhyz and 5 kilometers from the village of Arkhyz. The route starts at the bridge where the Dukka River merges with the Arkhyz River. You can get to this place by an asphalt road and then park the car near the bridge. The Dukka River flows near this bridge, and the confluence of the Big Dukka and the Small Dukka is 2.4 km away from it.
The distance from the bridge to the Seven-colored Lake is 10 km with a climb of 650 meters (from 1773 m to 2420 m). For a one-day hike, the distance is very significant, so you need to get out as early as possible. In the village of Arkhyz or near the bridge, you can contact the drivers of off-road vehicles that will take you 4.7 kilometers along the riverbed of the Big Dukka. That is, you can go by car half of the route. Then there is only a hiking trail, but at the same time the most picturesque views of the Valley of the Big Dukka River begin.
The lower part of the valley of the Big Dukka River is covered with low deciduous forest, in some places pine trees grow. As the altitude rises, the trees disappear and the zone of alpine meadows begins. In summer it is covered with multicolored flowers. This is the most beautiful part of the valley. Then only grass grows with large areas of rhododendron thickets.
Rhododendrons bloom from mid-May to early June. This is a very beautiful sight, but you should take into account that the mountain lakes are covered with ice until mid-June, and there will be snow on the trail in many places. This is not the most comfortable time for hiking on mountain routes.
At the final stage, the ascent will be steeper, and the course of the Big Dukka River will become turbulent. In many places you will see small waterfalls. The last ascent to the Seven-Colored Lake goes up along the stone run, where the trail is almost invisible. Having overcome this ascent, you will see a Seven-colored Lake at the foot of Big Dukka Mountain (3213 m).
