Useful information and instructions on how to go to the Grand Canyon yourself, what time of the year is best to go, where to live and where to eat on the territory national park Grand Canyon. Weather in the Grand Canyon and tips on how to visit the Grand Canyon on a budget.
General useful information about the Grand Canyon
When we talk about Grand Canyon– we mean three main locations. national park Grand Canyon- the southern cornice, the North cornice of the Grand Canyon and the lands of the Hualapai and Havasupai Indians along the so-called West cornice of the Grand Canyon with observation deck skywalk.
More than 400 km. in length, one and a half kilometers in depth and more than 10 km. in width. The width between the northern and southern eaves varies between 200 meters - 20 km. A car detour from the South to the North cornice will take several hours and about 300 km. And also, when talking about the Grand Canyon in numbers, it is important to understand that this is just statistics that does not even convey the approximate scale of this number one attractions in the usa. Something more is the feeling that you get at the sight of this natural miracle.
This mini guide is all about South Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is the most popular due to its availability.
How to get to the Grand Canyon
The South Cornice of the Grand Canyon is located in Arizona near the Nevada border.
The most popular way get to the grand canyon from los angeles or another city - by car in transit through Las Vegas, where you can spend the night and relax. From Vegas also organize trips to the Grand Canyon helicopter rides for the rich and bus trips for the poor. All the rest get on their own or rented cars.
Grand Canyon, South Rim - Grand Canyon, South Eaves How to rent a car while traveling?
We were at the end of May, the weather was as follows. In the mornings and evenings - cool, I would even say very much - a windbreaker and a shirt / sweater are required. During the day it is warm - about 22-25 degrees Celsius. The first day in the morning it was raining, then the canyon was covered with dense fog, so dense that it was not visible even at 30 meters. The fog cleared after about a couple of hours when the sun and most of the tourists were up. In the evenings there was always a very beautiful light and picturesque clouds. This may not be the case in summer. I don’t know about autumn, but locals say that the end of September-beginning of October is a very cool period to visit Grand Canyon. Still warm during the day and very picturesque clouds. Weather surprises can happen any day, as Grand Canyon located at an altitude of about 2 kilometers, that is, the climate is like in the mountains.
Grand Canyon, South Rim - Grand Canyon, South Eaves Cellular communication and mobile Internet in the Grand Canyon
Mobile communication in Grand Canyon works for southern ledge better than on north ledge. But you should not expect a constant stable signal in all places of the park. In some places, the connection may be lost.
Where do we look for cheap flights?
You can reduce the cost of accommodation if you stay overnight in one of the inexpensive hotels in the nearby towns of Flagstaff, Williams or Tusayan.
The second option to save the budget is campsites in the park that have all the basic amenities - parking, showers, toilets and laundry. On the popular South Corniche of the Grand Canyon is Mather Campground, on the North Cornice - North Rim Campground.
Grand Canyon, South Rim - Grand Canyon, South Eaves The highest prices for housing - from the end of May to August, early spring and autumn, starting from the end of September, housing prices fall significantly.
Without exaggeration, we can say that the entire Crimean peninsula is one large nature reserve, every corner of which must not only be visited, but also felt its beauty and mood. The Grand Canyon is no exception. At one glance, it is breathtaking and you just want to silently look around and listen to the breath of nature.
This huge fault in the Crimean mountains stretched for many kilometers. The canyon is located in the south of the peninsula, not far from Yalta and Alupka. It is located on the northern slope of the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains, in the Bakhchisarai region, and lies between two massifs Ai-Petrinsky and Boyka.
Nearest locality to the big canyon - the village of Sokolinoye, which is located 5 km from it.
The Grand Canyon is the deepest and most grandiose gorge on the peninsula. It was formed approximately 2,000,000 years ago, as a result of tectonic activity, accompanied by earthquakes and plate shifts. It still continues its formation under the influence of the environment, landslides, weathering and water erosion.
Baths of the Grand Canyon of Crimea
Description
- To date, his long is 3.5 km;
- depth on average 320 m, but in some places it reaches 600 meters;
- width as well as the depth varies from 3 to 187 meters, then narrowing, then expanding throughout.
The beauty of the canyon is added by the river Auzun-Uzen flowing along its bottom. It is thanks to the water that has worked to create the landscape for many millennia that there are many rapids, waterfalls, boilers and baths. There are more than 150 of them here. There are many more attractions on the peninsula, and one of them is the Jur Jur waterfall, but this guide will help you understand how to get to it by car.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to the reserve:
By car
If you drive from Yalta or from its suburbs, it is best to choose the route leading to Bakhchisaray. On the Ai-Petri pass, you will have to overcome the mountain serpentine. On the track there is a sign "Grand Canyon" leading to the right place.
If you move from Simferopol, you need to choose the Sevastopol highway and move along it to Bakhchisaray, then turn onto the road that leads to the Ai-Petri pass, you need to pass the village of Sokolinoye, 3 km from it, there will be "entrance gates to the Grand Canyon".
On the video - how to get there by car:
Near the entrance to the reserve there is a guarded parking lot, where you need to leave the car and move on on foot. You will also learn about where Mmarsian Lake is located, and how you can get there by car and on foot
Public transport
All public transport goes only to the village of Sokolinoye, since buses and fixed-route taxis are prohibited further, so you will have to walk to your destination or use the services of a private cab. There will definitely not be any problems with this, since in Sokolinoe there are always enough people willing to take a tourist to the famous Crimean landmark, for a small fee.
excursion tour
On the video - how to get to the Grand Canyon of Crimea:
Such an excursion includes not only a hike along the most beautiful and largest canyon of Crimea, with a visit to its natural attractions such as:
- Blue Lakes;
- Source of Pania;
- Apple ford;
- Yew Falls;
- Youth bath and waterfall Silver jet, but also a lunch cafe of Tatar cuisine. It will be interesting for every traveler to learn how to get to the Taigan safari park in Crimea, as well as see
To the starting point of the tour tourists are delivered by buses that follow very scenic roads, however, all buses stop at the parking lot and you need to explore the canyon on foot. Experienced guides lead groups along the most interesting impassable stone paths that will not leave anyone indifferent, you will have to walk a lot along rocky paths, so comfortable shoes are a must.
On the video - walking tour:
In addition to the mesmerizing nature and views, there are many places in the canyon where you can swim, so be sure to take your bathing suits with you.
No matter how difficult it is to get to the Grand Crimean Canyon, it is a must to visit it. This is a unique place where rare species of plants and animals are found, in addition, it is simply very beautiful here. Everyone knows that the nature of the Crimean peninsula is unique and its natural attractions are in no way inferior to architectural ones. Any tourist will also find out about such a wonderful place as the New World, as well as about what beaches there are.
Crimea, one of the stunning corners of our wonderful planet. The Crimean peninsula is simply a storehouse of sights created both by man and by mother herself - nature. Among the most famous sights of Crimea, known throughout the world, are: Livadia Palace, Swallow's Nest, Artek, Nikitsky Botanical Garden, Kerch bridge and so on. But among the attractions that nature has created, the most popular are the Crimean mountains, waterfalls, caves and canyons. In this article I want to talk in detail about the best and most famous canyons Crimean peninsula.
In total, there are about 17 canyons on the Crimean peninsula, practically, all were formed several tens of thousands of years ago, under the influence of mountain rivers. Today, most of the canyons continue to form and develop. Almost all canyons have mountain rivers, water cascades and waterfalls, but most of the mountain rivers have a pronounced seasonal character. Peaks of activity of mountain rivers fall on March - April. In the summer, tourists walk around the places where spring rivers flow. The beds of many rivers are turning into tourist routes. The activity of the rivers is associated with the melting of snow on the peaks of the Crimean mountains. It is in the springtime that the architects of the Crimean canyons - the rivers - do their routine work on the construction and erection - new cascades, baths of youth and grinding of mountain stones. Of course, among all the canyons of the Crimean peninsula, the most recognizable and most visited is Grand Canyon of Crimea.
Grand Canyon of Crimea
Grand Canyon of Crimea, as the name emphasizes, is, indeed, the largest in the entire Crimean peninsula. The canyon is located on Mount Ai-Petri, from the side of the Bakhchisarai region. You can get to it through Mount Ai-Petri, along the Yalta-Bakhchisaray highway. 5-6 km before the end of the descent, the entrance to the Grand Canyon begins. In fact, there are several inputs. The most famous two: at the bridge over the mountain river Kokozka and 2 km higher, near a small market. There are no big differences between the inputs. A walk along the canyon, on average, lasts 2-3 hours and, practically all the time, passes along the bottom of the canyon, neatly squeezed by rocks, with a height of 100 to 350 meters.
Chernorechensky Canyon
Chernorechensky Canyon located near Balaklava, near the village of Chernorechenskoye and ends in the Baidarskaya Valley, practically, near the village of Shirokoye or Ozernoye. A walk through the canyon is designed for 3-4 hours, but taking into account the measured pace and small breaks, on average, it can take about 4-5 hours. The route usually starts from the side of Balaklava, but, in principle, you can start from the side of the village of Ozernoye. If you start the hike from the side of Balaklava, then after a walk through the canyon, you will still admire
Arpat Canyon
Arpat Canyon is located in one of the most picturesque corners of the Crimea - the Panagia tract, not far from the village of Novy Svet and Malorechenskoye. The length of the canyon is about 7 km, the average walking time is 2-3 hours. The canyon is known for the Arpatsik waterfall, the Bath of Love - a stone bowl in the shape of a heart, and a large number large and small cascades, with overflows of water. The tourist route is marked, practically at any time of the year, you will meet tourists. The most beautiful time to visit the canyon is March - April.
Canyon Uzundzha
Canyon Uzundzha, by the standards of the Crimea, is quite small, but the walk will be very entertaining, because. at the entrance to the canyon is one of the oldest artifacts of the Crimea - Skelsky menhirs, whose age is about 4-6 thousand years. They were erected, most likely, for pagan cults. An analogue of such a place can be called the English Stonehenge. Skelsky menhirs are located in the village of Rodnikovoe. From Rodnikovo we head to the canyon itself and find ourselves in front of the entrance to one of the most amazing caves in Crimea - the Skelskaya cave. Unlike most caves, it does not lead down the mountain and not along the mountain, but up, to the height of a 4-story building.
Canyon Kok-Asan
Canyon Kok-Asan, one of the most hidden corners of the Crimean peninsula. This happened due to its remoteness from the sea coast and major attractions of the Crimea. The canyon originates in the Belogorsky district, in the village of Povorotnoye. From the village we head towards the New World. There are no roads here. Due to the greater remoteness from civilization, this canyon retained its pristine nature and was not so strongly influenced by man. Like most of the canons in the Crimea, it has a bath of Love, a bath of Youth and Health, several waterfalls and a mountain stream. Only all this is in its original state, combined with magnificent air and wild forest.
Belbek Canyon
For lovers of mountain holidays or hiking trails, the canyons of Crimea one of my favorite places. You choose routes according to the level of difficulty and physical capabilities and combine mountain walks with visits to castles, palaces, waterfalls, fortresses and caves lost in the mountains, overcoming mountain rivers and impenetrable thickets. The Crimean peninsula is rich in history and over the thousands of years of human presence in these places, it has accumulated a huge baggage for study, research and new discoveries.
Canyons of Crimea on the mapTourists who come to the Crimean peninsula to see its natural attractions, be sure to leave time to visit the Grand Canyon of Crimea. Locals lovingly call it the eighth wonder of the world, because the nature of this reserve is really unusually beautiful and unusual.
The Grand Canyon is the most visited of all Crimean canyons. One has only to say that the cost of excursions for visitors is comparable to visiting the famous Livadia Palace or the Nikitsky Botanical Garden.
Travel companies and sightseeing kiosks, open in almost all major cities Crimean peninsula, create bus tours with a visit to the Grand Canyon. For those who travel around the Crimea by private vehicle, there are several options for , How to get to the Grand Canyon by car.
Geographical position
Historians and local historians say that the Grand Canyon of Crimea in ancient times was part of the ocean floor. Today, this natural attraction has several main geographical landmarks:
- Geographically, the reserve belongs to the Ai-Petrinsky mountain range;
- The canyon starts from the village of Sokolinoe, Bakhchisaray district (distance from the village - 3 km);
- The Auzun-Uzen River flows along the bottom of the canyon.
As a result of the centuries-old impact of water on rocks and the movement of tectonic rocks, the walls of the gorge sank to a depth of 32m, forming a slope of 75-90 0 . The bottom of the canyon is a heap of boulders and boulders, numerous rapids and waterfalls. This place is considered the largest canyon of the Crimean peninsula in terms of area. The first researcher to descend to the bottom of the canyon was Doctor of Historical Sciences - Professor I.I. Puzanov.
Excursion program
The first thing that strikes tourists who come to the Grand Canyon of Crimea for an excursion:
- Unusual splendor of nature for these places;
- Picturesque trails on the plateau and through the rubble of boulders;
- Numerous waterfalls and springs with drinking water;
- Cool and fresh air.
When signing up for a tour, be sure to specify what the last point of the walking route will be. It is desirable that the hiking trail extends beyond the Baths of Youth and reaches the narrowest point of the gorge.
Experienced guides lead the group along the most interesting impassable stone paths, so that tourists get the full experience. Having overcome stone blockages and dangerous areas, you will be able to approach a picturesque mountain spring - a spring flowing out of the mountain along a stone chute.
How to get to the canyon?
If you are relaxing in Yalta or the suburbs, and decide to drive to the Grand Canyon of Crimea by car, you should choose the highway leading towards Bakhchisaray. On it, having left for the Ai-Petri pass, you will need to overcome the path along the descending mountain road-serpentine.
Along the highway, you can see the sign "Grand Canyon" and turn along it. Visiting this natural attraction is difficult because regular buses and fixed-route taxis do not go here. Therefore, you can get to the Grand Canyon only by private car or by pre-registering for an excursion.
If you came to the canyon by car and decided to spend time using the services of a private guide, remember that these people, as a rule, do not have a license to conduct excursions, and in case of an unusual situation they will not bear any responsibility!
If you are driving from Sevastopol, follow the following traffic pattern:
- On the Sevastopol highway you reach Bakhchisarai;
- Then, using the navigator or map, choose the route leading towards the Ai-Petri pass;
- When passing the village of Sokolinoe, be extremely careful, 3 kilometers from it on the road you will see the “entrance gate to the Grand Canyon”. This will be the end point of your route.
Near the entrance to the nature reserve there is a guarded parking lot. The car will have to be left on it, since the movement of tourists in the canyon is only allowed on foot.
If you decide to get to the canyon by minibus or regular bus, you will have to get off at the village of Sokolinoye. Further passage of bus transport is prohibited. Many tourists make a hike to the entrance to the canyon, but there are always a lot of motorists and taxi drivers at the bus stop in Sokolinoe, offering to take you to the reserve for a nominal fee.
The Grand Canyon of Crimea is not only the most beautiful and fascinating place, but also in many ways a rather mysterious and mysterious corner, surrounded by many legends and tales. At the sight of this gigantic rock formation, like a giant scar stretching for kilometers in the body of the Crimean Mountains, one involuntarily takes one's breath away and there is a feeling of respectful awe before its silent, calm grandeur.
All the beauty of this place, as well as the feelings and emotions that it generates during contemplation, is difficult to describe in words. On the one hand, it is quite multifaceted, nature did its best in this, enriching its flora and aesthetic world, and on the other hand, the lips simply go numb from the breathtaking spectacle. It is completely different from the gloomy, dark crevices that arise in the imagination at the word "canyon". On the contrary, it is filled with unimaginable colors, charm, the spirit of ancient legends, as if hovering in space, and life, seething literally under every stone.
Where is the canyon in Crimea?
It is located on the southern tip of the Crimean Mountains, in the Bakhchisarai region. It lies between two mountain ranges - and, approximately at an equal distance, 5 km from the village of Sokolinoye.
Gorge on the map of Crimea
What is an attraction?
The Grand Canyon of Crimea is a geological fault formed as a result of high tectonic activity, accompanied by catastrophic earthquakes and platform shifts approximately 2,000,000 years ago. His education seems quite logical. Having soft rocky ledges with a predominance of limestone rocks, it actually divided two powerful mountain ranges - the Main Range and the Sredinny Ridge. Over many thousands of years, it deepened and expanded under the influence of the environment, landslides, weathering and water erosion. This process continues even now.
Of course, the Great Crimean Canyon cannot be compared with the fault of the same name in the US state of Arizona, but its parameters are also impressive. It stretches for 3.5 km in length, has an average depth of 320 m, but in some places reaches 600 m, with a width ranging from 3 to 187 m, then narrowing, then expanding throughout. The river Auzun-Uzen flows along the bottom, fed by many streams and springs, turning into beautiful, sonorous waterfalls, cascading down from a small height. The mouth is replete with depressions or boilers filled with water, forming small but rather deep lakes, called "baths".
Nature of the Grand Crimean Canyon
Due to its depth and gorges, where the sun's rays rarely penetrate, a peculiar microclimate is formed in the canyon, thanks to which it is cool and damp on the hottest days. The air temperature rarely exceeds +18 degrees, and the water remains at +11, so it is not possible to soak up one of the famous "baths". The plant world in the closed space of a giant fault is very rich and diverse.
The Grand Canyon of Crimea is represented by hundreds of species of trees, shrubs and flowers, many of which are endemic and have survived to this day only due to the peculiarities of the formation itself. Orchids are especially noteworthy in this regard, most of their species (about 70%) grow only here, as well as relic plants, such as berry yews, sublingual needles, saxifrage, etc., are not found anywhere else on the peninsula.
Routes and excursions to the Grand Canyon
The tour, introducing its unforgettable beauties, runs in two directions - along the fault, along its right edge, and along the bottom. Both options are good in their own way, and in both cases you will get wonderful photos, but they are very different from each other. The route passing along the upper "side" is not so picturesque, but it is completely safe - 
You can walk along it at any time of the year and also on your own. Along the way, stunning views of forested mountain slopes and shady valleys open up, but the main impressions still lie deep below - where you can only look from a dizzying height, standing on a ledge.
The route passing along the bottom is more interesting, truly exciting and picturesque, but it is extremely difficult, and sometimes represents a considerable danger - during rainy periods, for example, it turns into a death trap. As a result, it is worth abandoning such a trip until at least mid-July, and going on it yourself is fraught with great risk - the map will not let you get lost, but ignorance of the area can lead to undesirable consequences. It is better to go here with an excursion or with an experienced guide, to have skills and good, comfortable shoes.
How to get (get there)?
You can use public transport, by bus "Bakhchisarai - Yalta", get to the stop "Grand Canyon of Crimea" and walk about 5 km more on foot or on a ride. Often, tourists are also interested, wanting to visit the Grand Canyon of Crimea, how to get there by car, which indicates a desire to look into it on their own. It is best to focus on the route from the side, from where you need to drive along the T0117 highway 32 km in a southerly direction to and further 3-5 km to the southeast.
Are you better on a map? See on it how you can get (walk) to the desired object from Sokolinoye:
Note to the tourist
- Address: pos. Sokolinoe, Bakhchisaray district, Crimea, Russia.
- GPS coordinates: 44.528127, 34.019346.
Speaking about the Grand Canyon, one thing is for sure - you won’t find a more amazing and beautiful place in Crimea! Thanks to such objects as, or the source of Pania, he became widely known far beyond the peninsula. But here everyone finds a reason to visit it. Someone is attracted by extreme sports, someone is attracted by the inimitable beauty and rare species of flora, and someone comes at all attracted by terrible Tatar legends. One way or another, everyone finds here what they went for, what they were looking for, and even though everyone has different reasons for visiting, the common ones are bright, unforgettable impressions and delight that remains for a long time, if not for life, then for many years. Watch the video about this enchanting place in the conclusion.
