The Una-Koz ridge in Adygea and how to visit it

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

The Una-Koz ridge is one of the highlights of Adygea and the main point of attraction in the village of Dakhovskaya. It is important to understand that this is not just one observation deck, but a large extended natural massif, on which several interesting places are located at once. The ridge itself as a single object may not seem too remarkable, but its real value lies in the views and locations that you will find on its slopes and peaks.

One of the best panoramas in the Western Caucasus opens from the observation decks of Una-Koz: to the main Caucasian ridge, the Lago-Naki plateau and the territory of the Caucasian Reserve. In addition, there is something to see here besides the views: several caves and grottoes, as well as the famous Devil's Finger rock. In the upper part of the ridge, near the cable car station, a whole tourist park with entertainment has been formed in recent years. Here you can visit a mini-zoo, ride ATVs or jeeps, rent tubing for descent along an artificial highway, and also have a snack in a cafe. Previously, there was a rope park, but at the time of our visit it was temporarily closed. There is also a cafe and a recreation area on the other side of the ridge next to the Devil's Finger. The place continues to evolve: new infrastructure facilities are being built and additional observation points are being set up, so that over time it may become even more interesting here, and maybe even there will be facilities for accommodation.

And now we will tell you everything in detail and reliably about how to visit the Una-Koz ridge and what you can see there.:

How to visit Una-Goats

The most popular and easiest way to visit the Una-Koz ridge is the Dakhovskaya cable car. You can also climb up by sightseeing jeeps or ATVs, or on foot along one of the many trails. We tell you more about the ascent below in the section "How to get there".

When you are already on the ridge, you can get to the main locations on foot, on a rented ATV or as part of a jeep tour. But to see the most interesting places, there is no way to do without a walk. To do this, you can walk along the trails here — there are two of them:

• The upper trail is a simple tourist trail, gently sloping, runs through the forest and is well marked, stretches for 2.5 kilometers (about an hour in one direction). You can walk along it from the top station of the cable car to the grotto of an ancient man, the Dakhovsky landslide and the Devil's Finger rocks. Another shorter upper path in the other direction from the station can take you to the Cave of Desires, the observation deck and the Creepy Cave.

• The lower path is more difficult for experienced hikers. It passes under the ridge below the upper trail, stretches for about 2 kilometers. But it is worth laying at least 2 hours to pass through it, and preferably 3. Tourists rarely go here, but in vain, because it is here that most of the most interesting and intriguing places of the Una-Goats are located: Dakhovskaya cave, Iron stone, Dusty cave, another nameless cave, several grottoes, a through fault, a bell grotto, and at least two springs. But once again, this trail and attractions are for experienced and trained tourists. If you go there on our recommendation, then do it at your own risk.

The lower and upper trails connect only near the Devil's Finger and near the Dakhovskaya cave. For the rest, there is no way to get from one to the other for two kilometers without climbing equipment. Don't even try!!! The point is that you can walk from the side of the cable car along the lower path with a visit to all the places, go up to the Devil's Finger and go back to the cable car. Well, or all the same in the opposite direction. Ie, it turns out such a circular route, but it takes almost a whole day to overcome it, so it's better not to start it in the afternoon.

How to prepare and what you should take with you:

• Take a look 🎬 Our Video about the ridge and the route.
• Smartphone with offline Organic maps or Maps.me there are all the main trails, including the lower and upper. Download points of interest from our map.
• Trekking poles (very desirable if you will climb here completely on foot, but not necessary for hiking trails).
• Comfortable sports or travel clothes.
• Trekking, hiking or good sports shoes.
• Drinking water is at least 1 liter per person (water and drinks can be purchased at the cafe upstairs or replenished from the streams on the lower trail, but there is no guarantee that the water in the streams will be in summer).
• Something to eat.
• Sun protection in summer.
• Protection against insects, including ticks.
• A headlamp (for caves) or a large flashlight for deep exploration.
• Spare clothes, which are not a pity to get dirty, decide to get deeper into the caves.
• A cool head and caution!

And now more about the points on the route:

What to visit on the Una-Koz Ridge

• Damn Finger

  Damn Finger on the map. This is one of the iconic and picturesque points in this resort and in Adygea in general. This is an unusual stone formation on the Una Koz ridge, which serves as an excellent observation deck with views of the surroundings of Dakhovskaya and the Caucasian Mountains massif, which is part of the Caucasian Reserve. The place is very popular for photos and selfies due to its impressive panoramas. About the Damn Finger we have a separate guide here.

• Cave of Desires

  Cave of Desires on the map. The most accessible cave is equipped. It is very easy to reach it along the path with signs from the upper station of the cable car in a few minutes. Strictly speaking, this is not really a cave, but rather a through grotto. Wish ribbons are sold in front of the entrance. On the canvas inside you can see the prints of mollusks of the ancient Tethys ocean.

• The Grotto of an ancient man

  Ancient Man's Grotto on the map. A large grotto is a short walk from the upper station. There was a parking lot or settlement of ancient people here (Copper Age), but you won't see anything like that here, just a grotto.

• Dakhovskaya cave

  Dakhovskaya cave on the map. An unequipped cave. There are no signs to the cave, follow the lower path to the coordinates on the map. The entrance to it is located on a slope, but can be reached by one of the trails (vertically from the bottom of the lower trail, or to the left of the cave on a gentle path along the cliff). The entrance is wide, but then immediately narrowing, through which you will have to make your way almost crawling. After 10 meters you will get into a huge hall with bats. Then the passage narrows again. The total length is about 75 meters.

• Rock Iron

  Iron Rock on the map. The rock is visible from one of the observation points from the upper trail, and you can approach only from the lower trail. From the observation deck it looks funny, it is used by climbers and climbers for ternirovki.

• The cave is dusty

  Dusty Cave on the map. The entrance is from the lower trail, easily accessible and easy to find by coordinates on the map. It's really a very dusty cave at the entrance, it's dirty inside too. To enter the entrance almost immediately, you need to make your way through a narrow vertical manhole, then you will get into a more spacious hall. You can walk 30 meters more or less freely, and then very narrow manholes diverge. Unfortunately, we do not know what lies behind them.

• Meandrovaya Cave

  Meandrovaya Cave on the map. This cave is not marked on maps in any way, the name was found in one of the old guidebooks, but this is not accurate. Unequipped, impassable. The entrance is not easy to find, it is hidden from the lower path behind the rock. We climbed into it about 20 meters to a very narrow manhole, where it is unsafe to climb without equipment. What is hidden further in its bowels and how long it stretches is unknown.

• Through fault

  A through-fault on the map. Located on the lower trail under the Devil's Finger, easy to find by coordinates from our map. In fact, the trail passes through it or bypasses it, so you definitely won't miss it. This is not just one fault, but a whole network of at least three faults converging at one point. You can just go through it, or you can climb along the branches. In general, an interesting place, you should not miss it.

• Bell Grotto

  Bell Grotto on the map. It is located a few dozen meters from the through fault and also almost under the Damn Finger. Do not miss it in any way while walking along the lower path, the entrance to it is clearly visible in the form of an arch or a stone bridge. There is no roof and this grotto, only an arch at the entrance. Theoretically, from here it is possible to climb up the rocks and go to the upper path to the Devil's Finger, but it is safer to go around a hundred meters along the path.

In addition to the listed objects, there are several more nameless grottoes along the lower path, a new cave of Horror from above (we haven't been to it yet), and several branches to the observation decks from the upper path, each of which simply doesn't make sense to mark on the map and describe.

In general, come here, walk along the trails, and for sure you will find something else interesting that is not on the maps and in the guidebooks.