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RussiaWhat to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting
Amanauz Gorge and waterfalls "Devil's Mill" and "Sofruzhinsky" is the shortest route to the waterfalls from Dombay: only 7 kilometers in both directions, and 560 meters of vertical drop. Passes through Teberdinsky Nature Reserve through the beautiful gorge of the Amanauz River and along the Devil's Mill Canyon south from Dombay towards the border with Abkhazia. However, despite the short distances, do not underestimate its complexity. Unlike the other two tourist routes "Alibek Gorge" and "Chukhchur Waterfalls", which can be partially overcome by an off-road vehicle with an excursion or independently, this route is completely pedestrian, and it runs along a marked, but not very simple trail. You will have to cross a mountain river, a small canyon by stairs, overcome boulders and loose stones. However, the route is not categorical, and is available to any tourist without preparation. We only need strength, endurance, and at least 6 hours in both directions. But there is also a shortened version – only to the Devil's Mill waterfall, which is only about 1 hour away.
So, on this route, first you will visit the waterfall "Devil's Mill". It really lives up to its name, because the water in it falls down into a narrow gorge, grinding everything that gets. The view of the "Devil's Mill" opens only from above from the platform, from where it simply takes your breath away, but not from delight, but from fear. By the way, the "Devil's Mill" is located even before the border zone.
After the "Devil's Mill", the border zone with Abkhazia begins, and in order to be there, it is necessary to have original documents (passports, birth certificates for children), and a contract that is drawn up at the entrance to the routes to the Teberdinsky Reserve.
Following further along the trail, you will first get to the first Sofrudzhinsky waterfall. It is quite wide and very impressive, besides, you can sit next to it for a picnic. After the first waterfall there is a second, and this is the most powerful waterfall in Karachay-Cherkessia. The water here hits the rocks, forming a huge water cloud, so you can only be near in a jacket or raincoat. Further on there is also a third waterfall, but it is not so spectacular, and to get to it, you will have to climb a cliff, so few people visit it.
On the route you need to take water (not necessarily a lot, you can collect it from mountain streams along the way), preferably trekking poles, good hiking shoes, sunglasses, a hat, something to eat.
Important! At the checkpoint at the entrance to the route, you need to present a Russian passport, birth certificates for children. Citizens without documents are not allowed to pass. You can get to the Devil's Mill waterfall without documents, but you should not go further, since you can get checked by border guards on the route.
🕐 Working hours
entrance to the trail through the checkpoint of the reserve from 08:00 to 17:00, visit from May to October.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price
entrance to the tourist route Amanauz - 200 rubles, children under 7 years old - free of charge.
🚶 How to get there
the route along the gorge begins in the center of Dombay from Alanskaya Street, and stretches for 3 kilometers to the south (route on the map). The waterfall "Devil's Mill" is located about one and a half kilometers along the way ("Devil's mill" on the map), but to the observation deck on it you will need to get off the trail a little and go down, there is a pointer. Then it is necessary to turn back to the main trail and after another one and a half kilometers there will be Sofrujin waterfalls (Sofrujinsky on the map). The trail is simple and marked with red dots on rocks and trees, but dangerous in places. We will have to overcome heaps of stones, boulders, and dust.
To get from the first Sufrudzhinsky waterfall to the second, there are two options:
- Follow a short path along the cliff. But then you will get into the thick of its water dust, and you will not be able to photograph or fully inspect it.
- Cross the stream and walk a little more along the gorge to the left. It's a longer road, but you'll be able to see the waterfall in all its glory from afar.