Grigorievka gorge

The Grigoriev and Semyonov Gorges share striking similarities. Both belong to the mountain system of Kungey Ala-Too, originating from their respective namesake villages—Grigorievka and Semyonovka—positioned along the Bishkek-Karakol highway. They have nearly identical lengths (Grigoriev Gorge stretches 35 km, while Semyonov spans 30 km) and mostly run parallel to each other, separated by less than 10 km. Swift mountain rivers, fed by high-altitude glaciers, flow through the valleys of each gorge.

If you’re an experienced traveler with a sturdy 4×4 SUV, you can easily venture up the Grigoriev Gorge and descend via the Semyonov Gorge, or vice versa. The only potential hindrance might be occasional small landslides, which sometimes block the roads, mainly during the intense snowmelt of spring (April-May) or after heavy thunderstorms and rainfall in summer. Fortunately, these natural obstacles are rare and are swiftly cleared by road maintenance teams, ensuring your journey remains uninterrupted.

Both the Grigoriev and Semyonov Gorges, along with the surrounding area, offer numerous excursion routes catering to various levels of trekking difficulty, suitable for both foot and vehicle exploration. Traveling from Bishkek through Balykchy toward Karakol, the Grigoriev Gorge will be the first to greet you. The village of Grigorievka lies along the Bishkek-Karakol road, on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul, about 30 km from Cholpon-Ata. The gorge itself, locally known as Chon Ak-Suu, rises from the village toward the Kungey Ala-Too mountain range, a natural boundary between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. It initially runs perpendicular to the Issyk-Kul coastline, gradually veering westward as it continues, parallel to the shore, nestled between the Kum-Bel spur and the main ridge.

Grigoriev Gorge extends approximately 35 km, with a rapid mountain river of pristine, glacial-fed waters coursing through its base. The gorge’s slopes are breathtakingly scenic, covered with towering Tien Shan fir trees and dense thickets of barberry, mountain ash, sea buckthorn, juniper, and other rare plants you’ll scarcely find elsewhere. In some sections, the gorge is so narrow, and the slopes so steep, that fir forests cling tenaciously to the almost vertical rock faces.

About 10-11 km in, at an altitude of 2,200–2,500 meters above sea level, the narrow gorge gradually opens into a valley of alpine meadows. Throughout the remaining journey, coniferous groves intersperse with vast, summer pastures known as At-Jailoo, stretching like a lush green carpet up to altitudes of 3,500 meters. It is common to spot shepherd yurts here, as herders move their livestock to these fertile grazing grounds with the most succulent grass. Spring arrives late in the gorge, and summer is fleeting; it’s best to savor this brief season before autumn rains transform into snow, blanketing the high-altitude plains of Grigoriev Gorge until the following year.

During the short summer months, the slopes and open spaces of the valley burst into vibrant color, blanketed in poppies, wild irises, and other unique, fleeting blooms, many of which are listed in the Red Book of Endangered Species. It’s not only the stunning landscapes and crystal-clear, glacial waters of the Chon Ak-Suu River that attract visitors to Grigoriev Gorge. As you venture from start to finish, you’ll encounter three small, moraine-dammed, high-altitude lakes, each enchanting in its own right. These lakes are unnamed, referred to simply as Lower, Middle, and Upper Lakes.

The first, or Lower Lake, is nestled in the midst of a fir-forested valley. The Middle Lake lies further up, in the At-Jailoo area, and about 5-6 km beyond, you’ll find the smallest, Upper Lake, perched at the edge of the treeline, widely regarded as the most beautiful. This is where the forest zone gives way to high-altitude meadows that extend up to 3,500 meters.

Two snow-covered peaks, Eshen-Bulak (4,647 m) and Kum-Bel (4,200 m), crown the middle section of the Grigoriev Gorge valley. The Ak-Suu Pass, located in the zone of eternal snow, leads to the upper reaches of the Chon-Kemin River and further, down to the Ozerny Pass, providing a route that eventually connects to the outskirts of Almaty.

Grigoriev and Semyonov Gorges are not just captivating due to their shared geological roots but also for the diverse beauty, hiking opportunities, and cultural experiences they offer. This corner of the Kungey Ala-Too mountains is a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike, where the grandeur of Kyrgyzstan’s alpine wilderness unfolds with every twist and turn.