Kyrgyzstan: Belagorka Waterfall

The Belagorka Waterfall is the highest in the Kyrgyz ridge of the Alatoo Mountains, the range immediately surrounding Bishkek and the Chuy Valley. It’s a pleasant, easy daytrip from Bishkek and so remains popular as a dayhike from Bishkek – though more-so with local groups than foreign tourists.

Total Km: 8km
Total Days: 1
Elevation Gain/Loss: 461m+ / 461m-
Start Point: Sokuluk Gorge
End Point: Sokuluk Gorge
GPS Files

This route adds a quick climb into the Ashu Tor Valley to the standard Belagorka Waterfall walk, for pretty views up and down the Sokuluk Valley and a quick peek at the high peaks further up Ashu Tor. Feel free to skip the first section if you prefer, but particularly in springtime the untrampled hillsides full of wildflowers will for some be more of a draw than even the waterfall itself!

The trail begins from a small parking area just before the last bridge across the Sokuluk River. On busy weekends this area tends to fill up with minibuses full of local tour groups who come out for the short hike and a long picnic, but otherwise you’ll likely have it all to yourself. If you’re planning to skip the Ashu Tor section of the hike and head straight for the waterfall, you can also drive about a kilometer further before starting the walk.

From the trailhead, head southwest behind the shepherd’s house and charge straight up the nearest hillside. It’s a pretty straightforward walk, through lovely pastures and briefly along a sharp drop to the Ashu Tor river below, climbing about 363m over 1.5km of lateral distance. Along the way the trail will briefly meet that old jeep road at a sharp curve (it’s possible to drive about to here with a high-clearance car, but not much further) then continue climbing to the top of the rise before joining the old jeep track (now overgrown with grass and flowers) as it levels out to carry on further into the Ashu Tor Valley.

The wide, open hillsides along here are green and peaceful, and in spring resplendent with wildflowers of all colors. The valley itself is the destination, so stop wherever takes your fancy along the way, but the track linked here continues to where the first nice views of the Ashu Tor valley’s peaks open up – you could easily continue further for even more.

At any rate, return from the Ashu Tor track back down the same way. Once you rejoin the sharp bend in the old jeep road, abandon the walking track and follow the jeep track as it curves around the hillside and then down towards the southeast and the Belagorka Waterfall below. Along the way, nice views open up once more to the dramatic rocky ridge that defines the head of the Sokuluk Valley further to the southeast.

The jeep track continues downwards on a pretty gentle slope to the second parking area for the ‘normal’ waterfall trailhead. From here, return to simple footpaths as they wind through the stubby trees along the slope for another 1.5km to the base of the Belagorka waterfall – unless it’s a particularly cloudy day, you’ll see it a bit before you actually arrive. It’s a steep climb up to the base of the falls along the last little stretch, but worth it for the fairly impressive falls that thunder down from the rock cliffs above. Spend some time scrambling right up to the base or climbing the small hill to the west for impressive views. Once you’re done, return to the final parking lot and follow the road for a kilometer back to the bridge and the end of the trek.

Alternate Options for Belagorka Waterfall Hike

Motivated hikers can extend this hike further up the Ashu Tor Valley or to the end of the Sokuluk Valley, though not both in one day.

Not far from Belagorka in the last village along the road is a turnoff to the trailhead for Borulu Lake – another easy hike popular with daytrippers from Bishkek. In between the two it the Tyuk valley, and Peak Lenin – this is considerably more challenging, but can also be done as a daytrip.

Finally, this section of Sokuluk valley is particularly suited to winter outings due to the relatively flat terrain along the valley floor. The snow gets deep even in the shoulder months, so definitely pack either snowshoes or cross-country skis, but it’s worth considering for winter outings from Bishkek aside from the ski bases of Kyrgyzstan.

Good To Know

There are no entrance fees and no special equipment necessary for the Belagorka Waterfall hike. If you plan to visit in winter, snows can get quite deep so you’ll want a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis, and of course all the usual mountain/outdoors safety equipment.

Getting to the Belagorka Waterfall

As with many treks in Kyrgyzstan, the greatest difficulty is just in getting to the trailhead. The closest possibility is to take a minibus from Bishkek’s Osh Bazzar for 29km to the town of Sokuluk, then transferring to the local 372 marshrutka to the village of Tash Bulak (which, incindentally, is the trailhead for Borulu Lake). From there it’s still about 18km to the Belagorka waterfall trailhead, which you could probably cover by hitching, but it’s never assured. Organizations like the Trekking Union occasionally run group tours here, or you can contact a local tour operator like Feel Nomad to arrange a private driver and guide for you.

Where to Stay and Eat

While it’s possible to camp in the valley (or stay at the handful of local guesthouses lower down the Sokuluk Valley), most visitors come as a daytrip from Bishkek due to the proximity to the city. Facilities are limited in the villages en route and nonexistent beyond the trailhead, so bring whatever food and gear you’ll need for the day – there’s a large supermarket in Sokuluk if you need to stock up on the way.