Dragon Wings Rock

Dragon Wings (Krylya Drakona), also known as the Stone Gate (Kamennye Vorota), is a rock outcrop with a natural arch on the northwestern spur of Mount Tyoplaya in the Kyshtym urban district of the Chelyabinsk Region. The rock stands about 5.5 km southwest of the village of Slyudorudnik, not far from the town of Kyshtym, and is known for its shape and the legend of a dragon.

What to see

Dragon Wings Rock is a massive outcrop about 10 metres high, made of granite gneiss. A wide oval arch cuts through its middle, and from the right angle its upper part looks like a dragon's head.

The rock goes by several names. Maps usually label it the Stone Gate, guidebooks sometimes call it simply the Dragon, and locals know it as Dragon Wings.

Mount Tyoplaya itself rises to 615 metres. At its foot on the Slyudorudnik side lies the Divers' Quarry, a flooded former quartz quarry with easy road access and a shelter. Mount Sugomak is another popular spot in the area, so a trip to the rock is often combined with other walks around Kyshtym.

Legends and beliefs

According to a local tale, a serpent-dragon once lived on Mount Tyoplaya near the Kyshtym ironworks. It was defeated by a cunning peasant named Chyortushko: together with Kyshtym craftsmen he built a stone bridge and cut off the serpent's wings, after which it flew away to the northern lakes.

Followers of esoteric teachings call the rock a place of power and an energy point. One belief holds that the arch is a window into a parallel world, and that a wish made while passing through it will come true. Mysticism enthusiasts also talk of an anomalous zone around the mountain, though nothing confirms it: it is part of local folklore.

How to get to Dragon Wings

Take the Yekaterinburg–Chelyabinsk highway, turn off towards Kasli and drive to the village of Slyudorudnik. From there, follow the road to the village of Bolshiye Yegusty and after a while turn right onto a dirt track.

The dirt track runs for about 4 km to a clearing at the foot of the mountain; this stretch is best driven in an off-road vehicle. From the clearing a trail of roughly one kilometre leads to the rock on foot.