Trail to the Baduk Lakes

The trail to the Baduk Lakes (Badukskiye ozera) starts at the Khadzhibey ranger post in Teberda National Park, Karachayevsky District, Karachay-Cherkess Republic. The post stands by the A155 road between Teberda and Dombay, about 9 km from Teberda and 13 km from Dombay. It is the park's checkpoint, and from here a nature trail climbs the Baduk river valley to three mountain lakes.

The Baduk Lakes

The three lakes form a chain in the upper Baduk, a left tributary of the Teberda, at about 1,950–2,000 metres. They have no names of their own and are simply numbered from the bottom up: First, Second and Third. The First is the smallest, about 80 metres long. The Second is about 600 metres further on, and the Third another 300 metres, roughly a ten-minute walk. The Third lake is the largest and deepest, up to 9 metres deep.

The lakes were dammed by rockfalls: debris from the slopes blocked the valley. They are thought to be only 150–200 years old. The water is cold, 7–10 °C even on a hot day. Trout live in the upper lake, but fishing is banned in the national park.

Legend

The name is linked to a legend about two lovers, Baduk and Khadzhibey, whose families would not let them marry. According to the tale, the girl's tears filled the Baduk Lakes and gave rise to the Baduk river, while the young man's tears filled Lake Khadzhibey; further down, in the Teberda, their tears flowed together.

The route and getting there

You get there by car, by taxi or on a guided tour: no public transport goes to the ranger post. The nearest airport is Mineralnye Vody and the nearest railway station Nevinnomyssk, with buses from there to Teberda and Dombay. Cars are left by the suspension bridge over the Teberda; from there you go on foot.

The trail, about 7 km long, has footbridges over the Khadzhibey and Baduk streams and shelters for a rest. Just before the First lake there is a short stretch over a boulder field. The climb is about 700 metres. The path is fairly steep, but the round trip usually takes under six hours even for a less fit group, and the views on the way are spectacular.

Good to know

• At the checkpoint you pay the national park fee (about 300 roubles per person) and sign the visitor log, then sign out on the way back: people who do not return may be searched for.
• According to guidebooks, the route is open from 8:00 to 18:00, and nobody is let onto the trail after 13:00 so that hikers return before dark.
• The gorge runs west to east and gets sun only in the morning, so it is best to arrive by 9 am.
• The season runs from June to October; in winter the route is closed because of avalanche danger.
• Park rules forbid swimming, and tents are allowed only at designated sites.
• Trekking shoes and walking poles are useful.