Utulik Waterfall

Utulik Waterfall lies on the Utulik River in the Slyudyansky District of Irkutsk Oblast, near the settlement of Utulik on the southern shore of Lake Baikal, about 150 km from Irkutsk. The Utulik is one of the larger rivers flowing into Baikal, and the waterfall on it has become a popular hiking destination for travelers reaching Baikal from the direction of Kultuk and Slyudyanka.

Next to the settlement of Utulik is a railway station of the same name on the Trans-Siberian line, and a little further along the Baikal shore another mountain river, the Babkha, flows in, with a settlement of the same name nearby. The waterfall itself is hidden upstream on the Utulik, away from any settlements, in a narrow valley among forest and rock.

What to see

The waterfall is about 69 meters high overall, with a drop of around 32 meters and a further stretch of roughly 37 meters where the water runs down over a rocky channel. The water in the Utulik is clear and transparent, typical of mountain rivers descending from the ridges toward Baikal. The stream breaks over the rocks in steps, and in the narrow stony channel the noise of falling water can be heard well before the waterfall itself comes into view from the trail.

Origin of the name

The name of the river and waterfall, Utulik, is traced to the Buryat words "khutuleg" or "khutel", meaning "long river". This reflects the river's long course before it reaches Baikal after running through the surrounding mountainous terrain.

How to get there

The start of the route is reached by road from Irkutsk, about 150 km away, heading toward Baikal. Cars are left at a parking area, and the rest of the way is covered on foot along the riverside trail. The walking section begins on a dirt road toward the "Utulik" tourist base; if the path through the base's territory is closed, hikers turn left near the power line before reaching the base itself.

The trail runs through forest along the riverbank. About a kilometer after the start there is a cleared spot with a fire pit and a table where hikers can rest. Further on, the trail in places runs close to the water, through rocky outcrops along the bank. During periods of high water the last stretch before the waterfall can become impassable, which is worth keeping in mind when planning the hike.