Chernorechensky canyon is the longest canyon in Crimea. This is a deep and narrow gorge of the Black River. The canyon is 12 kilometers long. The route starts from the Baydarskaya valley and ends in the village of Chernorechye. It is dangerous to walk along the Chernorechensky canyon during the rainy season.
In 1947, the Chernorechensky canyon was recognized as a natural monument of local importance. After 30 years, it became a state reserve.
Judging by the name, the Black River should be black. However, it can be blue, green, jade, and turquoise. It is believed that she was named Chernoy after the annexation of Crimea to Russia in the 18th century. Before that, it was called Chorgun. But the Russians found it difficult to pronounce this word, so they renamed it to the Black River.
Chernorechensky canyon routes
A hike along the Chernorechensky canyon of the Crimea can be carried out both in one day and in two days. In the second case, it is worth choosing a comfortable place to sleep. If you go on the route for one day, then the walk will take at least 8 hours. The route is difficult, from the Baydarskaya valley to the exit to the village of Morozovka, one goes along the rocks, then at the bottom of the river. Then it goes from the left bank to the right. You will have to wade across the Black River. The current is strong, so you need to walk carefully and with a stick as an additional support.
For those who want to look at the Chernorechensky canyon, but are not ready for difficulties, you can walk from the village of Chernorechye and get off in the village of Morozovka. This is an easy path along a dirt road next to the river.
How to get there
It is most convenient to get to the Chernorechensky canyon in Crimea by public transport from Sevastopol. From the stop "5 km" there is a minibus to the village of Ozernoe. You need to get off on the highway before turning to the village so that you don't have to go back. Walking route begins in front of the bridge over the Black River. First it goes along the left bank, then along the right. Ends in Chernorechye, from where you can get to Sevastopol or Balaklava.
Chernorechensky canyon is the largest and the longest in the Crimea, its length is about 12 km. The Chernorechensky canyon takes its beginning from the Baydar valley and ends in the Inkerman region. The canyon was cut by mountain rivers many millennia ago, in one of the oldest tectonic faults of the Crimean peninsula.
Geographic coordinates of the Chernorechensky canyon on the map of Crimea GPS N 44.527635, E 33.726134
Today Chernorechensky canyon completely open to tourists and no admission fee will be charged. The width of the canyon ranges from 40 to 310 meters. The Chernaya River flows along the bottom of the canyon, along the right and left banks there are many trails and tourist routes. Most of trail ends with rubble, cliffs or the most beautiful views to the cascades of waterfalls. In springtime, especially at the beginning of spring, when thousands of streams rush from the mountains, the bottom of the canyon turns into a full-flowing river, which rages, rushes to Mountain peaks and rakes behind him a lot of stones and branches from the trees.
Walking along the Chernorechensky canyon Without an experienced guide, they can be unsafe, but the views and noise of the waters are simply mesmerizing, and the strength of the mountain stream takes you to the Caucasus or to the Amazon River during its full-flowing. After the ice and snow melt, the most favorable period for visiting the canyon begins. A lot of waterfalls, a lush bloom of a wide variety of flowers and plants, it feels like the Chernorechensky canyon is turning into the lungs of the Crimea, filling the peninsula with fresh and clean mountain air, this is partly true.
One of the largest sites in the Crimea, where the preserved intact juniper groves are located here. They stretch almost along the entire canyon, alternating with oaks, Crimean pine and yew. On the floor there are many fern representatives of the Crimean flora. The best tourist routes start from the side of the Baydarskaya valley, near the villages of Shirokoye and Ozernoye, the nearest big village- Eagle, are located at a distance of 6 km.
Map of the route along the Chernorechensky canyon
The most common routes along the Chernorechensky canyon, runs between the villages: Rodnoye and Ozernoye and Chernorechye and Ozernoye. In the village of Rodnoye there is a sign of the beginning of the trail, in the village of Chernorechye, the sign is written by hand. All paths are marked with a marker, secondary paths will depart from the main path, but after a while, secondary roads return to the main path. The entire walk along the canyon takes about 3-4 hours on average, but there are also upper trails, visiting which, you should have at least minimal climbing training. These trails are on average 5-8 hours long.
The most picturesque views and panoramas of the Chernorechensky canyon open approximately in the middle of the canyon, where it makes a sharp U-turn. Many viewing platforms, bare rocks, endless forests, a stunning bend of the river make this place almost fabulous and seeming a little unreal, as if from some picture, or torn from the pen of a young naturalist who idealizes what he saw. Approximately in the same places, in the middle of the canyon, there is one of the most beautiful caves of Crimea, Shaitan-Kooba, in which a parking lot was discovered in the last century ancient man, several burials and many tools of labor and life of primitive man.
How to get to the Chernorechensky canyon
Get to the Chernorechensky canyon the easiest way is from the Baydarskaya valley, as a pointer you can put the village of Orlinoe. The easiest way to get to Orlinoe is along the Yalta - Sevastopol highway, from the highway the exit to Orlinoe is marked with a large sign. From the village of Orlinoe about 5 km. to the village of Ozernoe. Chernorechensky canyon is one of the most picturesque corners and is one of its main attractions. Before visiting the canyon, familiarize yourself with in order to make the route as accurately as possible and not to miss Amazing places Crimean peninsula. Also, in the Baydar Valley there is another canyon - exactly on the opposite side of the valley. Whichever landmark you decide to visit in the Baydar Valley, a good mood and a sea of adrenaline are definitely guaranteed to you.
Chernorechensky Canyon on the map of CrimeaO The grand canyon Crimea (BKK) many know - this is one of the main "business cards" of the peninsula - as, for example, bird home or the Alupka Palace. If you are not a tourist, but you really want to see the BKK, buy an excursion that includes visiting it - you will not go through the entire canyon, although its length is only 3 km, but Baths of youth will bring. I'll tell you about another Crimean canyon, in my opinion, no less impressive - Chernorechensky. Its length is 16 km. There are no official excursions there and cannot be - this is a water protection zone. A river flows along the bottom of the canyon Black supplying water to Sevastopol. On the side of the Baydar Valley, there is a water surveillance post, which prohibits entry into the canyon ( as far as I know, they only control the first two kilometers) , and there are also foresters who do not allow overnight stays, since the entire adjacent territory is a landscape reserve. But, nevertheless, there are people in the canyon, tents too. Taking into account the length of the route and the complexity of the relief, it is generally accepted that it makes sense to enter the Chernorechensky canyon only with a backpack and an obligatory overnight stay. We passed it in one day, leaving Sevastopol and returning there. Running over rough terrain for such a distance and catching the bus at the same time is not an easy task, but it is quite real.
About the Black river and the canyon
Chernaya is the second most full-flowing Crimean river after Belbek (1.94 m3 / s versus 2.75 m3 / s). Its length is 41 km. It begins in the Baydar Valley: a small rivulet Uzundzha, reinforced by streams and springs, crosses the valley and leaves it with a new name - Chorgun (Black). A dam was built closer to the exit. Now the Uzundzha and all its other tributaries flow into the formed reservoir, and one river, Chernaya, formerly Chorgun, flows out. Almost immediately, with its current, the Chernaya rests against the Kizil-Kaya mountain and further makes its way through the rock mass, in which it has carved a deep gorge for many centuries.
16 km of the canyon is more correctly called a gorge, but 12 km of them is a real canyon: the stream of water rushes in a winding gorge formed on both sides by rocks several tens of meters high. Behind the village of Chernorechye, the river enters the Inkerman Valley and flows to Inkerman, where it flows into the Sevastopol Bay of the Black Sea.
How to get through the canyon
If you go through the canyon, then there are two ways:
1) along the river: from the Baydarskaya valley (from the road between the villages of Shirokoe and Peredovoe) to the village of Chernorechye (16 km);
2) against the river flow: from the village of Chernorechye towards Shirokoye and Peredovoye (the same 16 km, but vice versa).
Additional options for entering the canyon(in the middle course):
3) from the village of Rodnoe - 5 km to the canyon;
4) from Morozovka (Alsu) - 2 km to the canyon;
Since we were going to walk the entire canyon, we chose between the first and second options. Arguments:
- the last scheduled bus to Sevastopol from Chernorechensky leaves an hour and a half later than from Shirokoye;
- it seems to be more natural to go along the river.
Although the bulk of the people prefer to move upstream, entering from Chernorechye, Rodnoye and Morozovka. In the last two cases, the lower part of the route is lost, but everything interesting is still ahead. Why do they walk like this? They are afraid of the water supervision at the top, which lets out, but does not let in.
There are trails along the top of the canyon, which are interesting to walk if the goal is to admire panoramic views. In order to see the power of the river and the grandeur of the canyon, one must walk along the bottom. There will be such a problem - "clamps". These are rocks, close and vertical (and often convex) approaching the water. They should be bypassed on horseback or try to wade across the river and “seek happiness” on the opposite side. The trail on the bypass of the "clamps" on horseback often rises very high, there is a danger of moving away from the canyon. For us, such a wandering was unacceptable, the prospect of getting stuck in a canyon or in a forest to spend the night without a tent did not suit. Nor did we plan endless fords across the river - spring was just beginning. This is possible if you stick to main lower trail : it goes along the left side of the river, then about the middle it goes to the right - the main thing is not to miss this transition. In general, the trails are visible on both sides of the river, and they are actively used.
Sevastopol. 5 km
From here there are buses to the surrounding villages. We need to go to the Baydar Valley, to the village of Shirokoye. In the Baydarskaya valley, the villages are like a looped road, we need a bus "5 km - Peredovoe". From the entrance to this so-called ring on the left (i.e. clockwise), the first will be the village of Shirokoe, but the bus can first turn right along the ring to the village of Orlinoe (the largest locality in the valley), then go back and head for Shirokoe. I would not be surprised if there is a flight that will go to Peredovoe via Orlinoe, and not via Shirokoe (i.e. counterclockwise). Although the other side is the direction "5 km - Rodnikovoye". In general, you need to specify at the box office for 5 km which bus will take you to the desired place.
Wide
In principle, you do not need to get off the bus in the village. You can ask for a driver, and he will stop behind the village on the bridge over the Black River. This is the beginning of the route, if there is no water protection post on patrol. Everyone says that in the morning, before the working day begins, you can slip through. We decided to check this version - in the morning at about eight we succeeded.
To avoid a spoiled mood for sure, you need to get off the bus in the right place - in Shirokoye. Then behind the village we move in the direction of small hills: the one that is closer - Smnalih. We leave it along the path to the left, then soon we take it to the right and go down the paths into the canyon - ideally we get to the Kizil-kay rock, i.e. to the beginning of the canyon. By time - 40-50 minutes. From the bridge to this place along the river - 15 minutes.
Kizil-Kaya - Yatlauz stream - Small and Big Gate (first loop)
In this section, the river still flows calmly, albeit quickly. The color of the water is surprising - turquoise-emerald, which has nothing to do with the name of the river. The trail, comfortable and wide, winds along the river bank. The same is on the opposite bank. A lot of good places for tents. Purely. If people spend the night, they understand that they are in a wildlife reserve, moreover, in its water protection zone. Further, rocks appear, the canyon is gaining strength - its walls, narrowing, gradually rise upward. Here is the first "clamp" - you have to go around it, climbing up the rocks, then go down again to the water.
The river then rumbles on the rifts and falls in numerous waterfalls, then it forms sleeves with pretty islands and quiet backwaters. It is good to swim here in summer - the water in the river is warm. Trout is also found, but you cannot catch it. They drink water from the river. There is a spring at the beginning of the canyon before the rock goes.
The river in the canyon makes two loops, turning almost 180 degrees. This site contains first eyelet- the path goes up and down, there are no obvious dangerous areas, the views are mesmerizing. If there is a tent, you should not rush further - the "heart" of the canyon is here, up to the Gate. This is the name of the place in which two rocky strata almost merge with each other, and water rushes into the gap between them.
Foaming, the streams squeeze between the grandiose walls. The way up goes along a narrow cornice, but what beauties open up to the eye, the head is spinning not so much from the height, but from the smell of herbs and a spicy juniper aroma. Climbing upstairs, you should lie down and hang your head over the cliff: the riot of the water element delights! Further, the trail goes down to the water along the rustling scree of the slope. It is important here not to get carried away by the contemplation of beauty and not to deviate to the left instead of looking for a channel. Therefore, it is necessary to keep closer to the river and prefer right turns at dubious forks. The trail will soon lead to the water.
Attention! At this point, you can interrupt the route - go on horseback and forward in the direction of the village of Morozovka.
Crossing from the left bank to the right. Right side. Second loop
It is important not to miss this place - then the left side becomes completely impassable for some time. A simple structure of logs and branches serves as a bridge. The current is fast, but not deep. Then for about half an hour the path on the right bank goes along the river and looks harmless. We organized a halt at this place, admired the landscape of the very steep opposite shore, watched the rare tourists traversing its slopes at an angle of 45 degrees and higher - were they forced to find themselves there or are not looking for easy ways?
We don't have to relax too much - there is a difficult section of the path ahead - an extreme detour second eyelet... "Clamps" have to pass cautiously in places along the rocks with the risk of falling down into the water, then the section begins, which is overcome along the impromptu bridges-perches laid along the coast in half a step, the role of which is performed by the trunks of trees laid one after another, including along sheer walls over deep water. Bouncing under the weight of the body, they are, oddly enough, durable.
The road to Chernorechye
At 16-00 we left the main part of the canyon, having spent, especially not in a hurry, on the passage of eight hours. There is a second small fontanel at the exit. Then we will have a pleasant walk along the wide path to Chernorechye. There are still rocks, but less often and nonsense in comparison with what has been overcome. Pay attention to the remains of the German bridge and the Partizanskaya glade opposite. From here to the right - to Rodnoe, to the left across the river - to Morozovka. We go straight. The Black River is becoming wider and calmer. The water of a gray-green color seems cloudy, if you scoop up the water with your hand, it is pure and transparent.
After 1.5-2 hours we arrive in Chernorechye - the tower of the XIV century has been preserved here, we see it. There is bus stop, from which the bus departs to Balaklava. If you are not lucky with him, then you need another hour to cross the village and wait on the highway for a regular bus from Ternovka to Sevastopol or catch a ride. Transport will deliver to the same place from where we left, for 5 km. The journey is over. You feel pleasant tiredness from the fact that the route has been passed and envy of those lucky ones who stayed in the canyon for the night - you cannot enjoy that beauty on the go.
Tips:
1. Go to the canyon, don't be afraid. You don't want to cope with 16 km, you don't want to jump on logs / perches above the water and climb rocks on the second loop, ride away from observation deck over Gates to the side Morozovki (Alsou)... Don't go down to the ferry. From there - to the Yalta highway and by any bus to Sevostopol. Enjoy scenic views, swim in the river, extreme second eyelet and avoid the tedious exit through Chernorechye.
2. Should I go from Native? This is no closer than from Chernorechye. In this case, a full passage of the canyon upwards is assumed. If you do not plan an overnight stay, then only a physically well prepared man can manage to run and jump on the last bus - public transport, as you remember, in the Baydar Valley it stops working earlier than in Chernorechye).
3. And if you come from Morozovka? I will say the same as in claim 2, in this case the only plus is that it is closer to the canyon from Morozovka than from Rodnoye. In our case, it is better to go to Morozovka (that is, without backpacks and tents) - it is not far from the Yalta-Sevastopol highway, the buses run there until late.
Over the rocks mountain Crimea there are many hiking trails. And it is not surprising - those vacationers for whom strength, health and tastes allow to endure significant physical exertion and do for some time without the "benefits of civilization", are in a hurry to get acquainted with the unique natural corners of the peninsula. The canyons of the Crimean rivers are of great interest. The most famous of them is, but the longest is the Chernorechensky canyon. The route, laid along its bottom and shores, allows you to enjoy unusual views and at the same time "test the strength" of yourself.
Where is Chernorechensky in Crimea?
Of the large, the closest to the attractions is located. The gorge runs along the valley of the Black River from the village. Wide (next to there is another memo -) to the village. Chernorechye. Its length is over 12 km.
Canyon on the map of Crimea
History of origin: labor of water
In Crimea, the Chernorechensky canyon arose due to the erosion of soft limestone by waters. For the peninsula, this is a fairly full-flowing river, and therefore the results of its "work" turned out to be so significant. During the rainy season, tourists are advised to refrain from visiting the memorial, as a sharp rise in water levels can be dangerous.
Chernorechensky canyon is the longest in the region. Since 1947 it has been a natural monument of local importance. In 1974, its territory and adjacent rocks were declared a state reserve, so you can only move along the established routes, and preferably accompanied by an experienced instructor.
Local Legends: Green or Black?
Many tourists are surprised by the name of the river - Black. It is very clean, and the water in it may seem completely transparent, blue, green, but not black at all. What is the secret of the appearance of such a name?
Locals offer two options for the origin of the name. The first one says that during the times of the Crimean Khanate the river was called Chorgun. The meaning of this word remains unknown. Afterwards, the Russian settlers changed their unusual name into a similar-sounding Russian name - Black.
Fans of the second option offer the curious to look at the river early in the morning from the rocks. The sun does not fall into the canyon everywhere and not immediately. In constant shade, the water from a height does seem to be black.
Routes of visiting Chernorechensky
A simple description will not give an opportunity to appreciate all the beauty natural monument- it must be seen. However, people with poor health or fear of heights may not be able to take such a walk. 
It takes a certain amount of dexterity and stamina to complete this route. The Chernorechensky canyon requires its guests to climb the rocks and wade the river or along very conventional bridges.
The journey can be carried out both from Wide and Chernorechye. There is also an abbreviated version, starting near the village of Morozovka. But in all cases experienced travelers and the instructors calculate the speed of movement no more than 1 km per hour, since the trail is quite difficult.
The road runs along both natural and man-made paths. Part of it was built by the ancient Romans. The map calls one more segment of the way "Manstein's road". This Hitlerite commander tried to carry out roundabout maneuvers here during the siege of Sevastopol during the Great Patriotic War... The Nazis also built a bridge across the Black, but it was blown up by the Crimean partisans - today you can see only its remnants. A monument to the partisans also stands here.
What else is interesting about the canyon?
At the entrance to the canyon near the village of Chernorechye, a fragment of the castle of a Turkish nobleman who lived here in the 16th-17th centuries has been preserved. It is an unusual 12-sided one, the entrance to which was located on the third floor. With. The wide beginning of the valley is marked by the rock Kizil-Kaya (Red) 
- she really is that color
The full passage of the Chernorechensky canyon usually takes 2-3 days. Tourists have the opportunity to make breaks and stop for the night in designated places - this is both more convenient and safer for nature. Fatigue is well relieved by bathing. Although the water is cool, there are many deepened bays along the river bed, convenient for swimming - they are called here "royal baths". Shooting masters take beautiful photos on the way, reflecting the beauty of nature, and those who know how to work with their hands, replenish the collection of local attractions with wooden "totems".
The visit requires very comfortable, non-slip shoes. It is also necessary to have warm clothes, because at the bottom of the gorge there is a long shadow and through winds blowing, which is why it is cool even in summer.
How to get to Chernorechensky?
The Chernorechensky Canyon is not the place to be reached by car. The easiest way to get to it is from Sevastopol either to Shirokoe or to Chernorechye, where the corresponding minibuses go. You can also take advantage of the routes leading to the Baydar Valley. But in all cases, you will have to walk some distance before entering the gorge.
By car from Sevastopol, you can get to Chernorechye in this way:
Tourist notes
- Address: item Chernorechye, Balaklava region, Crimea, Russia.
- Coordinates: 44 ° 32′11 ″ N (44.5364), 33 ° 41′11 ″ E (33.686496).
For those who are ready to work their own legs and back for the sake of learning new things, the Chernorechensky canyon of Crimea will become an unforgettable experience. These places love cheerful, strong and a little adventurous, willingly sharing their secrets with them! In conclusion, we offer a short video about this attraction. Happy viewing!
