Lagodekhi NP – Hiking to the lake shared between Georgia and Dagestan Kakheti, Places 23 35580 Lagodekhi National Park is located in north-east edge of Kakheti region on Southern slopes of Caucasus mountains bordering Azerbaijan and Dagestan (RF). Protected in 1912, under the Russian Empire, it is the first nature preserve in Georgia. Located at an altitudes ranging from 590 to 3500m, its area extends to 24,451 hectares. Lagodekhi is a treasure for nature lovers: preserved forests, glacial lakes, waterfalls, deep valleys and access to a wide variety of Kakheti’s wildlife. Nearly every corner of the park reveals new stunning imagery. Hiking trails are plentiful as are a number of guesthouses that put your right in the middle of Kakheti beauty. Lagodekhi in spring (By G.Chanadiri) Gurgeniani waterfall Currently the national park offers 5 trails: Grouse waterfall, Ninoskhevi waterfall, Machi castle, Black Rock Lake and knowledge of nature trail. Out of 5, the most popular hikes are one we are going to talk about (2/3 day hike to Black Rock Lake) and the second is to Ninoskhevi waterfall from village Gurgeniani which makes one day nice trip in summer, just 8.5km few hours hike to 40m long beautiful waterfall. How to get to Lagodekhi: You can drive 170km (2.5hr) or take marshutka (mini bus) from Isani station (near Isani metro); It costs 8 laris. You can take a shared taxi for 10 lari per person. You need to arrive at visitors centre and main entrance of the National Park by car (agree with a driver in advance about this, also about your way back). You need to check in at the visitor’s center. There you can become familiar with the specifics of Lagodekhi protected areas, existing tariffs, safety rules and to choose desirable route from existing tourist trails with appropriate services. Also you need to pay fees if you are renting camping gear/horse, also to pay overnight stay fee. Please see the fees here. You can also visit National park museum and learn some interesting facts about national reserve. You can drive horse or You can eat some forest blackberries on the road Hiking Trip Information: This is one of the most interesting trails in all of Georgia and is distinguished by its astounding views of the Alazani valley and the Caucasus mountains. The route starts from the visitors centre. You will first follow the plain path through beautiful forest till you start ascent. The route is well-marked so don’t worry about getting lost somewhere. The path is quite good technically and safe. But be prepared for endless ascent of around 1.5km elevation difference the first day till tourist shelter Meteo.Make sure you carry some water to meteo station which has its spring nearby. You can stay in tourist shelter which accommodates up to 16 people or camp outside. Meteo Station -Tourist Shelter The second day you need to start walking in the alpine valley. Be prepared for breathtaking views. Soon you will come across specially designated spots from where you can observe animals: deer, chamois and wild goat; as well as birds such as grouse, Caucasian snowcocks, bearded and various eagles. After few hours hike you can reach the borderguards post. They are pleasant and nice people- you need to have your ID so they can register you as visitors. There is a new tourist shelter built recently in the area so you can stay instead of Meteo station in the area near the border post and the lake and then you descend to Lagodekhi the third day starting from early morning. But if you prefer you can go down to Meteo station the second day to gain half day and make the trip for the last day less tiring. The sea of clouds Lake in late summer The lake (by I.Kurtauli) After border post you can walk about 30 minutes and Black Rock Lake spreads in front of us. Located on the height of 2780m it serves a natural border between Georgia and Daghestan, the Russian Federation. It is very beautiful especially in sunny days. Especially if it is June or September months it will be reach in colors. It is still possible to hike in any period from the end of May till the first half of October. Depending on the time of the day it may turn blue or beautiful rocks around it might be reflected in the lake. There are some other small alpine lakes nearby also but currently it is not permitted to visit. All 3 small lakes view from 3,000m by Mikael Kavtaradze One of 3 small lakes (by M.Kavtaradze) For the map please see (please note that there was a new shelter built last year which could have made this route shorter. Its better to follow the marked route): Share149+1TweetSharePin21170 SharesFacebook Comments 23 Responses Sagi September 13, 2016 Hello , do you recommend to hike this place at October? Reply Georgian Tour September 14, 2016 Its recommended to hike here, at least to meteo Station (to the lake it may be possible till the second half of October, depends when it will snow there). Its period of Red Deer Roar and you can even observe that in the beginning of October. Also you can visit Machi fort 1 day trial which will have nice autumn colors at the end of October as well as route to Meteo station. Reply Mohammad Moawad September 19, 2016 Hi how r u? What’s level of this hike? I don’t have too much experience Reply Georgian Tour September 20, 2016 Hi Mohammad, I can find you a guide who will walk according to your pace if you arrive in Svaneti; I can even find you an alpinist to ascend Mt.Laila but I think for you it would be better to start with basics and try easy walks such as Chalaadi Glacier or Shdugra Waterfall. Reply Marie December 25, 2016 Hi, we would like to undertake this hike in August. You are mentioning that the lake is on the border with the Russian Federation. Do we need the russian visa? It necessary for our country to go to Russia. Thank you for your response! Reply Georgian Tour December 26, 2016 Hi Marie, No visa is needed as you dont cross the border to RF. Its at the border so you will just need your ID/passport. Reply Marie December 26, 2016 Thank you very much! Thomas April 26, 2017 Just was there last week (19/20 April) and the trail to Black Rock Lake was not yet open. As well, Ninoskhevi waterfall wasn’t accessible unless you were prepared fording the creek several times – the bridges are gone and will be restored only closer to towards summer. Reply Georgian Tour May 8, 2017 Till Rainy season is not over, the only accessible route is Machi fortress. Reply Sarine Boubouchian May 27, 2017 Hi, I was wondering if the hike to Black Rock Lake will be open in June? Reply Georgian Tour June 7, 2017 Hi, Black rock lake trial till Meteo station is open and for the lakes if its accessible please consult with National park Administration Reply Vivi Franco February 21, 2018 My husband and I are planning an independent trip in a 4×4 jeep rented in the Kachati area in mid-April 2018. Do you know by chance whether access to the waterfalls GURGENIANI or NINOSKHEVI or ROCHO at this time of year is possible? Thank you very much Vivi TLV Israel Reply Georgian Tour February 21, 2018 Shalom, Waterfalls are possible all the time, however, in mid-April it may be the case that bridges to the waterfalls dont exist (its rainy period). In this case its hard to reach waterfalls, some cases when water levels are high not recommended. I advise you get to Lagodekhi and if waterfall hikes are unavailable, then try Machi fortress route https://georgiantour.com/machi/ Reply JS April 17, 2018 Hi, We are planning a trip for next September for 35 11-13 year olds. Is there a campground there that can accommodate? Thanks. Reply Georgian Tour April 19, 2018 Hello there are cottages where you can sleep, but its not regular beds. you can hire sleepings bags at central office in Lagodekhi. Reply Tereza April 23, 2018 Hi, do you think there is any chance that it would be possible to hike in Lagodekhi in next week – the very beginning of May? Thanks Reply Georgian Tour April 24, 2018 Hello, You can always hike Machi fortress route, also have it on web, u can even ask me to organize horse riding tour there. In the end of May u can hike to the lakes as well. Waterfall routes may be open and maybe not depending on water levels and bridges which need to be fixed during spring. Reply Dani June 25, 2018 Hello! Will we have to carry food for 3 days for this trek or it’s possible to find something on the way at the Meteo shelter, for ex? Thanks! Reply Georgian Tour August 15, 2018 No u need to buy food in city/town Reply Martin July 6, 2018 Hi 🙂 is it possible to extend the trek northwest, along the mountain ridge? (Mt. Nukhulosa, Mt. Khimrik) Is the area passable in August (trails, snow)? Ridge is the border with Dagestan, is it possible to walk along the border? This site is a great help, thank you 🙂 Reply Georgian Tour August 15, 2018 No, u will not be allowed by border guards or national park administration, There are trials which u need to follow Reply Tim November 10, 2018 Hi, I will be visiting this area sometime in March so I’m wondering what tracks would be open during this time? Thanks in advance! Kind regards from Australia. Reply Georgian Tour November 12, 2018 Hello, to the lakes I doubt it will be open, but machi fortress route is all time open. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Currently you have JavaScript disabled. 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Georgian Tour September 14, 2016 Its recommended to hike here, at least to meteo Station (to the lake it may be possible till the second half of October, depends when it will snow there). Its period of Red Deer Roar and you can even observe that in the beginning of October. Also you can visit Machi fort 1 day trial which will have nice autumn colors at the end of October as well as route to Meteo station. Reply
Mohammad Moawad September 19, 2016 Hi how r u? What’s level of this hike? I don’t have too much experience Reply
Georgian Tour September 20, 2016 Hi Mohammad, I can find you a guide who will walk according to your pace if you arrive in Svaneti; I can even find you an alpinist to ascend Mt.Laila but I think for you it would be better to start with basics and try easy walks such as Chalaadi Glacier or Shdugra Waterfall. Reply
Marie December 25, 2016 Hi, we would like to undertake this hike in August. You are mentioning that the lake is on the border with the Russian Federation. Do we need the russian visa? It necessary for our country to go to Russia. Thank you for your response! Reply
Georgian Tour December 26, 2016 Hi Marie, No visa is needed as you dont cross the border to RF. Its at the border so you will just need your ID/passport. Reply
Thomas April 26, 2017 Just was there last week (19/20 April) and the trail to Black Rock Lake was not yet open. As well, Ninoskhevi waterfall wasn’t accessible unless you were prepared fording the creek several times – the bridges are gone and will be restored only closer to towards summer. Reply
Georgian Tour May 8, 2017 Till Rainy season is not over, the only accessible route is Machi fortress. Reply
Sarine Boubouchian May 27, 2017 Hi, I was wondering if the hike to Black Rock Lake will be open in June? Reply
Georgian Tour June 7, 2017 Hi, Black rock lake trial till Meteo station is open and for the lakes if its accessible please consult with National park Administration Reply
Vivi Franco February 21, 2018 My husband and I are planning an independent trip in a 4×4 jeep rented in the Kachati area in mid-April 2018. Do you know by chance whether access to the waterfalls GURGENIANI or NINOSKHEVI or ROCHO at this time of year is possible? Thank you very much Vivi TLV Israel Reply
Georgian Tour February 21, 2018 Shalom, Waterfalls are possible all the time, however, in mid-April it may be the case that bridges to the waterfalls dont exist (its rainy period). In this case its hard to reach waterfalls, some cases when water levels are high not recommended. I advise you get to Lagodekhi and if waterfall hikes are unavailable, then try Machi fortress route https://georgiantour.com/machi/ Reply
JS April 17, 2018 Hi, We are planning a trip for next September for 35 11-13 year olds. Is there a campground there that can accommodate? Thanks. Reply
Georgian Tour April 19, 2018 Hello there are cottages where you can sleep, but its not regular beds. you can hire sleepings bags at central office in Lagodekhi. Reply
Tereza April 23, 2018 Hi, do you think there is any chance that it would be possible to hike in Lagodekhi in next week – the very beginning of May? Thanks Reply
Georgian Tour April 24, 2018 Hello, You can always hike Machi fortress route, also have it on web, u can even ask me to organize horse riding tour there. In the end of May u can hike to the lakes as well. Waterfall routes may be open and maybe not depending on water levels and bridges which need to be fixed during spring. Reply
Dani June 25, 2018 Hello! Will we have to carry food for 3 days for this trek or it’s possible to find something on the way at the Meteo shelter, for ex? Thanks! Reply
Martin July 6, 2018 Hi 🙂 is it possible to extend the trek northwest, along the mountain ridge? (Mt. Nukhulosa, Mt. Khimrik) Is the area passable in August (trails, snow)? Ridge is the border with Dagestan, is it possible to walk along the border? This site is a great help, thank you 🙂 Reply
Georgian Tour August 15, 2018 No, u will not be allowed by border guards or national park administration, There are trials which u need to follow Reply
Tim November 10, 2018 Hi, I will be visiting this area sometime in March so I’m wondering what tracks would be open during this time? Thanks in advance! Kind regards from Australia. Reply
Georgian Tour November 12, 2018 Hello, to the lakes I doubt it will be open, but machi fortress route is all time open. Reply