Bear Waterfall
Down the cliff.
Nikolai Bulykin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dmaslova888 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nikolai Bulykin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nikolai Bulykin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nikolai Bulykin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nikolai Bulykin — CC BY-SA 4.0
Turgen is a green mountain gorge in the Tian Shan east of Almaty. A fast, white-water river rushes between rocks, slopes are covered in spruce forest and grass, suspension bridges cross the water, and a waterfall plunges down a high rock face. The gorge is part of Ile-Alatau National Park. Its best-known sight is Medvezhiy, the «Bear Waterfall», about 30 m high at 1,450 m above sea level, though some sources give a greater height. The gorge has other waterfalls and longer trails higher into the mountains. You drive up the gorge road, stopping by the river, then walk a short way to the Bear Waterfall, with the river, forest and mountains all around. The Bear Waterfall is about 63 km in a straight line east of Almaty. There is a national park entry fee at the gate. The rocks by the falls are slippery and mountain weather changes fast, so bring a jacket.
Down the cliff.
White water.
On the slopes.
Ile-Alatau National Park, east of Almaty
Yes, by car or on a tour.
May to October.