Zyuratkul lies on the northeastern shore of the reservoir of the same name. The hiking trails start at different points in the settlement: at the entrance or at the dam. When planning, it is worth considering your destination and trailhead together. The “Magnitsky” checkpoint and information point is another landmark: from there, you can reach the lake, the settlement, and the starting points of several routes.

Hiking Trails with Different Destinations

The “Malaya Medvezhya” eco-trail begins at the entrance to Zyuratkul and leads to the 1,175 m summit of the Zyuratkul Ridge. The distance is listed as 6 km one way. This one-way distance is relevant when planning the hike.

A 7.5 km route to Golaya Sopka branches off this eco-trail; the ascent begins at the settlement entrance. Thus, two trails from the stated starting point lead to different destinations: the eco-trail leads to the Zyuratkul Ridge, while the branch trail leads to Golaya Sopka. When choosing, you can take both the destination and the route into account.

A well-maintained trail to the Maly Moskal Ridge begins at the dam of Lake Zyuratkul. The route from the settlement to the ridge is 3.5 km long and accessible to families with children. From the summit, you can enjoy views of Lake Zyuratkul and the Lukash and Bolshoy Nurgush ridges. Starting at the dam distinguishes this hike from the trails that begin at the settlement entrance; several viewpoints are also specifically named here. The 6 km distance is one way; the 3.5 km distance refers to the route from the settlement to the ridge.

The Great Ural Trail can be started from the settlements of Zyuratkul or Tyulyuk, among other places. Zyuratkul is therefore one possible starting point for this route, but not the only one listed. Check the current conditions for the route before setting out.

Access and How to Get There

The “Magnitsky” checkpoint and information point provides access to Lake Zyuratkul, the settlement, and the starting points of the “Malaya Medvezhya” and “Tainy ozera” eco-trails and the “Zyuratkulskie stolby” route. The point is therefore relevant to a range of destinations, from the lake to the named trailheads. Check the current access rules before your trip.

Buses run daily from Ufa, Yekaterinburg, and Chelyabinsk to Satka. From there, take a taxi either to the settlement of Zyuratkul or to the “U trekh vershin” cordon. The journey therefore involves a bus ride to Satka followed by a taxi ride to one of these two destinations. As schedules and transport services can change, confirm connections before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Cheremshanka, Vishnevogorsk, Kopeysk, Magnitogorsk, Satka, Chelyabinsk, Chebarkul, Tyulyuk.

See the regional travel overview: Chelyabinsk Oblast.