Mount Krestovaya is a natural starting point for exploring Gubakha: it is a landmark of the city and lies at the northern end of the Rudyansky-Spoy Ridge. Ski runs and freeride slopes, rock formations and views give the area a variety of facets; the KUB Museum adds the region’s mining past. You can choose what to focus on depending on whether you are most interested in the landscape, winter sports or culture.
Krestovaya and the Rudyansky-Spoy Ridge
Krestovaya is 471.3 metres high. The Rudyansky-Spoy Ridge stretches 20 kilometres from north to south between the Usva and Kosva rivers and is known for its many iron-rich sandstone cliffs. The rocks at the summit of Krestovaya are made of Lower Carboniferous sandstone, formed in a riverbed 340 to 330 million years ago. Its characteristic cross-bedding shapes the rock. Fossilised plant remains, bark impressions and palaeosols may be found in it. These possible traces also give the landscape a geological dimension.
From the summit, you can see the remains of the abandoned town of Verkhnyaya Gubakha, the limestone cliffs of Ladeyny and Sukhoi Log, and, to the east, the peaks of the Bassegi Ridge. Visibility depends on conditions. Traces of mining are also part of the landscape: the ruins of an engine house and a small spoil heap remain by the incline of the Pervomayskaya mine.
Ski runs and a walking route to the rocks
The year-round Gubakha resort is located on Mount Krestovaya in Gubakha. It offers seven groomed ski runs and eleven freeride slopes. The figures are listed separately, showing that the selection includes both groomed runs and slopes for freeriders. Check the latest operating details before your trip.
The “Gubakhinskaya krugosvetka” excursion offers another way to explore the rocks of the Rudyansky-Spoy Ridge. It includes a 2.5-kilometre walking route to the rocks and starts at the year-round resort in Gubakha. Routes and availability may change, so check the details before making plans.
Mining history and nature at the KUB Museum
The KUB Museum in Gubakha focuses on the city’s mining past and palaeontological subjects. Its five exhibitions can be visited individually or as part of an overview tour: two cover miners’ work and daily life, two focus on nature and palaeontology, and one on the years of the Great Patriotic War. The mix connects the city’s history with the natural themes also reflected in the rock formations on Krestovaya. As the exhibition layout may change, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information in advance.
On average, the museum offers museum activities, guided tours or talks about new exhibitions about once a month; this does not mean there are fixed dates for a particular visit. The sound workshop is popular with people of all ages, but you should check its current availability. For important commemorative days and public holidays, the museum prepares workshops for schoolchildren and kindergarten children. Dates and availability vary.
Art installations and events in the city
The city itself has its own cultural attractions. An unusual book-shaped fountain was opened in the town square in 2016. The “Ptitsa schastya” (“Bird of Happiness”) art installation was created in central Gubakha in 2012. “Balet na zakate” (“Ballet at Sunset”) is considered a city landmark and attracts thousands of spectators every year. If you are planning to attend a particular event, check the dates before your trip.
Gubakha offers a range of ways to plan your trip: the rock landscape and its geology, activities on Krestovaya, exhibitions and workshops at the KUB Museum, and art and events around the city. The themes you choose to focus on can also guide your search for a holiday apartment in Gubakha.
Discover more destinations: Pechmen', Mostovaya, Klyuchi, Vereshchagino, Jaiwa, Chaikovsky, Osa, Oleni.
See the overall travel guide: Perm Krai.
