The route to the Shagatsikomdon Waterfall first climbs steeply over a grey granite outcrop, then descends to the riverbank and the lower cascade. This sequence of ascent and descent offers a tangible introduction to the landscapes of the Republic of North Ossetia: alongside waterfalls, glaciers, gorges and historic sites shape the discoveries to be made.

Glaciers and high-altitude trails

From a moraine, you can see the Karaugom Glacier, the largest glacier in North Ossetia. Its icefall reaches a height of up to 800 metres. The Tseysky Glacier is the republic’s second-largest. The protected-area administration also describes it as one of the most beautiful and accessible glaciers in the Caucasus. These two size comparisons place the glaciers within North Ossetia, while the view from the moraine shows Karaugom from a different perspective.

The trail to the Tseysky Glacier begins in a large meadow on the steep left bank of the Tseydon River, at an altitude of 1,958 metres. At Galdoridon Waterfall, a circular route leads from the left bank of the Khareseidon through the entrance to the Khares Gorge and on to the waterfall. The route runs at an altitude of 1,800 to 2,200 metres above sea level. Galdoridon itself is a five-tiered waterfall more than 30 metres high and a natural attraction in Alania National Park.

Chifandzar offers a different landscape: this high-altitude bog is of lacustrine, or lake-origin, formation and is a natural monument in Alania National Park. In the natural areas described here, you can therefore encounter not only glaciers and waterfalls but also a bog. There is also a designated rest area in a clearing at the entrance to the debris-flow barrier.

Gorge trails and wildlife watching

The trail to the Shalagom viewpoint begins in the village of Kharisdzhin and runs through the Khilak Gorge to the Shalagom tract. The largest local population of endemic East Caucasian tur is found on the gorge’s left slope in the North Ossetian Nature Reserve; it may also be the largest in all of North Ossetia. From the Shalagom viewpoint, you can observe the animals in their natural habitat in the subalpine and alpine zones of the Bokovoy Range. Sightings are not guaranteed.

The route to Shagatsikomdon Waterfall also follows the left terrace of the Tseydon River. It passes through a pine forest with Oriental beech, Trautvetter’s maple and grey alder, growing on brown mountain-forest podzolic soils. The steep climb over the granite outcrop and the subsequent descent to the riverbank make the course of the route especially clear: it reaches the waterfall’s lower cascade. The different route descriptions give you practical points of reference for choosing between the gorge, forest and waterfall as themes for your explorations.

The Khilak Gorge is also associated with the Khilak (Gutievskaya) defensive wall. Scholars date its construction to the 5th to 8th centuries AD. This date remains a scholarly estimate.

Dargavs: architecture and burial customs

The Dargavs necropolis complex is a cultural monument of federal significance. It is located in the old village of Dargavs, in the valley of the same name, 42 kilometres from Vladikavkaz. The site comprises 95 tomb structures of various types, dating from the 14th century to the first third of the 19th century. Their architecture and burial customs reflect the socioeconomic conditions and religious beliefs of the Ossetian population in the late Middle Ages. The design and use of the tombs thus offer a cultural perspective on history, distinct from exploring the region’s glaciers and waterfalls.

Since 1978, the Dargavs necropolis complex has been a branch of the National Museum of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania. Its extensive architectural remains, long time span and cultural significance make the complex a destination in its own right, alongside the region’s landscapes and trails.

Discover more travel destinations: Gorod Vladikavkaz, Vladikavkaz, Khidikus, Kussu, Nizhniy Lars, Mozdok, Irafskiy rayon, Ardonskiy rayon, Alagirskiy rayon, Alagirsky District, Prigorodnyy rayon.

For the broader travel overview: Russia.