Dargavs via Kakadur and Karmadon towards Vladikavkaz: hiking in Caucasus
TrailTrack route Hiking Caucasus Multi-day
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Dargavs via Kakadur and Karmadon towards Vladikavkaz

Distance
73.0 km
Estimated moving time
23 h 30 min
Elevation gain
—
Difficulty
Hard
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Route description

From Dargavs, this variation heads towards the outlook side of Kakadur Pass before returning towards Karmadon and the foothills of Vladikavkaz. Stone tombs and quiet mountain settlements give way to an enormous letter AE, a recognisable emblem of the Ossetian language among the mountains. The stops connect historic architecture with contemporary ways of telling the region’s story. Take your time in Karmadon. Plaques beside the tunnel and the Kolka disaster memorial near Gizel change the mood of the journey: the landscape cannot be separated from its recent history. The road gradually leaves the mountains for Vladikavkaz. A complete walking journey needs manageable stages, checked road conditions and unhurried time at its memorials.

Route status

Проверяем свежесть данных по треку и учитываем сообщения сообщества

Запретов на посещение и пожаров рядом нет

Проверяем спутниковые данные о пожарах и предупреждения по региону.

Следить за маршрутом
Подробнее о состоянии маршрута No recent trail condition reports
Data source Added from a track

This route was added from a track. Individual sections have not been checked in the field.

Route data was imported from GPX and has not been field-verified.

Last updated Update date not provided

Before travelling, check trail access, restrictions and the weather forecast.

Current conditions No recent trail condition reports

Conditions may have changed. Share a report after completing the route.

Community experience

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Elevation profile

gentle climb steep

Before you go

Всё важное о маршруте

Route at a glance

Главное за минуту
Explore Dargavs and the letter AE on the pass road, then visit Karmadon memorials on the way towards Vladikavkaz. The journey connects Ossetian culture with its history and calls for respectful behaviour at the necropolis and commemorative sites.
Length
73.0 km
Elevation gain
1238 m
Surface
Нет данных
Dargavs via Kakadur and Karmadon towards Vladikavkaz: route photo 4 in Caucasus

Route suitability

Кому будет комфортно
Without a car - Hard With children - No With a dog - No data By bike - No data With a stroller - No Mobile signal - No data The complete walk needs several days and a transfer to the start. Children can visit individual monuments with an adult; the entire transition is not recommended as a family outing. Dog conditions and safe cycling access are unconfirmed. Mountain verges and lengthy approaches are unsuitable for strollers. No reliable coverage survey is available.

Nearby

Leave city exploration in Vladikavkaz for a separate day after the mountain journey. Midagrabin waterfalls and Upper Karmadon baths require different approaches, independent planning and access checks. Do not add them to a day stage without ample time.

Getting there

Варианты и важные моменты Show on map
Without a car
Current regular transport to the precise start near Dargavs is unconfirmed. Current public transport from the precise finish is also unconfirmed. Arrange delivery to the start and independent collection after finishing.
By car
A vehicle can provide an agreed transfer to one day stage, but the full variation finishes elsewhere. Check roads through Dargavs and Karmadon after rain and ask about local restrictions. Choose drop-off points away from narrow bends and poor visibility.
Parking
A dedicated parking facility at the start is not confirmed. Check permission, signs and payment conditions locally. Arrange a return to the vehicle or independent collection after finishing in Vladikavkaz.

Электрички туда и обратно

Расписание на дату и время, до которого нужно выйти на маршрут

What to expect

Places
Dargavs Necropolis Stone tombs with stepped pyramidal roofs form this historic ensemble. Remain outside and observe museum conditions.
Ossetian Letter AE Artwork The large letter between Fiagdon and Dargavs celebrates the distinctive Ossetian alphabet, with wooden curves forming part of the sculpture.
Sergei Bodrov and Film Crew Memorial Plaques beside the tunnel remember the film crew and people lost in the Karmadon gorge. Visit quietly.
Kolka Glacier Disaster Memorial This monument on Gizel’s southern edge commemorates victims of the Karmadon disaster, with official remembrance ceremonies continuing decades later.

Difficult sections and safety

На что обратить внимание
Elevation gainСуммарный набор высоты — 1238 м.
SurfaceТип покрытия пока не определён.
Риски Accumulated walking effort, the exposed pass road, vehicles on narrow sections and possible rockfall are the principal difficulties. Avoid poorly visible carriageways in fog and check mountain roads after rain. Do not enter old tunnels or tombs. Remain quiet at memorials. Glacier and waterfall excursions are separate journeys.

How much time to allow

Оцените свой темп
Расчётное время в пути 23 h 30 min
С запасом на остановки + 30–60 мин
Allow a multiday walking plan of 3–4 days for roughly 73 km, with daily stages around 18–25 km. Monument visits and mountain climbs need extra time beyond walking alone. Day 1: Dargavs and the Kakadur pass section, including the letter AE. Day 2: return towards the Karmadon corridor and its memorial stops. Day 3: continue through the foothills towards Gizel and Vladikavkaz. Day 4: contingency time or a shorter final stage. This is an editorial plan for the extended variation, without promised accommodation. Choose and arrange overnight locations beforehand. Individual monument visits need their own transfers.

Best time to go

Сезонность и рекомендации
Prefer dry days from late spring to early autumn, with mountain roads free of snow and ice. Start early in summer and carry water for exposed sections; autumn requires shorter daylight stages. The date of an old January journey does not establish that the full winter walk is safe.

What to bring

Базовый список для комфортного похода
Comfortable footwear for prolonged walking on stones and verges.
Water and food for each day stage.
Warm clothing, rain and sun protection.
A map of permitted roads, phone, power bank and first-aid supplies.
Documents and confirmed accommodation and transfer contacts.

FAQ

Questions before the trip

Can I do this route without a car?

Current regular transport to the precise start near Dargavs is unconfirmed. Current public transport from the precise finish is also unconfirmed. Arrange delivery to the start and independent collection after finishing

Is this route suitable for children?

Do not treat this as a basic child-friendly route: check difficulty, length, and trail conditions before going.

Can I download GPX and KML?

Yes, GPX and KML are available on the route page. Open the map, download the file, and use it in a navigator before your trip; key route facts: 73.0 km, hard.

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