Ala-Archa — Tuyuk-Suu Waterfall

The main trail of Ala-Archa National Park follows the river of the same name, occasionally crossing from one bank to the other. Deep inside the park, many attractions are hidden away: an abandoned weather station and ski base, several large glaciers, vast alpine meadows, and snow-covered peaks. Against this backdrop, the picturesque cascade of waterfalls on the Tuyuk-Suu River, a right tributary of the Ala-Archa, often goes unnoticed. Unlike the Ak-Say Waterfall, it is rarely included in guided tours — undeservedly so. From the main trail, the cascade does not look particularly impressive, but a closer look reveals its true beauty.

You can reach the park entrance by private car or by bus No. 1, which regularly departs from T. Usubaliev Square (behind the Historical Museum building). Inside the park, electric buses operate 24/7 and will take you for free to the start of the walking section of the route and bring you back at any time of day or night. If you happen to be travelling by an electric car, you may also drive into the park yourself and leave your vehicle at the parking lot at the terminal electric-bus stop (the “second barrier gate,” beyond which only service and construction vehicles are allowed to enter).

The route to Tuyuk-Suu Waterfall is not technically difficult but is fairly long: the round-trip distance reaches up to 18 kilometres. The ascent is gradual but steady, with only a few steeper sections. Near the waterfall, temperatures are noticeably lower than at the beginning of the route and often 10–15°C cooler than in Bishkek. The trail is good throughout. The final section from the main trail to the waterfall crosses a medium-sized scree slope where trekking poles can be helpful.

The route begins at Ala-Archa Mountaineering Camp, which now hosts the lower station of the cable car and the final bus stop. The first section follows a paved road. At the point where the main road makes a sharp left turn into the Ak-Say Valley, cross the Ak-Say River via a small bridge and continue straight along the right (orographic) bank of the Ala-Archa. After passing through a small grove, you will reach the bridge across the Ala-Archa (the second, or Yellow Bridge), which you should use to cross to the opposite (left) bank. Note that you should not use the first bridge across the Ala-Archa near the start of the route; the trail along the left bank in that section is much worse and will cost you considerable time and effort.

For the next several kilometres after the second bridge, the main trail follows the left bank (the right bank contains numerous scree slopes and obstacles that you will thus avoid). Eventually, you will reach the third (White) Bridge, where you should cross back to the right bank. After a little more than one kilometre, you will see a sign marked “Tuyuk-Suu”. In fact, you have not yet reached the river: this is the junction with the trail to Golubin Glacier, which eventually leads into the Tuyuk-Suu Valley much higher upstream than the waterfall. Continue straight along the main trail. After a few hundred more metres, you will arrive at a marshy area near the mouth of the Tuyuk-Suu River. Looking to the left, you may already spot part of the waterfall cascade. Begin climbing the scree slope covering the stream bed; another 10–15 minutes will bring you to your destination. The waterfall can be approached not only from below but also from the side and from above — both banks offer several excellent viewpoints.