Belogorka Waterfall

Belogorka Waterfall, the highest waterfall in the Chuy Region, is located in the Sokuluk Gorge, which begins near the town of Sokuluk along the Bishkek–Kara-Balta highway. The road leading into the gorge gradually deteriorates. A high-clearance vehicle can drive quite close to the waterfall, leaving just under two kilometers to walk along a clearly visible trail following the Sokuluk riverbed. If you are driving a regular city sedan, it is better to leave your car before the last bridge across the Sokuluk River (this option is shown on the track); in this case, the walking distance will be about three kilometers one way. Even so, the final kilometers of the road may be a serious challenge for vehicles with low ground clearance.

Leave Bishkek heading west along the highway to Kara-Balta (the continuation of Chuy Avenue). In Sokuluk, immediately after crossing the bridge over the river of the same name, turn left onto a road heading south along the left (western) bank of the river. As mentioned above, the road condition will gradually worsen, so be sure to assess your vehicle’s capabilities. Drivers of city sedans are advised to park before the bridge across the Sokuluk, while high-clearance vehicles can carefully cross the bridge and continue to the point where the road makes a sharp right turn and moves away from the river.

The route to Belogorka Waterfall does not require special physical preparation. The elevation gain is small and concentrated on the final section of the trail, from the Sokuluk riverbed up to the waterfall. If you start early, a visit to the waterfall can be combined with a walk to Berulu Lake, located in a side branch of the same Sokuluk Gorge. Like most waterfalls, Belogorka is best visited in May–June, when river levels are high and the waterfall is at its most powerful. Part of the route passes through grassy meadows where ticks may be present during the warm season, so appropriate precautions should be taken.

Navigation is straightforward. The trail begins where the road makes a sharp right turn and leaves the river, continuing along the left (orographic) bank of the Sokuluk. From this point, the waterfall—located on a small tributary of the Sokuluk—is already clearly visible. The trail passes through small riverside groves and flowering meadows, then turns right near the waterfall and ends with a short but steep ascent to its base. From here, a beautiful view opens over the Sokuluk Valley and the entire route you have walked.