Route Details

- The trail begins at the Ayder minibus terminal, passing under the bridge, then crossing another bridge over the stream before entering the forest trail.
- The first section is entirely through dense forest and steep in places, with occasional steps built into the path.
- You will encounter several small stream crossings and wooden bridges.
- The first stream crossing is around 1.5 km in, near a small waterfall.
- At this point (approx. 1450 m altitude), the trail becomes steeper and rougher — a good place to pause and assess your pace and energy before deciding whether to continue.
- Further along, you’ll find safety chains fixed to trees on steep sections.
- After completing the climb through the forest, you’ll emerge onto open ground and see the houses of Hazindak Plateau.

Timing and Effort
- The distance between Ayder and Hazindak is 4.5 km, with a total elevation gain of 850 m — a challenging climb not to be underestimated.
- With average fitness, expect about 3 hours 50 minutes for the ascent and 2 hours 45 minutes for the descent.
- Add at least 20% extra time for breaks and rest stops.
- This makes it a full-day route, so overnight accommodation at Hazindak Plateau is recommended for a more relaxed experience.

Connections and Return
- From the Hazindak ridge, the path descending to the left connects to the Palovit Waterfall cycling route (Bike Route No. 3).
- The path continuing to the right leads to the Pokut Plateau hiking route (Hiking Route No. 1).
- The return to Ayder follows the same trail back down.

Note: The descent can be more slippery than the climb, especially in wet conditions, requiring extra caution on steep or muddy sections.

Risks

Possible bear encounters. Around 10 stream crossings, with simple wooden bridges that may be damaged by weather. The route is steep; after the first waterfall, there are rocky and stepped sections requiring careful footing.

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