A three-day trek through Lagodekhi's protected forest to Black Rock Lake at 2,800 m, within sight of the Dagestan border.
| Day 1 | Drive from Tbilisi to Lagodekhi, about three hours, with a stop for the park permit and border-zone registration at the ranger station. Afternoon walk into the reserve along the river trail to the first ranger shelter, where you sleep. |
| Day 2 | Full day's climb through beech and then pine forest to the open alpine zone, reaching Black Rock Lake at 2,800 m by late afternoon. Overnight at the lake shelter, with the Dagestan border ridge visible to the north. |
| Day 3 | Descend the same trail back to Lagodekhi, roughly six to seven hours including rest stops, then drive back to Tbilisi, arriving in the evening. |
Do I need a special permit for the border zone?
Yes. Lagodekhi borders Dagestan, Russia, and the trek requires a border-zone permit processed with your passport details in advance. We handle the paperwork, but we need your documents at least five working days before the trek.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be comfortable walking six to eight hours on uneven mountain trail with a day pack. The ascent on day 2 is the hardest stretch, climbing from forest to 2,800 m.
What do the horses carry?
Horses carry your main luggage and shared camp gear between shelters. You walk with a day pack containing water, layers and snacks.
Is this trek open outside summer?
No. The route is only staffed and accessible June to October; outside this window the shelters close and the pass is under snow.