- Short eco-trails of the Baikal reserve
- Great Baikal trail
- Mountain ranges around Baikal
- Olkhon Island
- Winter hiking along Lake Baikal
- On a note
Local residents call Baikal not a “lake”, but a “sea”. This is the deepest, cleanest and most beautiful lake on the planet, the world's largest reservoir of fresh water. According to various estimates, it is from 20 to 35 thousand years old - it is older than almost all known lakes in the world. A lot of endemic animals and plants live on its banks and in it itself - that is, those that are found only here and nowhere else. There are, for example, freshwater sponges in the lake.
Baikal is studied and protected, and many routes have been laid along its shores that allow you to enjoy the pristine beauty of these lands. On the western shore of the lake there is the Pribaikalsky National Park, on the east - the Zabaikalsky National Park, the Baikal-Lensky and Burguzinsky reserves. All of them are part of the unified Baikal Nature Reserve, which is under the protection of UNESCO.
Short eco-trails of the Baikal reserve
More than 20 ecological paths of various lengths have been laid in the reserve. They introduce visitors to the different landscapes and biological communities that have developed here. There are swampy areas, centuries-old taiga, small streams and meadows. Ecological trails in the reserve are made of wooden flooring - this does not harm nature and allows mothers with small children and people with disabilities to walk along them.
- Cedar forest. The path goes along the cedar forest - first along the young plantings, and then through the old cedar forest. The length of the route is 2, 7 km.
- Swamp. The trail passes through the upper Lishkovsky bog among thickets of cranberries and predatory sundew. The length of the route is 1.5 km.
- Accessible environment. Free, non-excursion trail between the cedar grove and the bog, passing through a beautiful forest and equipped with information posters. The length of the route is 2, 6 km.
- Waterfall on Osinovka. A full-fledged road, no longer along a wooden flooring, but along a forest path along the Osinovka river valley to the waterfall. The length of the route is 11.6 km.
Great Baikal trail
The Great Baikal Trail is a whole system of eco-trails laid by enthusiasts around Lake Baikal. You can either go through it in its entirety or choose some relatively short and uncomplicated section of it. The most famous village on it and the beginning of most routes is Listvyanka. There is a path along the shore of Lake Baikal from Listvyanka - it is well-groomed and safe. There are wooden walkways, railings, viewing platforms, small beaches on the shore. It is impossible to get off the path - it goes along the water almost all the time.
- Listvyanka - Bolshie Koty. The first and most popular part of the Great Baikal Trail. On the way, there will be a cave in the Obukheikha Bay, further - grottoes at Cape Sytoy. There are two beaches along the way - one is sandy and the other is pebbly. This section ends at the village. Bolshie Koty, founded once by gold miners. Here you can see the remains of the mines and the Baikal Museum. The length of the route is 24 km.
- Bolshie Koty - Bolshoe Goloustnoye. Continuation of the trail through Cape Skriper, on which an observation deck is arranged, from which a view of the lake and the surrounding mountains opens. The Sayan peaks are clearly visible from here. On the way, you will also meet the Chapel cave, where traces of the ancient man's habitation were found, and it will end near the village of Bolshoye Goloustnoye. The length of the route is 30 km. If desired, both routes can be combined by spending the night in Bolshiye Koty.
- Monakhovo - Serpentine. A lesser known section of the trail, which runs through the territory of the reserve from the village. Monakhovo to the Zmeeva Bay. This is the same uncomplicated trail that leads along the coast, starting from the beach near Monakhov and ending with a picturesque bay and hot springs on the shore of the lake. There are two baths here. The length of the route is 20 km.
Mountain ranges around Baikal
Chersky Peak is a peak named after Ivan Chersky, a Pole who ended up in Siberia after the Polish uprising of 1863 and became one of the most famous explorers of Siberia. The height of the Chersky peak, which is part of the Khamar-Daban mountain range, is 2090 m above sea level. The road leads up the Slyudyanka River, which will have to be crossed more than ten times. The route is popular, it takes two or three days and along the way there are camp sites and just places where you can put up a tent. The length of the route is 24 km.
Olkhon Island
This is the largest island on Lake Baikal. You can get there only by water, there is a ferry here, but you can walk around the island for several days. There are several tourist centers on the island, and there is its own unique attraction - the salt lake Shara-Nur with curative mud. However, there is also a fresh lake, unique rocks, and archaeological sites - the Kurykan walls. The length of the route along the central part of the island with a tour of two lakes will be about 70 kilometers. There are good roads, accessible by cars and bicycles, so you don't have to wander and strain.
The second popular route is climbing Mount Zima, the highest point on the island. The mountain is considered sacred here - it is believed that spirits dwell here. The uphill route is not easy - there are no civilized paths, but there are animal paths and dry stream beds. The length of the route is 25 km.
Winter hiking along Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal freezes almost completely in winter, except for a small area near the Angara, so in winter they actively go hiking on and around it - for example, celebrating the New Year directly on the ice of the great lake is popular. Along the shores there are a sufficient number of camp sites and shelters - overnight stays are warm, and you can go on foot, ski or even ice skate.
If you are just walking, it is absolutely necessary to have shoes with spikes - removable spikes are available for purchase. The second absolutely necessary thing for winter hiking on Lake Baikal is sunglasses. You can drag the load on yourself, or you can drag it on a sled or drag.
As a rule, the routes start from Listvyanka and include mountain climbing, which offers a panoramic view of the lake, for example, Mount Skriper. Only in winter is it possible to climb Baklaniy Kamen - a rock that protrudes directly from the water; some caves and beautiful rocks on the shores are also much easier to reach on ice in winter than along the shore in summer.
On a note
Most of the coast of Lake Baikal is a protected area. In order to go on a long hike here, a special permit from the reserve may be required.
Some of the routes are popular and quite civilized: they have markings, comfortable crossings over mountain streams, camp sites and recreation sites. But it is always worth keeping in mind that the wild taiga spreads for many kilometers around, and cellular communication is far from being available everywhere.
In summer, there can be a fire hazardous situation in these forests - you should be extremely careful and kindle a fire only in permitted places. You can also catch fish far from everywhere. With ticks and mosquitoes in different ways: for example, on the islands and along the coast itself, there are practically no midges and mosquitoes, they are simply blown away, but if you plan to go deeper into the forest, then taiga ticks and midges may be encountered.
The climate here is sharply continental, with large daily variations: at night it can be very cool even in summer, and during the day it can be hot, or maybe cold and very sunny. It is possible and necessary to swim in Baikal, but the water is never warm, and the depth usually starts quite abruptly - even though Baikal and the "sea", this is not Turkey. Winters are not chilly here, but very, very cold - for winter hikes you should be as warm as possible.
