Smolensky District: Rivers, Trails and Festivals

• A 20 km stretch of the Peschanaya is characterized by rapids; their difficulty category depends on the water level.
• The “S vidami na goru Sinyukha” educational walking trail is 12 km long. The “Staraya melnitsa” walking terrenkur is 1.8 km long and is rated easy.
• Novotyryshkino has museums and the “Sibirskaya maslenitsa” festival; the annual regional “Peschanaya” festival is held in Solonovka.

A 20 km stretch of the Peschanaya runs between mountain foothills. At normal water levels, it forms an almost continuous succession of rapids rated difficulty category 3–4. During high water, the difficulty rises to category 4–5. The rating therefore depends on the water level and should not be understood as a single, unchanging figure.

At the mouth of the Peschanaya, there are numerous floodplain lakes and bays; waterbirds nest along their shores. The lower reaches of the Sychevka offer a different river landscape: this stretch lies in a mountainous area at the boundary between the mountains and Predaltaiskaya ravnina, in the lower zone of the meadow steppes. The exposed granite rocks there include the Belokurikhinsky Massif.

The 12 km “S vidami na goru Sinyukha” educational walking trail is in the “Predgorye Altaya” Nature Park in Smolensky District, near the Belokurikha resort. It follows a mountainside through dense mixed forest and passes the rock formations Ogorodchiki (Poyas Sartakpaya, Kamennyy ogorod), Chetyre Brata and Kamennyy vodopad. The rocks are isolated remnants of a granite massif undergoing weathering.

A considerably shorter route is the 1.8 km “Staraya melnitsa” walking terrenkur, which is rated easy. The lengths offer an initial point of comparison: this short, easy walk contrasts with a 12 km educational walking trail. The name “Staraya melnitsa” more precisely refers to the remains of a dam on the Belokurikha River beside a large meadow.

Novotyryshkino has the “Dom sibirskogo krestyanina” and “Dom nemetskogo pereselentsa” museums. The museum complex in the village presents the history of Novotyryshkino. The Smolensk Local History Museum focuses on the history and development of the district, as well as the military and professional achievements of its residents. The cultural themes therefore range from village history to the development of the district.

The “Sibirskaya maslenitsa” festival is held in Novotyryshkino. Its program includes performances by folk groups from different parts of Russia, the “Zoloto Altaya” equestrian competition and other contests. The annual regional “Peschanaya” festival is held in Solonovka on the banks of the Peschanaya. Its program includes competitions in water tourism, paragliding, sport climbing, mountaineering, cycling and motorcycle tourism, as well as rafting.

The festival programs have different focuses: Novotyryshkino features folk performances and equestrian competitions, while Solonovka offers a range of sports and tourism disciplines. If you want to plan your trip around the annual “Peschanaya” festival, check the exact date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Mamontovskiy District, Blagoveshchenskiy District, Barnaul, Talmenskiy District, Romanovskiy District, Ongudayskiy District, Zonal'nyy District, Shebalinskiy District.

Which of the two trails described is shorter?

The “Staraya melnitsa” walking terrenkur is 1.8 km long and rated easy. The “S vidami na goru Sinyukha” educational walking trail is 12 km long.

How does the difficulty category of the Peschanaya change?

At normal water levels, it is category 3–4; during high water, it rises to category 4–5.

What subjects do the museums cover?

The museums in Novotyryshkino are called “Dom sibirskogo krestyanina” and “Dom nemetskogo pereselentsa.” The museum complex presents the history of the village; the Smolensk Local History Museum covers the history and development of the district, as well as the military and professional achievements of its residents.

For the broader travel overview: Altai Region.