Iset': Quarry History and Granite Landscapes

• The Iset deposit lies on the Verkh-Iset granite massif in the settlement of Iset, a suburb of Verkhnyaya Pyshma.
• The first quarries in Iset opened in 1802; penal laborers extracted rubble stone there to meet the needs of Yekaterinburg.
• The Perm quarry opened in Iset in 1873 and is now the quarry of the Iset crushed-stone plant.
• Iset' passing station was built in 1875. A water tower used to refill locomotives is still standing.
• The “Iset'” megalith park comprises about 49 granite rock ruins, approximately 300 million years old.
• Iset station is accessible from Yekaterinburg by suburban train; the journey takes 40 minutes.

The history of stone quarrying has several dates to note. The first quarries in the settlement opened in 1802. Penal laborers extracted rubble stone there to meet the needs of Yekaterinburg. Another date concerns the Perm quarry: it opened in 1873 and is now the quarry of the Iset crushed-stone plant. This makes it possible to distinguish chronologically between the first quarries in the settlement and the opening of this specifically named quarry.

The railway history is also associated with specific dates. Iset' passing station was built in 1875; low-powered locomotives ran there. A water tower built at the station to refill these locomotives is still standing. Along with the information about stone quarrying, the station, locomotives, and water tower are distinct themes in the history of the settlement.

Another local landmark is the monument erected in 1970 to residents of the settlement who fell on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. The monument is listed in the municipal register of historical and cultural sites approved in 2025.

The Iset deposit lies on the Verkh-Iset granite massif in the settlement of Iset, a suburb of Verkhnyaya Pyshma. Nearby is the “Iset'” megalith park, with about 49 granite rock ruins. They are estimated to be around 300 million years old. The park entrance is a 15-minute walk from Iset station; actual walking time may vary.

Other named rock formations help describe the surrounding area more precisely: the Malye Cherti rocks stretch along the ridge of a mountain next to Chertovo gorodishche. The Petra Gronskogo rocks (Petrogrom) lie north of Iset station. This distinguishes the rock ruins in the megalith park from the nearby rocks described by name and location.

Iset station is accessible from Yekaterinburg by suburban train; the journey takes 40 minutes. Train services and timetables may change, so check the latest times before your trip. Timetables and tickets are available through the “RZD Passazhiram” app, the operator's website, and suburban railway ticket offices. For these ticket channels, too, it is advisable to check the operator's latest passenger information.

The station is a specific reference point for visiting the megalith park: the stated walking time to the park entrance starts there. The 15 minutes refers to the walk to the entrance, not to the time required for a tour of the park.

In the wider destination of Sverdlovsk Oblast, the Museum Complex of Civil and Military Equipment in Verkhnyaya Pyshma adds a large collection to the cultural offering: it comprises more than 15,000 exhibits, including over 2,000 civilian and military vehicles. The collection figures may change over time.

A list of approved road tourism routes for Sverdlovsk Oblast, published in 2026, includes the Demidov Route between Yekaterinburg, Nevyansk, and Nizhny Tagil. Also listed is “Along the Iset to the Sound of the Bell: A Journey to Kamensk-Uralsky” between Yekaterinburg and Kamensk-Uralsky. The route “Discover the Urals: Nature, History, Legends” connects Yekaterinburg, Irbit, Turinsk, and Tavda. If you include these regional routes in your plans, check the route information before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Samotsvet, Kadnikovo, Talitsa, Rezh, Kalinovo, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Malaya Belonosova, Priiskovyy.

How long does the journey from Yekaterinburg to Iset take?

The suburban train journey to Iset station takes 40 minutes. Check the current timetable before your trip, as train services and times may change.

What can you expect at the “Iset'” megalith park?

The park comprises about 49 granite rock ruins, approximately 300 million years old. Its entrance is a 15-minute walk from Iset station; actual walking time may vary.

Who is the 1970 monument dedicated to?

It commemorates residents of Iset who fell on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. The monument is listed in the municipal register of historical and cultural sites approved in 2025.

For the wider travel overview: Sverdlovsk Oblast.