Day Hike to Sarkyrama Waterfall near Medeo

A guided half-day hike to the Sarkyrama waterfall — a small cascade hidden in a narrow gorge directly behind the famous Medeo ice rink, just 20 minutes from central Almaty. “Sarkyrama” (Сарқырама) means “waterfall” in Kazakh, and the gorge lives up to its name: a steep-sided ravine channelling snowmelt and spring water down to the Medeo dam. At 7 km round trip with 742 m of elevation gain, this is one of the shortest and most accessible mountain walks near Almaty — ideal for visitors with a free half-day, families with older children, or anyone arriving in Almaty who wants a quick mountain experience before tackling longer routes.

What to expect on the Sarkyrama waterfall hike

The hike starts at the Medeo ice rink (1,691 m) — one of Almaty’s most iconic landmarks, reachable by city bus or a short taxi ride. From the rink, you walk toward the Medeo dam along the road to the left of the skating complex. The trail passes through the open gates of the MChS (Emergency Services) base — it looks like you are entering private property, but this is a public access route. Beyond the gates, you enter Sarkyrama gorge.

Sarkyrama gorge is short — only about 2 km from the dam to the upper ridgeline — but it packs dramatic terrain into a small space. The gorge sits directly opposite Mokhnaya Sopka (Мохнатая Сопка, “Furry Hill”), the blasted slopes visible from Medeo where rock was quarried during dam construction in the 1960s. During winter and spring, massive avalanches funnel down the gorge’s steep walls, sometimes reaching nearly to the dam itself — which is why this hike is a summer and autumn route only.

After about one kilometre up the gorge, the trail turns right and climbs steeply for another kilometre to the waterfall. The path follows the left bank of a small stream fed by springs flowing from the slopes above.

The waterfall is modest — about 3–4 metres tall — but the setting is beautiful: a narrow rocky amphitheatre surrounded by steep slopes, with the stream cascading over a rock lip into a small pool. Above the waterfall, a spacious meadow opens up, enclosed on all sides by mountains. It is remarkably quiet and isolated for a spot just 3 km from one of Almaty’s busiest tourist attractions.

Above the waterfall, the more adventurous can continue another 1.5 km to the Sarkyrama col (~2,500 m) — a saddle on the Kabyrga-Tau ridge that offers views into Kimasarovsky gorge on the other side. From here, experienced hikers can traverse into Kimasarovsky gorge for a circular route back to Medeo — but this extension is considerably harder and not recommended without a guide.

Flora note: The gorge is home to Dictamnus albus (Burning Bush / Неопалимая Купина) — a plant whose volatile oils can cause burns on contact with skin in hot weather. Your guide will point it out so you can admire it without touching it.