Rafting on the River Chusovaya

The left tributary of the river Kama,- the Chusovaya - one of the large and most beautiful rivers of the Urals. The river was probably named from the translated word "chus-va" – “rapid water” in Komi – Permian language.

The river has a unique feature - it flows on two continents - Asia and Europe, originating on the east slope of the Ural ridge, crossing it and then flowing on the western slope. From ancient times the river Chusovaya was used as trade route between Europe and Siberia.

The river became a treasured dream for many Russian tourists.It flows on the territory of three districts - Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk and Perm rising from the northern part of the Chelyabinsk district. Its middle section crosses the border between Sverdlovsk and Perm twice then flows into the Kama reservoir near the city of Perm. The length of the river is 777 km and the area of its basin is 42,000 sq. km.

The Chusovaya is “opened” at the end of April, when the ice quickly melts and the water level rises 3-4 m. In the summer months the river becomes very shallow – at the end the July to the beginning of August the depth on fords does not exceed 7-15 cm. In autumn the weather is rainy and the water level rises considerably and then in November the river freezes.  The forest is rich with berries and mushrooms. It is possible to see elks, bears, wolves, lynx, foxes, hares, squirrels and chipmunks.   In the river different species of fish are found.  Limestone and dolomite rocks with amazing shapes on the banks give the river a fascinating beauty. In middle part of the river there are about two hundred rocks. These rocks on the Chusovaya are named “Kamien” and the"Boets” (Fighter) was the most dangerous for barges, which traveled down the river in olden times. The rocks vary in height from 10 to 115 metres above water level and stretch from 30 metres to 1.5 kilometers along the banks. All of the rocks have a karst origin and in some of them are small caves. Many of these rock formations are protected by the state as natural monuments.

Rafting along the river Chusovaya - 3 days

Tourists begin their fascinating travel down the river from Staroutkinsk (In the old days it was village “Old Utka”) comes into view. Akinfii Demidov founded “Old Utka” in 1729 in conjunction with the construction of a metallurgical factory - one of the “first-borns” of the mining and metallurgical industry in the Urals. The river Utka was partitioned off by a dam, above which the Staroutkinskij pond was formed. Hitherto the unique old blast furnace still works. In the settlement the complex of buildings, which were constructed at the basis for the factory are preserved. On the Chusovaya near the village “Old Utka” one of the largest quays was built. Each spring from this quay barges loaded with Ural metal were sent downwards.

Behind the rock “Bratnin Kamien” (Brother Rock) the beautiful rock “Visyachii” is seen. Below the last rock we see the rock “Dyrovatyi” with several hollows of karst origin on its surface. From the rock “Yamnyi Kamien” (Deep Pool Rock) the Chusovaya turns to the east and on the left bank, hanging above the water, looking like a bird with folded wings is the 25m rock “Kamien-Sokol” (“the Falcon”). Ahead is the rock “Kamien Balaban” with a height of 40 ì.

We next see the rock “Russian Noble”, looking like a triangular Russian noble’s cap. Behind it is “Kamien Maksimovskii”, which is suspended above the water by a multi ton block. The undermined base of the rock creates an impression of instability. On the right bank is the 60m “Mosin Kamien”. It is one of the most majestic rocks on the Chusovaya and it is possible to climb to the top.

From here we can see the next section of the river along which we will be rafting - on the left bank in a forest, three white rocks “The Ships” and the village Chusovoe are seen. Chusovoe, referred to earlier as the Shaitanskii factory (“Shaitanka”), was founded by Akinfii Demidov in 1727. The force of falling water from a dam on the river Shaitanka drove the mechanisms of the metallurgical factory, but now only the dam reminds us about the former factory. Local inhabitants have pride in the art gallery, where there are more than 300 works by Ural artists. The gallery is in a two-storied building - the former house of the factory’s office manager.

Rafting along the river Chusovaya - 14 days

1 day. Transfer to the village Ust-Utka. On the way: Neviyansk (86 km from Ekaterinburg) - one of the oldest plants of the Urals. Neviyanskij Plant was built on the edict of Peter the Great in 1710. Tourists famous inclined Neviyansk tower (like the Leaning Tower of Piza) belonging to the mining and metallurgical works of the Demidov’s Nizhnij Tagil. (150 km from Ekaterinburg) – ancestral land of the Demidov’s - founders of the mining and metallurgical industries in the Urals. Meeting instructors. Receiving food and equipment. Learning safety rules, regulations and daily routine. Preparing catamarans. Dinner.
 

2 day. Length of rafting – 6 km. Breakfast. Preparing of catamarans. Lunch. Beginning rafting till Kamien (stone) “Kharenki”. Dinner. Accommodation in tent camp.
3 day. Length of rafting - 14 km. Breakfast. On the way – stop near 70 m Kamien Omutnoy (geological and botanic monument of the Nature) and climbing on the top of it. Lunch. Rafting to Kamien Dyrivatuy (geological and archeological monument). Visit the cave of Tourists inside Kamien. Rafting to 70 m Kamien Olenij (Deer’s Kamien). Accommodation in tent camp. Dinner. Spend the night in double tents.
 

4 day. Length of rafting – 23 km. Breakfast. Climbing Kamien Olenij. Continuation of rafting. On the way – stop near Kamien Pisanyj. Lunch. Rafting to Kamien Stolby. Stop near Kamien Splavschik. Accommodation in tent camp. Dinner. Spend the night in double tents.
 

5 day. Length of rafting – 22 km. Breakfast. Continuation of rafting. Rafting to Kamien Rostun. On the way – stop near Kirpichnuj. Lunch. Rafting to Kamien Pechka. Accommodation in tent camp. Dinner. Spend the night in double tents.
6 day. Length of rafting – 10 km. Breakfast. Continuation of rafting. On the way – stop near Kamien Velikan. Lunch. Climbing Kamien Velikan. Continuation of rafting. On the way: the settlement Kyn. Stop near Kamen Vostryak. Accommodation in tent camp. Dinner. Russian Bath. Spend the night in double tents.
 

7 day. Length of rafting – 10 km. Breakfast. Continuation of rafting to the village Nizhnyaya Oslyanka. Lunch. Accommodation in tent camp. Dinner. Spend the night in double tents.
 

8 day. Length of rafting - 26 km. Breakfast. On the way – stop near Kamien Omut. Lunch. Continuation of rafting. On the way: Kamien Ermak . Stop near Kamien Malyj Strelnyj. Accommodation in tent camp. Dinner. Spend the night in double tents.
 

11 day. Breakfast. Ascension to the Filin stone. Russian bath. Lunch. Dinner.

12 day. Breakfast. Continuation of rafting. On the way – visit the cave Chudesnitsa. Lunch. Continuation of rafting. Accommodation in tent camp. Dinner. Spend the night in double tents.

 13 day. Breakfast. Rafting to Deaf Stones. Excursion to the former Concentration Camp
Lunch. Excursion to a blue lake. Dinner.

14 day. Breakfast. Rafting to Chusovoy city . Departure.
 

The tour cost is from 560 euros per person for 14-day tour, 118 euros per person for 3-day tour.