Mountains & WalksMountains & WalksPhoto: Жасминовый Дракон, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
From the former Alma-Arasan sanatorium, the trail ascends along the Prokhodnaya River to Terra Meadow, reaching an elevation of approximately 2,600–2,900 meters. The climb takes 2–3 hours and involves several river crossings. However, no special equipment or training is required—the trail is well-trodden and regularly used. The route begins at the waterfall known as "Devichyi Slyozy." A short walk away, there is a hydrogen sulfide spring where you can bathe without deviating far from the path, if you are not in a hurry to reach the top. About 10–15 minutes above Terra Meadow stands another landmark: a bridge made of pine logs spanning the river. The meadow itself offers views of the city—a rarity for a trail that is only 30–40 minutes by car from Almaty.
Historically, the gorge served as a passage—the shortest and most convenient route from the Almaty valley over the Kungei-Alatau ridge to Issyk-Kul. Nomads used it long before the city was founded. This is the origin of its unofficial but widely used name, Prokhidnoe; officially it is called Alma-Arasansky, and on earlier maps it appeared as Almatinskoe. The springs in its lower section were known as far back as the fourteenth century—they are mentioned in connection with the campaigns of Timur. Systematic study of the water began in 1930. A year later, in 1931, a sanatorium of All-Union significance was opened here with 205 beds, treating nervous system disorders, gynecological conditions, and related musculoskeletal diseases. The sanatorium operated for nearly sixty years and closed in 1990.
The gorge lies between three ridges: the Bolshealmatinsky offshoot to the east, the main crest of the Zailiysky Alatau to the south, and the Kargalinsky offshoot to the west. The slopes are composed of granite and granodiorite. Below the forest line grow Tian-Shan spruce, wild raspberries, and honeysuckle. Further up the gorge, the trail reaches the Almaty Pass at an elevation of 3,609 meters. However, this is an option for those prepared for a full mountain crossing rather than a day hike.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the territory of the former sanatorium was privatized. From 2007 onwards it has been fenced and guarded, which blocked some of the familiar tourist trails and caused some once-accessible springs to disappear. However, by 2019, new footbridges were built at the waterfall and near the warm spring. The bridge over the river above Terra Meadow has its own, more tragic history. It is called Alyoshkin Bridge in memory of a tourist who drowned here in 1986 while attempting to cross the river during a storm with poor visibility. A plaque with his name once stood at the bridge, but it has long since disappeared. The best time to visit is from June to September; in other months there are more river crossings, the water is colder, and the water levels are higher.