Geghadzor and the Highest Lake on the Northern Peak of Mt. Aragats

Hiking trail description
Mount Aragats is located on the shared border of the Shirak and Aragatsotn provinces. It has four peaks – the northern being the tallest (at 4,090m), standing tall above the lake that is the destination of this hike. This non-traditional route rises from Geghadzor village, as opposed to the usual route taken by locals and tourists who climb to the northern peak from Kari Lich (Stone Lake).
The route begins at the crossroads of Geghadzor, where hikers can hire a taxi or rent a car from the villagers, to take them to the foot of Mt. Aragats, with the assistance of a GPS device. From there, at an altitude of 3,000 m above sea level, one should start hiking immediately, as there is still a long way to go to the peak!This initial portion may seem rocky and difficult to hike, but climbing over to the right side of the mountain, crossing the river and some snow patches in the process, will noticeably reduce the difficulty.
On the slopes of the mountain, there is a wide range of thick flora cover, which gives way to alpine flower species at higher altitudes, surrounded by patches of snow. By August and September the snow on the top of Mt. Aragats has completely melted. The route ends at a small mountain lake, at an altitude of 3,650 m.

Legend of Aragats
The origin of the name Aragats arose from either the name of Hayk’s son, Aramanyak, or from the God Ara (Aragats–meaning “Ara’s throne” in Armenian), at a time when the mountain was one large peak.
Throughout the centuries, seismic and strong volcanic activity, whittled the mountain down into the four peaks of today.

Mt. Aragats is the highest mountain in Armenia at 4,090 m. It is an isolated mountain, composed of four peaks covering about 4,000 sq. km in its 200km radius. Aragats used to be considered one of the largest volcanoes in the world, with its 3 km wide crater stretching 400 m deep. Its four peaks, set roughly on the four cardinal points, reach altitudes of 4,090 m (north), 3,955 m (west), 3,908 m (east), and 3,887 m (south).
A number of lakes are dotted around its peaks and slopes, the largest of which is the freshwater Kari Lich (Stone Lake) located on the southern slopes, at an altitude of 3,189 m. It is surrounded by alpine meadows, colourful flowers and snowy peaks, which melt over the summer months and accumulate in the crater, giving birth to a number of freshwater streams, most notably the Gegharot River, a tributary of the Kasakh River. Others include the Amberd, Mantash, Narishd, Getadzor and Tsaghkahovit rivers.

Flora
The semi-desert, dry, mountain-steppe, alpine and snowy zones are arranged alongside one another on Aragats’s steep slopes. Rivers, surrounded by beautiful grass valleys and flowing through small gorges, create waterfalls and rapids. Tourists from all over the globe come to experience Aragats, enjoy the alpine zone of the mountain and meadows - decorated with colorful flowers, including the distinctive, short blue forget-me-nots and the endemic blue flowers often referred to as alpine violets.
The meadows are also full of fragrant flower species such as violet, wild lily, poppy and bell flower. Colorful “alpine carpets” and snowy flora are typical to this high-altitude zone (2,800-3,400 m). On the southern slopes, there is a small oak forest at an altitude between 1,800-2,300 m.

Fauna
The fauna of Aragats includes brown bear, wolf, fox, rodent and rabbit species, as well as some lizards, turtles, snakes and many birds. Depending on the season and weather, many of these animals can be quite shy, and it is very common to hike this route without encountering any of them.

Safety and Safety
Mobile telephone coverage (via VivaCell-MTS) is mostly available throughout Mt. Aragats, and the 911 emergency service operates throughout Armenia in case of any accidents.
Be aware of rapid changes in weather, especially in spring, as lightning storms are common. Hiking on the mountain in gloomy and rainy weather is not recommended.
Throughout the year there are rivers created by snow melt, so the availability of water on the mountain slopes is probable, however, be sure to bring bottled water!

Technical parameters
Best period: June -September
Distance: 81 km from Yerevan
Duration: 1 hour 25 minutes
Hiking trail length: 7 km
Walk duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Altitude from Sea Level: 3,000 – 3,650 m
Existing Trail Surface: 10% existing, 90% easily discernible

How to Get There
In order to reach Mt. Aragats, the most convenient option is to take a taxi from Yerevan to Geghadzor.