A labyrinth of rock corridors and niches across thirty hectares of forest near the settlement of Shumikhinsky — a landscape monument locals call both the Devil's Site and the Turtles.
Kamenny Gorod
Some 180–200 kilometres from Perm, near the settlement of Shumikhinsky in the Gubakha district, the forest breaks into a stone labyrinth: limestone slabs stand as walls, with 'streets', 'yards' and niches between them, and separate remnants from afar look like turtle shells. Hence the three names of one place: Kamenny Gorod, the Devil's Site and the Turtles. Thirty hectares of rock chaos form a landscape and geomorphological natural monument of regional significance. You do not walk a trail here — you walk a town: the streets change direction, the 'quarters' are cut through with windows, and every turn gives a new frame. Silence is the main exhibit: apart from wind in the rock tops and birds, nothing sounds here. At sunrise the sun ignites the western walls, and the labyrinth turns amber.
How to get there
From Perm along the Gubakha road (180–200 kilometres), then to the settlement of Shumikhinsky; the monument's entrance is via a forest road off the highway.
Best season
May to October; winter brings snowdrifts, though the labyrinth is fine in snow too.
Travel tips & stories
Wear grippy shoes: the stone 'streets' get slippery after rain.
Do not wander off the 'streets': the slopes between the rocks are overgrown and treacherous.
Take a route map or track: it is easy to lose your bearings inside the labyrinth.
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Local guides
- TR
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