Tour Area: Kolomna urban district
Difficulty: Suitable for beginner hikers, families with children, and older adults
Distance: 11 km
Type of Tou: One-day, walking/hiking
Route description: from Khoroshovo railway station – through coniferous and mixed forests running parallel to the Moscow-Ryazan railway line – crossing the Yashchenka River near the village of Konev Bor – through forest and quarry to Peski station.
How to reach the starting point: by commuter train to Khoroshovo station or by buses № 28, 30, 36, 43, 80 from Kolomna, or bus № 333k from Moscow (from Kotel’niki metro station).
How to return from the finish point: by bus or commuter train.
Season: Year-round
The route is interesting and unusual for the Kolomna District. The landscape is highly diverse: young pine plantations give way to dense pine forests, which transition into mixed woodland. Numerous forest streams and small rivers appear along the way, some crossed via picturesque wooden footbridges.
The route passes through the ancient village of Konev Bor, featuring a small, cozy wooden Church of Cyril and Methodius and a horse-breeding farm. This village was first mentioned in the charters of Prince Ivan Kalita in the 14th century as one of the important grand-princely estates, a place for breeding horses for his court.
The local forests are home to a variety of wildlife. Foxes and hares are often seen, and at the watering spots along forest streams, if lucky, you might encounter a family of graceful roe deer. Forest trails reveal numerous moose tracks, evidence of their recent presence. The area also hosts many harmless grass snakes, which quickly slither away at the sight of humans.
A highlight of the route, reached via an abandoned road, is an old flooded quarry that was once used for limestone extraction. Today, the quarry has become a lake, bordered by coniferous forest. The landscape here is entirely atypical for the Moscow region, resembling more the scenery of Karelia with its cliffs, lakes, and evergreen forests.
A promontory jutting into the lake serves as a beautiful viewpoint and a convenient spot with a fire pit for resting and taking photos. Nearby is another abandoned structure made from local limestone, adding interest to the area.
The quarry features steep slopes, so caution is advised.
About halfway along the route, there is a clearing suitable for making a campfire, listening to the birds, and in June, collecting wild forest strawberries and fragrant field strawberries. Overnight stays are possible here if desired.
Route features include signposts along nearly the entire path. The terrain is varied, with small descents and ascents; during fire-prone periods, restrictions on open flames may apply. In spring and summer, precautions against ticks are recommended.
There is no drinking water along the route, but grocery stores and cafés are available at the start and finish points.
Participants should bring items from the recommended equipment list.
Missing gear can be rented.
Season for the “Moscow Karelia” route: year-round.
The cost of the hike is 2000 RUB per person (for groups of at least 10 participants).
including:
– meals on the route,
– guidance by instructors,
– shared equipment such as pots, tents, and group gear.
To book, email tk_kolomna@mail.ru or call +7 (916) 598-20-94.
Join Us!
To register, please fill out the form:
For inquiries about booking the tour, please call us at +7 (916) 598-20-94 or email tk_kolomna@mail.ru
Detailed route description:
The route stretches for 11 km and partially passes through settlements along asphalt roads. Along the way, there are shops in the villages, and mobile connection is stable throughout the route. Part of the path runs parallel to the railway tracks. Signposts indicating the direction are installed along the route.
The hike begins along the railway tracks. Walking through the grove on the right side of the tracks is not recommended, as local residents use it as an unofficial dumping site.
Next, the path leads along private houses toward a pine forest, where a stream is encountered:
All streams along this route have footbridges, built with the help of local residents and the ‘Kovcheg’ Kolomna Tourist Club
From there, the trail leads onto a dirt forest road:
The road is wide, allowing for vehicle access (all-wheel-drive cars, motorcycles, etc.).
The pine forest gradually transitions into mixed woodland with small clearings.
It is worth noting that these forests are a favored habitat for many grass snakes. These snakes are completely harmless and will quickly move out of your way if encountered.
However, attention should be paid to the abundance of ticks in spring and summer, and all preventive measures against bites should be taken (guidelines are available on our website).
About halfway along the route, after crossing the Yashchenka River, we reach a field near the historic village of Konev Bor. Turning right and walking a short distance along a gravel road, we come to a clearing suitable for rest and lunch.
Here, it is possible to light a campfire, listen to the birds singing, and if hiking in June, pick wild strawberries and field strawberries in the clearings.
Overnight stays are also possible at this location if desired.
The trail then continues deeper into the forest, transitioning into an old road.
Following the road forward, we arrive at the most interesting part of the route: an old flooded quarry that was previously used for limestone extraction.
The landscapes here are unique for the Kolomna district and resemble those of Karelia:
It is worth walking down to the promontory jutting into the quarry lake to enjoy the views. There is also a convenient resting area with a fire pit.
On the rocks, you may see harmless grass snakes basking in the sun. These are completely safe, so there is no need to frighten or harm them.
Near the quarry, there is an interesting outbuilding made entirely from the same local limestone:
The path from the quarry leads onto a field and then onto the asphalt road toward the village of Peski and the railway.
Near the station, there are numerous shops and cafés where you can enjoy a meal before heading back.
