Hike area: Zaraysk Urban District.
Type of hike: on foot, rafting possible with side trips
Difficulty: Suitable for beginner hikers, families with children, and older adults
Length: about 18 km.
Route: bus stop “Astapovo-2” – grove near the Unitsa River – old road – ancient settlement near the village of Argunovo – fishing base – Argunovo rapids – 1941 defense line – church in Spas-Doshchaty – Vlasyevo.
How to get to the starting point: commuter train to Lukhovitsy, then bus to the village of Vlasyevo or to Zaraysk (stop “Astapovo-2”). Car access available at both start and finish.
How to get from the finish point: by regular buses to Lukhovitsy.
Season: Spring, summer, autumn.
This relatively short route combines sites rarely seen together in southeastern Moscow Region, making it a multifaceted gem among similar routes.
The first point of interest is a cedar grove unique for central Russia
In the 1960s, a forester from the village of Shirobokovo grew seedlings from pine nuts in his greenhouse and planted them on the border of Lukhovitsy and Zaraysk districts, as well as one tree near his own house. Since then, the grove has grown; some trees have withered, but some already bear cones.
From the edge of the grove, the trail leads to the old Nikolsky Road, which probably connected the upper reaches of the Don with the Moscow principality as far back as the 11th–12th centuries. Here the road came closest to the Osyotr River, and its remains can still be seen only at this location.
This was the road along which the icon of St. Nicholas of Zaraysk was brought to Zaraysk, along which Dmitry Donskoy’s troops marched to the Vozha River in 1378 and after the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380, along which St. Sergius of Radonezh traveled to Ryazan and back (1385), and along which Vasily III, Ivan the Terrible, Peter I, Dmitry Pozharsky, and Colonel Lisovsky passed.
In the 18th–19th centuries, large herds of cattle were driven along this route from the Don and Ukraine (for example, the famous Bakhrushin family of Zaraysk rose to prominence precisely through cattle driving and processing before moving to Moscow). Such roads were called “sakma” and have distinctive features: 50–60 meters wide with small ridges along the edges. Some believe these ridges formed from mud kicked aside by the animals’ hooves. A ridge of this kind has been preserved on this section of the route and is visible even on satellite images of the Zaraysk district taken in the winter of 1974.
An interesting fact: geese were also driven along the sakma to Moscow. Their feet were repeatedly dipped in tar, forming improvised boots for the long journey.
Along the road there is a site where an inn for drovers once stood. It was identified on satellite images but has not yet been studied by specialists. It lies roughly one cattle drive from Zaraysk. In the southern part of the inn’s grounds, remnants of ramparts and ditches remain, likely serving both for defense and as a water source.
Moving northwest, you can see remains of an anti-aircraft gun position with a dugout from World War II. A rampart and ditch on the northern side lead back to the road, where remains of a customs or toll post are visible. This is the highest point in the area.
Not far from the highway lies an early Iron Age settlement. The impressive earthworks of the Dyakovo culture are striking. The Kolomna archaeological expedition worked here in 2023–2024 and recovered valuable artifacts
(The site is listed as a Cultural Heritage Object of the Moscow Region. Restrictions apply, but visits are not prohibited. STRICTLY: no digging or metal detectors!)
Further along the route is a private fishing base. By prior arrangement with the manager, you can have lunch or a snack here, even cook fish soup from local catch. A restroom is available.
On the descent to the Osyotr River, on the left bank of the Nemerzly Creek, there is an equipped campsite. Nearby is the picturesque Kovylkinsky (Argunovo) rapid with remains of an old mill and a ford. Near the mouth of the creek lies a Neolithic settlement. You can rest on the right bank of the stream.
Close by are remnants of a stone quarry and the 1941 defense line: trenches and a dugout. This was an artillery position tasked with defending the ford at the rapids.
At the highway exit near the village of Argunovo, there is a remarkable view of the Osyotr valley. From here the trail leads to a creek and a spring under the hill near Spas-Doshchaty. After a scenic photo stop among the stones, you can visit the Transfiguration Church and learn about its history.
The next stop is the village of Vlasyevo on the banks of the Osyotr. Here stands a monument to the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War. You can walk through an old park with linden alleys and take pictures with a magnificent oak over 400 years old. You can also go down to the Osyotr sandbar and swim.
Interesting fact: Igor Morozov, a veteran of the Afghan War, bard, and author of famous songs about that war (“We Are Leaving!”, “Battalion Reconnaissance,” and others), lived in Vlasyevo.
Participants should bring items from the recommended equipment list.
Missing gear can be rented.
Период проведения походов по маршруту “Степи Осетровья”: круглый год.
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.
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