10 highest mountains in Russia

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Even Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky wrote that only mountains that he had not yet visited can be better than mountains. And in order to show your mountaineering qualities, be amazed by the breathtaking view and breathe in incredibly clean, frosty air, which is always lacking, you don't even need to make a passport. There are many really high mountains in Russia that are waiting for their conquerors.

And for those who want to literally touch the sky, we have compiled a rating of the 10 highest mountains in Russia.

Rating of the highest mountains in Russia

Nomination	a place	name	Height
10 highest mountains in Russia	10	Shota Rustaveli Peak	4 860 meters
	9	Katyn-tau	4,970 METERS
	8	Mizhirgi	5,025 METERS
	7	Kazbek	5,034 METERS
	6	Shkhara	5,068 METERS
	5	Dzhangitau	5,085 meters
	4	Pushnik's Peak	5 100 METERS
	3	Koshtantau	5,152 METERS
	2	Dykhtau	5,204 METERS
	1	Elbrus	5 642 METERS

10th place: Peak Shota Rustaveli (4.86 km)

Rating: 4.1

Shota Rustaveli Peak is known for its inaccessibility. In fact, this is one of the most difficult to conquer Russian peaks. At the time of compilation of the material, climbing routes to it are closed due to danger and constant bad weather, however, their minimum category is 4A (training and experience is required).

For a long time, the peak of Shota Rustaveli was not subject to climbers because of its relief. The mountain is covered with icy slopes, and millennial glaciers are located in rare valleys. As a result, the ascent in 1937 was the first successful documented attempt at conquest.

The peak is part of a mountain range called the Bezengi wall. The massif itself, covered with icy peaks and centuries-old glaciers, is also inhospitable for passage – some climbing routes are assigned the maximum level of difficulty. But at the same time, people live here – there are villages and high-mountain tourist camps.

9th place: Katyn-tau (4.97 km)

Rating: 4.2

The name of this peak, also part of the Bezengi wall and located in the Kabardino-Balkarian territory, is translated from the local language as 'woman-mountain'. And it is connected with an ancient legend. According to myths, a certain girl really wanted to marry her lover, but her parents resisted. Not daring to argue between mother and father, the woman decided to simply go to the mountains and stay to live there. And she never returned.

Katyn-tau is another difficult mountain for climbers. Of course, it also has routes of type 3A, more or less 'friendly' for beginners, but still it is better not to go here without experience and suitable equipment. The first documented conquest of the Katyn-Tau peak dates back to 1889.

On one of their sides, Mount Katyn-Tau is covered with the Bezengi glacier – the largest in the entire Caucasus. It is also difficult to conquer and climb – but very beautiful.

8th place: Mizhirgi (5,025 km)

Rating: 4.3

Mizhirgi is the first of the so-called “five-thousanders of the Caucasus”. Just like its predecessors in the ranking, this mountain peak is part of the Bezengi wall massif. And it is also extremely difficult to climb – its slopes are almost completely covered with ice, and there are glaciers in the few valleys. The view of Mizhirgi, of course, is breathtaking – but this power of nature is fraught with many dangers.

For the first time, the peak of Mizhirga was conquered, according to documentary information, in 1889. However, local residents do not consider this information to be true. There is a legend in the vicinity of the mountain that the peak was named after the shepherd Mazhir Attayev, who managed to conquer the peak in the middle of the 19th century.

One of the main dangers for climbers trying to climb this mountain is ice landslides. Almost the entire rock is covered with a fragile layer of frozen water, dotted with deep cracks. That is why the minimum difficulty of climbing routes on this mountain is 4A; and the maximum is 6A.

7th place: Kazbek (5,034 km)

Rating: 4.4

Kazbek is not only one of the highest Caucasian mountains, but also the most popular tourist route. Its name translates as 'ice peak' – and is fully justified. Despite the tourist 'adaptation', some parts of Kazbek are still very difficult to climb due to the heavy icing of the slopes.

In addition, Kazbek is a dormant volcano. The mountain rises like a block of ice among bright green valleys, which makes it very attractive for a variety of tourists – from those who came just to admire the Caucasus, to those who definitely need to conquer this 'little Elbrus'.

Kazbek can hardly be called a 'well-trodden' mountain. There are no cable cars and cafes here, as, for example, on Elbrus, and the ascent even from the 'simple' Georgian side requires a bunch of work. But at the same time, at an altitude of 3.8 km, there is an ancient monastery of Betlemi, in which, according to an ancient legend, the treasures of Queen Tamara are hidden.

6th place: Shkhara (5,068 km)

Rating: 4.5

The name of the mountain 'Shkhara' in translation from the Georgian language means 'nine'. And this is not surprising – it has 9 pronounced peaks. And the highest mark is reached at 5068 meters.

Shkhara, like many other Caucasus mountains, is very difficult to climb. Especially from the Russian side, where the easiest climbing route belongs to category 5A – only for experienced and trained climbers. From the Georgian slopes, it is not so difficult, but still inaccessible for beginners.

Such a high complexity is largely due to the fact that there are three huge glaciers on the slopes of Shkhara. Of course, they are very beautiful – shining in the sun, these 'snow fields' attract attention and create a sense of natural power. Therefore, it is better to admire Shkhara from the foothills, where gentle green valleys are still located. And the mountain rises above them, keeping the clouds on its snowy slopes.

5th place: Dzhangitau (5,085 km)

Rating: 4.6

Dzhangitau is the central and highest mountain of the Bezengi wall. Its peak reaches 5085 meters! However, it became the highest mountain in Georgia quite recently – before that the leadership belonged to Shkhara. But then the measurements were repeated, and it turned out that Dzhangitau is 17 centimeters higher than its predecessor.

Like many other mountains of the Bezengi wall, Jangitau is very difficult to climb. The easiest route from the Russian side is classified as belonging to category 4B, that is, it requires special training and practical experience from climbers trying to conquer this peak.

From the Georgian side, climbing routes are a little easier. That is why the first recorded conquest of Jangitau dates back to 1888.

By the way, the very name of the peak is translated from the local language as 'New Mountain'.

4th place: Pushnik Peak (5.1 km)

Rating: 4.7

There is an opinion among climbers that it is mandatory to enter Pushkin Peak. The top of this mountain offers a breathtaking view of the Tuzuak Glacier, located on the slopes and at the foot.

This mountain got its name in honor of the memorable date. For the first time its summit was conquered by the cult Soviet climber Viktor Zimin in 1937. On the same date, a century has passed since the death of the famous Russian poet.

Pushkin Peak is so difficult to climb that it took 70 years for the next conquest. The second time it was possible to climb its summit only in 2007. At the same time, the routes that lead to the peak are classified as 'category 4B', but the constant bad weather makes the conquest process much more difficult. The climbers themselves call this Kabardino-Balkarian mountain “gendarme”, noting its severe and incorruptible nature.

3rd place: Koshtantau (5.152 km)

Rating: 4.8

Koshtantau is one of the most famous and inaccessible Caucasus peaks, as well as the third largest mountain in Russia. Its name is translated from the local language as 'a peak that looks like a house' – because from a distance it resembles a tent.

However, the similarity of Kontantau with the house is limited to this. The mountain is extremely unfriendly, and many attempts to conquer it end in death. For example, in 1888, two climbers from England died trying to conquer its peak for the first time in human history.

Such rebelliousness is declared by the constantly bad weather on the slopes of Koshtantau. Blizzards and snows almost always rage here. And the slopes themselves are covered with an ice crust. Of course, now several climbing routes lead to the top of Koshtantau, but all of them are inaccessible to beginners – even the simplest is classified as 'category 4B', that is, it requires special training and experience from the conquerors.

2nd place: Dykhtau (5.204 km)

Rating: 4.9

Dykhtau is one of the most beautiful mountains in Russia. It is composed of dark rocks that contrast impressively with the snow and ice crust, and the summit is surrounded by white clouds that never leave this peak.

The mountain itself – the name of which, by the way, translates as 'steep' – refers to the difficult to climb. Climbing routes laid along it, by category, start from 4A. Therefore, you should not go to it without appropriate experience.

Dykhtau was first conquered in 1888, and Albert Mummery, a British climber who became the inventor of special mountain tents, reached the top. The design he created was so reliable that it soon entered mass production. And they were produced for almost a century – until 1968, when new materials and engineering solutions made it possible to create more sustainable options.

Another interesting fact is connected with this mountain. Exactly on the opposite side of the Earth, on the Caroline Islands, a souvenir silver coin is issued, on which Dykhtau is depicted and its height is indicated.

1st place: Elbrus (5,642 km)

Rating: 5.0

Elbrus is the highest and most popular mountain peak in Russia. It is interesting for a variety of tourists – from beginners to experienced climbers. For the former, there is even infrastructure on the southern slopes – both cable cars and permanent camps with cafes and hotels.

Elbrus is one of the so-called '7 peaks'. These are the seven highest mountains, one on each continent. Elbrus in this case is considered a European peak. In addition, it belongs to the fairly simple to conquer.

The easiest way to climb Elbrus is from the south. Climbing routes there have a difficulty category of 2A, thanks to which even novice conquerors can reach the top. But for those who are looking for extreme and complexities, the northern slopes can be recommended. The difficulty of climbing routes on them is 3A, which requires special training, but not as dangerous as other peaks in the rating.

Interestingly, Elbrus is not just a mountain, but a dormant volcano. Researchers claim that he may wake up. But when this will happen and what the consequences will be is unknown.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.