Heydar Peak
3,751 m
Azerbaijan
Also known as Heydar zirvasi, Heydər zirvəsiAlso known as
Heydar zirvasi · Heydər zirvəsi
- Elevation
- 3,751 m
- Prominence
- 893 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: Medium-Hard (Mountain Guide Azerbaijan)
The standard guided ascent: 4x4 from Khinalig past the border and national park checkpoints to the Ateshgah camp (about 2,500–2,600 m) below the Qızılqaya massif, then a summit day of 5–6 hours on rough mountain paths, scree and late snow to Heydar Peak, usually combined with neighbouring Atatürk Peak, and about 4 hours back to camp.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 10.3 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +3,751 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 3,751 m
- Time Up
- 13h 47m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 8h 47m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Khinalig, operators drive about an hour by 4x4, through State Border Service and Shahdag National Park checkpoints, to a camp at Ateshgah (about 2,500–2,600 m) at the foot of the Qızılqaya (Gizilgaya) massif. One operator walks a further 1–2 hours to a higher camp at about 2,900 m and makes an acclimatisation walk to about 3,200 m in the afternoon. Hikers also reach the area on foot from Khinalig: a 2017 group walked about 20 km return from a first camp about 4 km from the village (about 2,200 m). Summit day starts at 04:00. Operators give 5–6 hours to climb Heydar Peak and then the slightly higher Atatürk Peak about 1 km to the south, and about 4 hours back to the Ateshgah camp by the same route. No source describes the terrain in detail beyond rough ground, loose gravel and, early in the season, snow and ice; a bas-relief of Heydar Aliyev marks the summit. The peak is the goal of large memorial ascents each May around Heydar Aliyev's birthday, organised by sports federations and the State Border Service, when hundreds of people may be on the mountain and snow cover is still extensive. Outside these events it sees few visitors.
Start
Khinalig0 m
- None to the camp; operators provide transport from Baku via Quba to Khinalig and 4x4 beyond
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Khinalig0 m
4x4 transfer from here
- Summit: Heydar Peak3,751 m
Key Passages
- 4x4 track through the border and park checkpoints
- Scree slopes of the Qızılqaya massif
- Ridge to Atatürk Peak
Equipment
0/8 packedDownloads
Route confidence 45%Overview
Heydar Peak (published as 3,751 m) is a summit of the Qızılqaya massif above Khinalig in northern Azerbaijan, named in 1997 after Heydar Aliyev. A non-technical two-day ascent from a 4x4-accessible camp, usually combined with the neighbouring Atatürk Peak.
Heydar Peak (Heydər zirvəsi, also Heydar Aliyev Peak) rises on the Qızılqaya (Gizilgaya) massif, part of the main Başdağ range of the eastern Greater Caucasus, a few kilometres north of the village of Khinalig in Quba district and within Shahdag National Park. It was named in 1997 in honour of Heydar Aliyev, and a bas-relief of him stands on the summit. About 1 km to the south is Atatürk Peak (3,756 m), named in 1999, and the plateau-like Qızılqaya summit (3,726 m) is nearby; from the top Shahdag, Bazardüzü and Tufandağ are visible.
The ascent is a long hike rather than a climb: operators drive by 4x4 to a camp at about 2,500–2,600 m, then climb both Heydar and Atatürk peaks in a 5–6 hour summit day over rough, loose ground. The mountain has a political and ceremonial role: every May, around Heydar Aliyev's birthday, sports federations, state agencies and the State Border Service organise mass memorial ascents with hundreds of participants.
Outside these events the area is quiet, with no huts or waymarks, and is subject to the same permit regime as the rest of the national park's high country.
Climbing Notes
Fitness for a 9–10 hour summit day at up to 3,750 m is the main requirement; there are no technical sections described. Acclimatise with a night in Khinalig or at the camp and an afternoon walk to about 3,000–3,200 m, as operators do. In May the upper mountain is usually snow-covered and conditions are cold and changeable, with snow, rain, ice and loose gravel reported; from July to September it is mostly snow-free.
Book through a local operator: permits from the State Border Service, Shahdag National Park and the Ministry of Emergency Situations require a passport copy in advance (8 to 30 days, depending on the operator). Operators provide 4x4 transport, tents and a guide; food is often self-catered. Carry a GPS track, as there are no waymarks.
History
The peak was named Heydar Peak in 1997, and the neighbouring summit Atatürk Peak in 1999. Annual memorial expeditions have been held since at least 2010, when more than 70 athletes of the Azerbaijan Federation of Air and Extreme Sports reached the summit on 9 May; a 2017 event organised by FAIREX had about 600 participants.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter
- Feb
- Winter
- Mar
- Winter
- Apr
- Deep snow
- May
- Memorial mass ascents around 10 May; snow, ice and unstable weather
- Jun
- Snow patches remain on the upper slopes
- Jul
- Main season; thunderstorms and fog
- Aug
- Main season
- Sep
- Often stable
- Oct
- Cold; early snow possible
- Nov
- Winter conditions arriving
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Permits
- State Border Service permitRequired
The 4x4 route to the camp passes a State Border Service checkpoint; operators obtain permission in advance with a passport copy (ATI says at least 8 days, Mountain Guide Azerbaijan 30 days).
mountainguide.az - Shahdag National Park entryRequired
Entrance ticket and access permit for the national park, arranged by the operator.
ati.az - Ministry of Emergency Situations (FHN) registrationRequired
Group registration, arranged by the operator.
mountainguide.az
- Fees
- Guided two-day trips from Baku are sold as packages including transport, 4x4, permits, tents and guide
- Rules
- Carry your passport for the border and national park checkpoints
- No huts: camping only
- Getting There
Quba; Khinalig is the nearest village
Baku Heydar Aliyev (GYD)
- By road from Baku to Quba (about 3 hours) and on to Khinalig (about 2 hours)
- 4x4 from Khinalig to the Ateshgah camp, about 1 hour
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness