Janapar Trail -Section 7 - Shushi to Stepanakert

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Janapar Trail -Section 7 - Shushi to Stepanakert

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Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 8.7 miles / 14.0 km
Duration: Half day

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Overview: Taking you on a back road between the two most visited cities in Karabakh, this trail is a serene and beautiful walk, with very nice views and vistas, as well as some points of historical interest along the way.

If you've followed these first six sections of the trail, you've been hiking for one week and have completed the well marked section of the Janapar. You can continue to hike further, but the trail markers have not been updated for most of the following sections and and some sections have never been marked. You'd need to continue beyond this point with this Everytrail guide, which can be supplemented with topo maps and more on Janapar.org

Tips: * Walking from Shushi to Stepanakert is much easier than the reverse, because Shushi is at a much higher elevation. So if you're only hiking this one section, take that into account.

*To save time, you can take the #19 marshutni (minibus van) from central Stepanakert to the marked trailhead, where it comes to a stop and takes a break - so no worry about getting off in the right spot. You can also take it from the end of the marked trail to the center to cut the hike short.

Points of Interest

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Shushi Town Square

When facing the statue of a man sitting on a bench, you see a road to the left of it heading down toward the city walls. Follow that road and you'll see the trailhead marking on the first pine tree on your right. You might stock up on some snacks or drinks in the square before you head out.

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Gate of Shushi's Old City Wall

You have to go around a wall and through the courtyard of a cafe and turn right through the arch in the wall and through the gate at this point. A little tricky, but the trail is marked.

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Shushi City Sign

This sign in three languages welcomes you to Shushi. Right across the highway from this sign is the dirt road that begins the backroad Janapar trail to the capital city.

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Stone Bridge

A nice stone bridge will take you across the only river crossing in this section of the Janapar. A nice spot for a break by the water. After crossing the bridge, you quickly come to a dead end at another dirt road. You want to take your hard right to get to Stepanakert. Taking the road left will take you to the ruins of a village destroyed during the Karabakh war of independence.

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Views

All along this hike you'll see beautiful views. These photos are from along the route, not necessarily this spot.

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Small Stone Church

A little old stone church with the roof overgrown with grass will mark this turn. It's in the tiniest of villages, with just a half dozen homes, and there's an old cemetery above the road across from the church.

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Minibus (Marshutni) stop

This is where the clearly marked trail begins/ends. From here you can continue walking to the center of Stepanakert, or take the #19 marshutni (van) that departs from here every 15 minutes or so.

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Renaissance Square

Renaissance Square is the main square of the capital city of Stepanakert. City hall, the national assembly, Hotel Armenia and the statue of Stepan Shahumyan all surround the square.