Mount Ara: North Ski Trail

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

All the networks operating in Armenia are always available from the Mount Ara summer resort to the top of mountain. In case of emergency, call 911, a service which is available throughout Armenia.

The best time to visit this area is from January to mid-April. Mount Ara, with its steep, timbered slopes, is located on the borders of the Kotayk and Aragatsotn provinces, 33km north of Yerevan. Besides housing a skiing, biking, and hiking trail, the mountain is also a launching place for paragliding pilots. In the territory of Mount Ara, you’ll most probably come across wolves, gray or yellow foxes and rabbits. You may also meet a bear that has woken early from hibernation.

The ski trail begins on the north of the mountain and descends to the edge of a summer resort. The snow is mostly solid here, but the surface is always melted a few centimeters, which is very favorable for skiing. The descent runs through pine and oak forests, which make for a beautiful combination in the winter. From the top of Mount Ara, you can view the four highest mountains of Armenia: Aragats, Azhdahak, Teghenis 1, and Hatis.