🏔️ Okatse Canyon: Suspension Bridge, Trail and Dadiani Forest Park

The Okatse Canyon is one of those places that sounds familiar but turns out to be bigger than expected. The Okatse River, a left tributary of the Tskhenitstskali, rises on the Askhi massif and cuts through a limestone plateau in Khoni Municipality. The result is a 16 km canyon, 35-50 metres deep for most of its length, and up to 100 metres deep near the natural rock bridge Kvakhida. Average width between the walls: 4 metres. In places the walls almost meet and form natural stone bridges — one of them, called the Bridge of God, sits over the canyon floor.

The trail runs for 6 km through the old Dadiani forest park and ends at a 780-metre metal suspension bridge over the gorge. This isn't a quick viewpoint walk but a proper hike that takes most of the morning.

A few kilometres from here, Kinchkha Waterfall drops more than 80 metres — the tallest cascade in Georgia. Most people visit both in one day.

🚶 The Trail

The trail starts at the visitor centre in Zeda Gordi village and runs through the old Dadiani forest park. The first section follows a well-worn path under the tree canopy. Gradually the forest gives way to an open ridge above the canyon.

From here the path runs along the rim with metal railings. Underfoot, grated walkways begin — and through them you can see the depth below. This is where Okatse makes its impression: the canyon walls stand just 4 metres apart in places, and in the darkness at the bottom, water moves somewhere out of sight.

Along the way, the trail passes several natural rock bridges. The most visited is the Bridge of God: standing on it, you look straight down at the canyon floor. The Kvakhida natural bridge is further along, where the depth reaches 100 metres.

The trail ends at a 780-metre metal suspension bridge. It sways with each step — that's normal, the structure is built for it. People with a strong fear of heights should think about this before starting; the grated walkways earlier in the route give a fair preview of the sensation.

Total distance: 6 km. At a comfortable pace with stops: 2-3 hours. The trail is linear, so you walk back the same way or arrange a return transfer in advance.

🌉 Natural Rock Bridges and the Bridge of God

Several natural rock bridges run across the canyon. They form where the river eroded the limestone from below while the upper layer stayed anchored to both walls. Some are wide enough to walk across; others span the gap at points where the walls almost touch.

The Bridge of God is the most well-known. From the top, the canyon floor is visible directly below — the drop is sudden and disorienting in the best possible way. The Kvakhida bridge is deeper in the canyon, near the 100-metre section, and reached by a separate spur of the trail.

🏛️ The Dadiani Forest Park and Summer Residence

The trail passes through what was once the summer estate of the Dadiani family, rulers of Samegrelo. The palace was built in 1841 by David Dadiani, designed by Russian architect Leonid Vasiliev, with the landscape laid out by Italian designer Joseph Babin.

At its height, the estate covered 80 hectares surrounded by a stone wall with three guarded gates. The complex included a two-storey palace resembling a fortress, a bathhouse, a chapel, long tree-lined avenues, springs and an artificial pond with swans. What remains today is the shell of one building — walls without a roof. But the old trees, the avenues and the general proportions of the space still suggest what it once was.

For the wider story of the Dadiani family, the Dadiani Palace in Zugdidi holds the main collection.

🚗 Getting There

The canyon is in Khoni Municipality, near the village of Zeda Gordi, at 520 m above sea level. The visitor centre is the starting point for the trail.

From Kutaisi: 42 km. Take the E60 highway towards Khoni, then follow signs for Zeda Gordi. The road is paved; the drive takes around 50 minutes.

Taxi from Kutaisi to the visitor centre is straightforward. You can arrange for the driver to wait or to pick you up at the end.

Minibuses from Kutaisi run to Khoni regularly; from Khoni, a local taxi to the visitor centre. There is no direct minibus to the canyon.

From Tbilisi: 277 km, about 3 hours by car.

Parking is available at the visitor centre. If you're combining with Kinchkha Waterfall, it's a few kilometres further — staff at the ticket desk can give directions.

👨‍👩‍👧 Families and Children

The trail suits school-age children in reasonable physical shape. Most of the path is even and has railings on exposed sections. The key requirements: non-slip shoes and supervision on the suspension bridge and the grated walkways.

Children under six: the trail is 6 km each way and there's no shortcut. Prams won't manage the terrain.

🗺️ Combining with Kinchkha Waterfall

Okatse Canyon and Kinchkha Waterfall are a few kilometres apart, both in Khoni Municipality. By car, 10-15 minutes between the two. Most visitors do both in one day: the canyon trail in the morning (2-3 hours), then the waterfall.

If you're planning both, leave Kutaisi early. The canyon takes up half the day; the waterfall adds another 1-2 hours. Save Kinchkha Waterfall in Madloba to keep the location and get directions.

Have you visited Okatse Canyon? Leave a review on Madloba: tell us how the trail felt, whether the bridge lives up to the hype, and whether a weekday visit is quieter.

Information is current as of June 2026. Check the visitor centre's opening hours, weather conditions and trail status before travelling.

Okatse and Martvili are usually done in one day: an hour apart, with almost no public transport in between.

Read also

• Estates of the Dadiani Princes: The Zugdidi Palace Complex, the Summer Residence at Salkhino and the Murat Legacy