Seminsky Pass is located on 583 km of Chuysky tract and is its highest point (1717 meters above the sea level). Ascent - 9 km, descent – 11 km. Fully covered by asphalt. The old Altai name of the Seminsky pass is Dyal-Menku (“eternal crest”).

The pass is located in the southwest part of the Seminsky ridge, in Onguday district of Altai Republic. The ascent to the pass starts 15 km from Shebalino village. The length of the nature sanctuary along the Chuysky tract from the northern to the southern ridge bottom is 19 km. The width varies from a few hundred meters to 2-3 km. The area of nature sanctuary is 20 square kilometers. The pass is the border of the Central and Northwest Altai mountains.

The pass lies in a habitation zone of rare insects representing a great interest for biologists. Moreover, some birds which have been included into the Altai republic Red book temporarily nesting and dwelling there: a steppe eagle, a golden eagle, a steppe kestrel, a falcon, a peregrine, an eagle owl.

Since old times the pass has been saving “a cult of mountains” presenting the heritage of far ancestors in the form of ceremonies and beliefs like the convictions considering "obo" monuments where the locals arrange sacrifices.

On the top there is a monument which was constructed to devotion of the 200 anniversary of voluntary entering of Altai region into Russia (it was established in 1956).

On top there is also large parking lot for tourists, souvenir shops, WC. The top of the pass is covered with pine forest, while on the rise to the pass grows mixed forest. On the pass is always windy, the weather is changeable, winter blizzards and snow drifts often happen.

On the pass there are several tourist facilities and training center Seminsky. The high altitude with thin air and the year-round easy access makes it a popular place for training of many athletes. Infrastructure: hotels, cafes, summer jogging tracks for roller skis, a winter ski slope with lift.

Many tourists consider that the true Altai region starts only after Seminsky pass. Prior to pass the main stream of tourists stays on the popular tourist camps around Aya lake, Turquoise Katun and Chemal village. Therefore, after Seminsky pass it’s possible to get closer to the untouched nature and feel like time has stopped!

See also Chike-Taman pass