Espinas Peak

Mount Espinas is one of the tourist attractions of the Astara region in Gilan Province. Its name means "Horse Mountain", and it is the highest peak in the Astara region and one of the highest mountains in Iran. Mount Espinas lies 17 kilometres east of Lavandevil in Astara, and the Laton Waterfall springs from it. From its heights you can look out over the natural beauty of Astara and enjoy the views. The Laton Waterfall, Ali Dashi hot spring, Lake Suha, Baghcheh Gari spring, Khan Bulaghi spring, Settom Bashi, Choban Dashi and Bashmaq Dashi are the best sights at the foot of the mountain.

Because it lies in the Hyrcanian region, the mountain is covered with dense forest and a wide variety of plants. These include trees such as beech, oak, maple, alder, linden, hornbeam and Persian ironwood, as well as rare species such as yew; medicinal plants such as borage, chamomile, thyme, pennyroyal and wild dill; edible mushrooms; and ornamental plants such as wild iris, anemone and many kinds of fern. Thanks to its closeness to the Hyrcanian forests, the area is also a habitat for various animal species, including brown bear, wild boar, leopard, wolf, jackal, eagle, falcon, partridge and quail.

The best seasons to climb Espinas Peak in Astara are spring and late winter, when the air is cool and mild and humidity is moderate. These conditions are well suited to the climb, because the route is long and the hike is fairly demanding. The trip to Mount Espinas involves a relatively difficult route and a long walk, so it is best not to bring children or older people. The trip is better suited to experienced, capable climbers. The important equipment you need for climbing Mount Espinas includes a backpack, mountaineering boots, a sleeping bag, a poncho or raincoat, a groundsheet, a mountaineering tent, cooking equipment, a flashlight and trekking poles, along with essentials such as water, medicines and cash.