Vilyuchinsky Volcano (2175 m / 7136 ft) is located to the southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the other side of the Avacha Bay. It is a monument of nature and partly situated on the territory of South Kamchatka Nature Park (Yuzhno-Kamchatsky prirodny park).
Just like «domestic volcanoes» (Koryaksky, Avachinsky, Kozelsky), Vilyuchinsky offers a great view of the city. The dazzling white in the winter and no less beautiful in the summer, the volcano is the main decoration of the Avacha Bay panorama. Cone of Vilyuchinsky Volcano is very smooth and beautiful, and from a distance it looks polished. The volcano is visually similar to the famous Japanese Fuji or Italian Vesuvius.
The volcano is an extinct one, and deep gorges in the cone bear witness to the fact that lava eruptions took place a long, long time ago. But, despite this, the volcanologists have been registering insignificant fumarolic activity on its slopes. A few pockets of hot springs are concentrated in the area of the volcano. Some of them have tourist centers.
Vilyuchinsky Volcano is relatively simple to climb; it takes about seven hours to get to the summit. However, the visual simplicity may turn into tragedy and the giant periodically claims human lives. From March to May, heliskiing fans descend the volcano on skis and snowboards. The summit offers stunning views of the Avacha Bay and Pacific Ocean.