The Skalisty Range is a chain of ten separate mountain massifs stretching parallel to the northern side of the Lateral Range along the Krasnodar Territory, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia federal subjects.

Its high mountain massifs are separated by the upper reaches of the rivers flowing on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus.

The highest point is 3,646 meters (11,962 ft) high Karakaya, located between rivers Chegem and Cherek in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.

The ridge has steep, in places vertical, southern slopes, while the northern slopes are gentler, though broken by numerous narrow river valleys from the basins of the Kuban and Terek rivers.

[2] The northern slopes of Skalisty Range are largely covered with deciduous forests, while the southern slopes and the areas above the tree line include mountain steppe and pasture in the non-rocky areas.