Ust'-Koksinskiy District offers a wide range of discoveries: high-altitude lakes in the Katun Mountains, natural zones ranging from forest to mountain tundra, and places where the history of the Uymon Old Believers remains present. When planning your trip, it is worth choosing your focus first: landscapes, culture or activities in the Katun Nature Reserve each come with their own conditions.
Mountain lakes and changing landscapes
The Multinskiye Lakes form a cascade of large bodies of water in the western part of the Katun Mountains, at elevations of at least 1,700 metres. The Middle and Lower Multinskiye Lakes are connected by the Shumy watercourse; this section of the route is particularly popular with tourists. The Lower Lake is the third-largest lake in the Katun Mountains and reaches a depth of 21.5 metres. The group of lakes therefore offers more than a single viewpoint: the connection between the bodies of water and their mountain setting define its character.
Red Mountain offers a different perspective on the landscape. Its lakes are a natural monument of the Altai Republic; several bodies of water lie on its slopes, including the largest, Lower Lake, in the forest zone. The route to Red Mountain passes through deciduous and taiga forests before reaching the mountain tundra. While the high-altitude cascade is the main attraction at the Multinskiye Lakes, here it is the succession of natural zones. From many points in the district, you can also see the Belukha Massif, including its northern face and main peaks.
Cultural sites and traces of history
In Verkhniy Uymon and Multa, visitors can learn about the way of life and traditions of the Uymon Old Believers. Verkhniy Uymon is now home to a museum in the house where Nikolai Roerich lived with his family during his five-year Central Asian expedition. If you plan to visit the museum, check the current visiting arrangements in advance.
Another cultural attraction is located at the Katun Nature Reserve's headquarters in the village of Ust’-Koksa. At the beginning of the tourist season, the reserve welcomes visitors there, where they can visit the Ethno-Ecological Museum of Altai Culture. Exhibits include traditional everyday objects of the Altai people: national clothing, dishes, musical instruments, and equipment used for hunting and livestock farming. The interactive educational eco-trail “V gosti k lesu” teaches children and adults about forest mammals, birds, insects and forest flora.
The region's history also includes archaeological sites: the Turgunda petroglyph complex lies at the mouth of Turgunda Creek, where it flows into the Turgunda River, a left tributary of the Katun. It is about 17 kilometres downstream from the village of Tyungur. The Koksinskaya Roscha is also located near the destination; this natural monument is home to bird cherry trees and hawthorn. Residents and visitors staying in Ust’-Koksa enjoy going for walks there.
Planning a visit to the Katun Nature Reserve
A pass is required to stay in, cross or travel through the Katun Nature Reserve. The reserve administration issues it in the village of Ust’-Koksa. Check the current visitor rules before your trip. The reserve can be visited as part of an organised group or independently; in either case, you must stay on the paths and routes specified in the pass issued to you.
The routes “Starinnoy tropoy staroverov”, “Kuraganskoye kol'tso” and “Katunskiye vysokogor'ya” must be accompanied by instructors or mountain guides listed in the Unified Federal Register of Instructors and Mountain Guides. If you are considering one of these routes, check your plans against the reserve's current requirements.
Rafting and choosing your focus
The rafting options on the Katun range from calm stretches in the Uymon Valley, considered suitable for families, to challenging rapids on the Upper Katun in the Ak-kem Gorge. These involve very different levels of difficulty; this does not mean that every stretch is suitable for every skill level. Check current offers from local operators and the relevant conditions before making plans.
Whether you focus your stay on mountain lakes and natural zones, museums and Old Believer traditions, or river activities, the places and experiences mentioned offer different options. Choose your accommodation and visits according to what interests you most, and observe the pass and guide requirements for routes in the reserve.
Discover more destinations: Multa, Egoryevskiy District, Blagoveshchenskiy District, Barnaul, Rebrikhinskiy District, Chemalskiy District, Ust'-Kanskiy District, Mayminsky District.
Back to the main travel overview: Altai Region.
