In Novokuznetskiy District, a narrow canyon with rare species and a distinctive mountain offer contrasting landscape features. The Kostyonkovskiye Rocks natural monument lies in a narrow canyon on the Chumysh River in the Salairskiy Ridge. Here, the rock formations, river and mountain range are interconnected.
Landscape in Novokuznetskiy District
Rare plants and animals at the Kostyonkovskiye Rocks include rare orchids and the Apollo butterfly. The butterfly is listed in the Red Data Books of Russia and Kemerovo Oblast. The natural monument can thus be understood not only through its canyon setting, but also through the specific species found there.
Another point of interest in the district is Mount Chernyy Voron, at an altitude of 1,449 metres. These offer different reasons to choose a destination: the protected riverside rocks and their wildlife on the one hand, and the mountain’s clearly stated elevation on the other.
More options in the wider destination of Kemerovo Oblast
The wider destination of Kemerovo Oblast offers additional nature and activity options. In Shorsky National Park, visitors can raft on mountain rivers, take motorboat trips and hike along ecological trails. Seasonal operating rules may vary, so check the current park rules and route conditions when making specific plans.
The Srednyaya Mrassu rafting route in Shorsky National Park runs from Ust-Kabyrza to Ust-Anzas. Depending on the weather, it takes at least three days; it is rated Category I and is accessible to all age groups. Another route in Kemerovo Oblast, Verkhnyaya Mrassu, includes small rapids and riffles rated Categories I and II. Here, water conditions and trip duration depend on participants’ experience and the river level. When planning a trip, account for both the first route’s set endpoints and weather-dependent minimum duration, and the second route’s changing water conditions.
Sheregesh also offers a variety of landscapes in Kemerovo Oblast: its ski runs range from 350 to 3,800 metres in length. The ecological trails feature three land-art installations, a dancing forest, “living stones,” block fields and the ancient Verblyudy Rocks. These rock pinnacles are located on the slope of Mount Kurgan. Check local conditions before setting out on a trail.
Culture in Kemerovo Oblast
In Kemerovo Oblast, Tomskaya Pisanitsa is a cultural monument of federal significance and one of the best-known and most important rock art sites in Western Siberia. The museum-reserve covers 156 hectares of pine forest on the scenic banks of the Tom River. People left 300 rock images at sites considered sacred; the oldest depictions are 4,000 years old. Since its early years, Tomskaya Pisanitsa has also hosted historical, ethnographic and folkloric events and festivals.
At the Shorskiy ulus Kezek complex near Tomskaya Pisanitsa, the homestead of a wealthy Shor has been reconstructed. The buildings are original structures dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the Selskiy dvorik petting zoo, visitors can feed domestic goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, geese and ducks.
Another cultural site in Kemerovo Oblast is the Kuznetskaya Fortress in Novokuznetsk. It is a federal monument of history, military engineering and architecture. The fortress houses a permanent archaeological exhibition on the region’s early history, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions.
Accommodation in the wider destination of Kemerovo Oblast
Shorsky National Park has more than 30 tourist rest and picnic areas, as well as three equipped bases with a combined capacity of up to 54 people. The visitor accommodation bases Mednaya, Karchit and Kabuk offer tourist lodging and glamping sites for groups of three to fourteen people, bathhouses, pavilions and cooking fire pits. These accommodations are a separate option in the wider destination of Kemerovo Oblast. Check their current availability before making plans based on them.
Discover more destinations: Yashkinskiy District, Kemerovskiy District, Belovskiy District, Prigorodnyy, Novokuznetsk, Promyshlennovskiy District, Leninsk-Kuznetskiy City, Tashtagolskiy District.
See the overview of the wider destination: Kemerovo Oblast.
