Discover Ust'-Koksinsky District

• A permit is required to stay in, cross, or drive through the Katun Nature Reserve; the reserve administration issues it at its headquarters in the village of Ust'-Koksa.
• The Multinskiye Lakes form a cascade in the western part of the Katun Range at an elevation of at least 1,700 meters. Lower Multinskoye Lake is the range’s third-largest lake and is 21.5 meters deep.
• At the beginning of the tourist season, the Katun Nature Reserve invites visitors to its headquarters in Ust'-Koksa, where they can visit the Ethno-Ecological Museum of Altai Culture.

From many places in Ust'-Koksinsky District, you can see the Belukha Massif, including its northern side and main peaks. At the Multinskiye Lakes, both their high elevation and the connection between individual bodies of water are noteworthy: Middle and Lower Lakes are linked by the Shumy watercourse. This section of the route is especially popular with tourists.

The lakes of Red Mountain are also a natural monument of the Altai Republic. Several lakes lie on its slopes; the largest, Lower Lake, is in the forest zone. The trail to Red Mountain passes through deciduous and taiga forests before reaching the mountain tundra. The landscape therefore includes both high-altitude waters and a clear transition between vegetation zones.

You need a permit to stay in, cross, or drive through the Katun Nature Reserve. The reserve administration issues it at its headquarters in the village of Ust'-Koksa. Visits are possible in organized groups or independently; in either case, you must stick to the paths and routes specified in the issued permit.

Three routes have additional requirements: “Starinnoy tropoy staroverov,” “Kuraganskoye koltso,” and “Katunskiye vysokogorya” may be visited only with instructors and mountain guides registered in the Unified Federal Register. Check the reserve’s current visitor rules before your trip.

At the Ethno-Ecological Museum of Altai Culture, you can learn about traditional everyday objects used by the Altai people. The collection includes national clothing, dishes, and musical instruments, as well as equipment for hunting and livestock farming. The reserve’s central grounds in Ust'-Koksa are also home to “V gosti k lesu,” an interactive educational eco-trail. It teaches children and adults about forest mammals, birds, insects, and forest flora.

Today, a museum in Verkhniy Uymon occupies the house where Nikolai Roerich lived with his family during his five-year Central Asian expedition. Check current opening information before visiting. Those interested in the way of life and traditions of the Uymon Old Believers can learn about them in Verkhniy Uymon and Multa.

Another cultural site is the archaeological complex of the Turgunda petroglyphs. It lies at the confluence of Turgunda Creek and the Turgunda River, a left-bank tributary of the Katun, about 17 kilometers downstream from the village of Tyungur.

Rafting on the Katun spans a wide range of difficulty: calm sections in the Uymon Valley are considered suitable for families, while challenging rapids lie on the Upper Katun in the Ak-kem gorge. If you are planning a specific trip, check with local operators for current conditions and availability.

Discover more destinations: Kulundinsky District, Turochakskiy District, Shipunovskiy District, Blagoveshchenskiy District, Ust'-Kanskiy District, Romanovskiy District, Mayminsky District.

Where is the permit for the Katun Nature Reserve issued?

The reserve administration issues it at its headquarters in the village of Ust'-Koksa. A permit is required to stay in, cross, or drive through the reserve.

What does the Ethno-Ecological Museum of Altai Culture display?

It displays traditional everyday objects used by the Altai people, including national clothing, dishes, musical instruments, and equipment for hunting and livestock farming.

What topics does the “V gosti k lesu” eco-trail cover?

Unlike the Ethno-Ecological Museum, whose collection includes everyday objects used by the Altai people, the educational trail focuses on forest nature.

Go to the main travel overview: Altai Region.