Kokshetau National Park
National Park Scenic national park with forests, lakes, and hiking
Kokshetau National Park in Akmola Region offers forested hills, clear lakes and walking trails used for boating, picnics and seasonal hiking.
Kokshetau National Park is a protected area in Akmola Region in northern Kazakhstan that conserves forest-steppe hills and a chain of lakes north of the city of Kokshetau. It is one of the region’s principal natural reserves for landscape and biodiversity protection.
The park contains wooded hills, freshwater lakes and rocky ridges that offer hiking and nature observation opportunities at small local scales. Trails and shoreline routes provide access to lakes and viewpoints, and the area is used for picnics, day hikes and seasonal wildlife watching.
The protected area was established by Kazakhstan authorities to conserve regional landscapes and habitats and has been managed for both conservation and low-impact recreation since its designation. Over time management has focused on maintaining natural shorelines and limiting incompatible development.
Geographically the park sits in the northern Kazakh uplands of Akmola Region, immediately north of the city of Kokshetau. The landscape is a mix of low hills and lakes surrounded by forest-steppe vegetation.
- Access: The city of Kokshetau lies immediately to the south and provides the main access points and visitor services.
- Landscape: The park protects a mix of forest-steppe hills, lakes and rocky outcrops typical of the northern Kazakh uplands.
Tips for Visiting Kokshetau National Park #
- Use the Burabay (Borovoye) / Shchuchinsk resort towns as your practical access points - they are the main gateways with the most visitor services, trailheads and viewpoints for the park.
- Start hikes early in the morning to catch clear light across the lakes and to enjoy quieter trails; popular spots like Okzhetpes and Mount Kokshe are best visited at first light before day-trippers arrive.
- Head beyond the main lake shores onto lesser-used forest trails and smaller lakes in the park - many visitors stick to the central viewpoints and miss peaceful coves, pine groves and smaller lookout points that reward a short extra walk.
Best Time to Visit Kokshetau National Park #
Kokshetau National Park is best visited in summer (June-August) when trails and lakes are most accessible.
Weather & Climate near Kokshetau National Park #
Kokshetau National Park's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -20°C to 25°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -11°C and lows of -20°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is the coldest month with highs of -11°C and lows of -20°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -14°C. The driest month with just 11 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with 59 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 4°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -12°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -9°C and lows of -17°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
