Kokshetau National Park

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.

• 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.