Valdaysky National Park

Valdaysky National Park is a protected area in Novgorod Oblast that conserves a section of the Valdai Hills and a dense lake district. The park protects mixed forests, wetlands, and numerous freshwater bodies shaped by glacial and post-glacial processes.

Visitors use a network of trails and water routes for hiking, birdwatching, and boating, with shoreline paths offering access to forest and wetland habitats. The landscape is characterized by rolling hills, birch and pine woodlands, and clear lakes.

The park was established to preserve the Valdai landscape and hydrological systems that form part of the wider watershed between major Russian river basins. Management focuses on balancing recreation with habitat protection.

Valdaysky National Park lies in central Novgorod Oblast within the Valdai Hills region, roughly between Moscow and St. Petersburg in northwestern Russia.

• Landscape and hydrology: The park conserves parts of the Valdai Hills, a glacially formed upland region that supplies several rivers and hosts numerous lakes.
• Visitor activities: Seasonal wildlife viewing and boating on lakes are among the most accessible visitor activities, with trails linking forested ridges and shoreline areas.

What to See #

• Lake Valdayskoye: Lake Valdayskoye is one of the park's larger lakes and serves as a focal point for boating and lakeside trails that explore surrounding forests and wetlands.