Kislovodsk National Park: Attractions, Map, and How to Get There

Are you planning a trip to Kislovodsk and want to not just walk along Kurortny Boulevard, but see the most picturesque places? Kislovodsk National Park (also known as Resort Park) is not just a green area, but a real mountain park with therapeutic trails, a cable car, stone mushrooms, and panoramas of Elbrus. We've walked all the routes — from an easy stroll to climbing Bolshoe Sedlo — taken original photos, and gathered a complete guide for you. Entry is free, and with our tips, you won't get lost and won't miss the main attractions.

A bird sits on a branch against the greenery of Kislovodsk Park — A beautiful bird in Kislovodsk National Park

Kislovodsk National Park was previously called Resort Park, but was renamed in 2016. This causes some confusion, and some vacationers mistakenly think they are different parks.

The health and wellness Kislovodsk National Park is a large, well-maintained green area (965.8 hectares) adjacent to the tourist district of Kislovodsk. Therapeutic trails (terrenkurs) are laid through it, and there are many man-made and natural attractions, including the top resort spots — the cable car and the famous Valley of Roses. Along with Kurortnaya pedestrian street, this is the main place for walks and leisure for vacationers and tourists in Kislovodsk.

Stone ring against a blue sky in Kislovodsk Park — Stone Ring

Bronze monument to Lermontov among trees in Resort Park — Monument to Lermontov

A bird with bright plumage on a tree branch in Kislovodsk Park — A beautiful bird in Kislovodsk National Park

The park has its own website with detailed information about events and attractions – http://kispark.ru/

The national park can be conditionally divided into two parts:

The most well-maintained part starts almost immediately from the Colonnade. This is a relatively small area with paved walking paths, benches and gazebos for rest, fountains, statues, cafes, and restaurants. Here you can meet street performers entertaining the public and artists displaying their works for sale. In short, this part of the park is perfect for light daily walks during your resort vacation.
If you go further into the park, about a kilometer, the developed part ends, giving way to nature. But civilization doesn't end there; rather, quite well-equipped and signposted walking trails (terrenkurs) lead further. Along them, you can reach the Valley of Roses, the cable car station, viewpoints, the peaks of Maloye Sedlo and Bolshoe Sedlo mountains, the upper cable car station, and many other interesting natural places in the park, described below.

How to Visit the Park

You can only move around the park on foot; vehicle traffic is prohibited. Part of the journey inside the park can be done by cable car. Alternatively, you can take the cable car up and walk back down.

For a walk in the farther part of the park, it's better to wear good footwear; you can also take trekking poles for comfort, as there will be ascents and descents in some places. Also, it makes sense to bring water and a snack, although you can find a cafe if you wish, even in the farthest part of the park near the upper cable car station. To cover all the main trails and walk the park's territory to the farthest point on Bolshoe Sedlo mountain via the upper cable car station and the peak of Maloye Sedlo, it's better to set aside a full day.

No permits or fees are required to visit the park; you can simply enter at any convenient point via trails or paths. For orientation, you can use signposts, but some places can only be found with a navigator. It's best to install apps like Organic Maps, OSM, or other community maps on your smartphone, which have trails marked, and download the points with all the attractions from our Kislovodsk map.

You can also buy park tours from 200 rubles from vendors on the street or book tours with reviews on these trusted sites:

What to See in the Kislovodsk Park, Attractions

Valley of Roses (Valley of Roses on the map). A popular attraction not only of the park but of the entire resort. More about the Valley of Roses and how to get there.
Cable car (cable car station on the map). Starts from the park territory near the Valley of Roses and leads to the top of Blue Mountain, where a viewing platform and an Olympic complex (not open to visitors) are located. More about the Kislovodsk cable car.
Mirror Pond and Glass Stream (Mirror Pond on the map). A beautiful artificial pond and waterfall; swimming in the pond is prohibited.
Royal Gazebo (gazebo on the map). Originally built of wood in 1889, replaced with a metal one during Soviet times, and rebuilt in wood again in 2016.
Stone Mushrooms (mushrooms on the map). An unusual natural formation – large stone mushrooms, formed by the weathering of soft rock.
Krasnoe Solnyshko Viewpoint (viewpoint on the map). One of the best viewpoints in the park. It features a sculpture of Lermontov, small stone mushrooms, a stone ring, and a cafe nearby.
Seven Winds Gazebo (viewpoint on the map). A gazebo with a viewing platform offering an excellent view of the park valley. More about the Seven Winds Gazebo and how to visit it.
Upper cable car station and the top of Blue Mountain (summit on the map). Here you'll find the Olympic complex (not open to visitors), a cafe, and a decent viewing platform. This is the highest point in the park. You can take the cable car up or walk, but from the Colonnade you'll have to cover 5 kilometers and climb 360 meters. Alternatively, you can take the cable car up and walk back down.
Maloye Sedlo Mountain (Maloye Sedlo on the map). The mountain's altitude above sea level is 1309 meters (according to other sources 1376), and over 450 meters above the city level. It offers stunning views of the park and surroundings. It's 5.5 kilometers from the Colonnade, but you can take the cable car to the upper station, from where it's a short distance to the summit. Unfortunately, there are no signs to it; you'll have to follow trails and a navigator. More about Maloye Sedlo and how to visit.
Bolshoe Sedlo Mountain (Bolshoe Sedlo on the map). The mountain's altitude above sea level is 1409 meters, and over 550 meters above the city level. This is the farthest point people usually go to. There are no paths here; you'll have to walk along trails that go through the summit of Maloye Sedlo. You need to set aside a whole day for the hike to it. More about Bolshoe Sedlo and how to visit.
Grotto with a Face or "Master of the Mountains" (grotto on the map). Along one of the trails in the park, running below the Blue Cliffs, there are several grottoes. One of them is interesting because a face is carved directly into the stone inside. Getting to the grotto is easy, but you need to know this trail, for which it's best to use a navigator. More about the Grotto with a Face and how to get there.
Viewpoint on Sosnovaya Mountain (Viewpoint on Sosnovaya Mountain on the map). A new viewpoint appeared on Sosnovaya Mountain, rising almost 100 meters above the center of Kislovodsk. It offers views of the southern part of the city, but the center and the tourist district with Kurortny pedestrian boulevard are not visible from here. More about the viewpoint on Sosnovaya Mountain.
Temple of Air (Temple of Air on the map). This historical place is a small thematic pavilion located on a hill, from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Kislovodsk Park and even see the two white peaks of Elbrus. More about the Temple of Air.
Thuja Alley (Thuja Alley on the map). A very picturesque place where thujas are planted along the path, forming a natural corridor.