Nalychevo Nature Park is a microcosm of Kamchatka's ecosystems and this diversity, along with the park's close proximity to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Yelizovo make it a favorite place for recreation and tourism. Whether hiking in the park, which has no road access, or flying in by helicopter, visitors from Russia and abroad enjoy the chance to observe brown bear, Steller's Sea Eagle, to fish, or climb an active volcano, and more.

     The park was established on August 18, 1995 and the next year was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. Covering a total area of 706,721 acres, Nalychevo has a complex geological construction and fascinating history of volcanic and hydrothermal activity. Its heart is the valley of the Nalycheva River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. The main part of the park is formed by a bowl of active and extinct volcanoes. The four highest volcanoes are still active-Koryaksky (3456 m) last erupted in 1956; Zhupanovsky (2927 m) in 1957; Avachinsky (2741 m) erupted in 1991, and Dzenzur (2156 m) is active but there are no records of its last eruption. Dzenzur displays regular fumaroles and gaseous emissions. In this compact area, many rare geological activities are concentrated providing visitors with a unique opportunity to observe and study volcanoes, ore formation, glaciation, and hot springs.

     This volcanic activity gives rise to formation of tremendous geothermal and cold mineral springs, concentrated near the headwaters of the Nalycheva River. The thermal springs range in temperature from 14 to 75 degrees centigrade. The best known are Nalychevskie, Talovye, Shaibnye, Kraevedcheskie, Dzenzurskie, Shumninskie thermal springs and the Aagskie, Koryakskie cold mineral springs. The waters of the largest hot springs - Nalychevskie - are the only known in example in the world with such carbonaceous, arsenic and boric concentrations.

     Nalychevo Park combines stunning mountain scenery with vast expanses of tundra and coastal seascapes. The presence of volcanic and ancient glacial landscapes, together with the specific microclimatic conditions of the valley of the Nalycheva River have produced unique richness and diversity of flora and fauna, many of which are presented in Russia's Red Book.

     The death of vegetation on sizable areas from periodic volcano eruptions, make it possible to study plant regeneration on different aged lava fields and flows. Vegetation that appears on the hydrothermal altered soils near hot mineralized springs is of special research interest. The Erman's birch (stone birch) forests around the hot springs have a variety of wildflowers including the rare Lady's Slipper Orchid.

     Nalychevo Park can be visited year round with many hiking and winter skiing, dog sledding, and snow machine opportunities. Hikers can trek into and out of the park from June through early October but likely will meet snow in the mountain passes. The best skiing is in March through April and even to early May.