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Stolby Nature Reserve in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia is a Treasure Trove for Nature Lovers

Posted on October 8, 2018April 29, 2025

There was a time when I used to trek once every year! But gradually I stopped for no particular reason. After a while I developed knee pain which now leaves me scared at the prospect of trekking. However, when I got to visit the Stolby Nature Reserve near Krasnoyarsk, Siberia I am glad I was able to keep up with it.

We boarded our Follow Up Siberia team bus and headed to the Stolby region which was not more than 20 minutes from the city center in Krasnoyarsk. The officers from the park greeted us at the gate. The official park bus dropped the group at the beginning of walking trail in the Stolby National Park.

svetlana-stolby
Our Guide at Stolby- Svetlana

Our guide for the day was Sevtlana Yushkova who works in the IT department. She is an amateur rock climber herself. Even though we were listening to her via a translator she did capture our interest.

Solby is fascinating for every nature lover but it holds a special charm for rock climbers. The reserve is full of rock formations. The locals have given them interesting name. For example, one rock is Grandpa and the locals invented a whole family to keep Grandpa company.

pine-cones-fallen
Fallen Pine Cones

Svetlana told us that the park has its own rock climbing subculture known as Stolbist! The idea was to use only a rope while climbing! There are groups of climbers and they have their own cabins. Having a key to a group cabin gives a special sense of belonging!

siberian-chipmunk
A Siberian Chipmunk

For us casual visitors there were easy rocks to climb. I managed to climb the top of the Grandpa Rock. The view from the top is amazing.

One of the most famous rock formation is known as the Krasnoyarsk Pillar or the Feather. To me it was the most impressive of all that I saw. And I am sure I saw only a few.

the-sinner-rock
The Sinner’s Rock

Svetlana (and Lucy who would translate for us) told us a fascinating story about the Rock of the Sinner. The legend is that if a sinner stood beneath the rock, it would fall! Apparently the wives of the initial climbers were insecure about the time spent by their husbands away from home. So the husbands said if they were cheating, the rock would fall on them! These days people go beneath the rock to make a wish.

There are Siberian Nuthatches all through the park which know no fear of human beings. They would pick nuts of people’s hands. I also saw many Siberian chipmunks going around the park.

It is easy to walk around the park as the routes are marked on the trees, yellow, purple and the blue. We took the blue route. If you are not into climbing, you would love the hikes.

bark-beetle-pine-trees
Attack of the Bark Beetles on the Pine Trees

On the route we saw some pine trees that were going red. Svetlana explained that was due to attack of bug beetles. But the park has a policy of not interfering with nature.

stolby-nature-reserve

Our group of Follow Up Siberia went on to climb up another rock formation while I decided to wait for them at the base. After a while their voices started fading and I was left alone with the nature. I think I had the park to myself for about 25 minutes. Maybe 4 other hikers crossed my path. I was sitting on a big flat stone and enjoying the solitude. It is only when I sit on big flat rocks, surrounded by the nature I am able to think with clarity about things that are of life shattering importance to me!

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14 thoughts on “Stolby Nature Reserve in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia is a Treasure Trove for Nature Lovers”

  1. Neeraj Kumar says:
    October 8, 2018 at 8:17 pm

    Feels nice to visit Siberia again through your this post.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      October 12, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      Thank you Neeraj!

      Reply
  2. Sachin Baikar says:
    October 9, 2018 at 8:37 am

    Very well written post with beautiful photos 👍 Mridula. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      October 23, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      Thank you Sachin.

      Reply
  3. rupam { xhobdo } says:
    October 10, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    Amazing. Beautiful pics.

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      October 23, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      Thank you Rupam!

      Reply
  4. Tanza Erlambang says:
    October 13, 2018 at 2:37 am

    Look wonderful….
    Beautiful scenic.

    @ Have great October

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      October 13, 2018 at 12:29 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  5. Yogi Saraswat says:
    October 16, 2018 at 9:39 am

    The legend is that if a sinner stood beneath the rock, it would fall! ha ha ha … ये ठीक है … यहाँ के लोगों को ले जाओ .. तो आधी .. से ज्यादा जनसंख्या खत्म 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      October 24, 2018 at 4:31 pm

      Ha ha but I am sure the rock has not fallen even once!

      Reply
  6. dNambiar says:
    October 22, 2018 at 10:14 pm

    Lovely place. I have a thing for rocky landscapes. 😀
    The sinner rock — interesting. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      October 23, 2018 at 12:18 pm

      Thank you Divya, it was quite an experience to visit Siberia!

      Reply
  7. Nagarjuna says:
    November 1, 2018 at 11:05 am

    Really amazing Mridula, I am one among the nature lovers, the locations are too good
    Keep going,

    All the Best

    Reply
    1. Mridula Dwivedi says:
      November 1, 2018 at 3:24 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply

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About Me

I am Mridula Dwivedi and I started this blog in 2005. It has been an amazing ride. I have visited 33 countries till date! I have worked with many tourism boards and prominent travel companies. My blog was featured on the BBC and the Guardian.

I did my Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur. I worked full time in academics till 2015! I quit my job as a professor, thinking I will take a break for one year, which turned into five.

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