charyn.kz an independent guide to wild Kazakhstan

Sarytogay ash grove: a relict forest from the Paleogene

5,014 hectares, of which 1,100 are pure Sogdian ash. A protected natural monument since 1964. The grove turns gold in autumn.

Verified: 2026-08

Engraving: a summer grove of old ash trees by the river on a canyon floor
IllustrationEngraving: a summer grove of old ash trees by the river on a canyon floor

Sarytogay ash grove: why go

Sogdian ash, a Paleogene relict

The tree outlived the glaciations and survives in the Charyn floodplain in its natural state; ash makes up about 35% of the woodland.

Ash among desert plants

On the high terraces the moisture-loving ash grows beside saxaul, Eurotia and ephedra, and this pairing is what earned the grove protection.

Turanga, as old as the ash

The diversifolious poplar, a relict and endemic of the grove: narrow willow-like leaves below and broad rounded ones above on the same tree.

Sarytogay's golden autumn

In autumn the foliage turns gold, a completely different picture from the red canyon walls, and most day trips skip the grove entirely.

A natural monument since 1964

The grove was declared a natural monument on 19 March 1964, and today it holds more than 50 rare and relict plant species.

Folds from recent tectonics

Recent tectonic movements show here as folded deformations, with loose rock crumpled into folds of varying size and shape.

The Sarytogay tract covers 5,014 hectares, of which roughly 1,100 hectares are pure stands of Sogdian ash. The grove was declared a natural monument on 19 March 1964.

It is the part of the park most often skipped by visitors who come for a single day.

Engraving: ash grove in autumn gold along the river floodplain
Illustration Engraving: ash grove in autumn gold along the river floodplain

What Sogdian ash is

A relict of the Paleogene — the tree survived the glaciations and remains here in its natural state. Ash communities make up roughly 35% of the forested area of the tract.

Botanical illustration: branch of Sogdian ash with pinnate leaves and winged seeds
Illustration Sogdian ash: pinnate leaves and winged samara seeds

The species has an unusually wide ecological amplitude. It tolerates both soil salinity and the seasonal drying of floodplain soils, so it holds the floodplain itself and the terraces above it alike.

On the higher terraces this produces a rare combination: ash forms part of desert plant communities dominated by saxaul, Eurotia and ephedra. A moisture-loving relict growing alongside true desert species is precisely what earned the grove its protected status.

Turanga, as old as the ash

On the high floodplain terraces grows turanga, the diversifolious poplar. It is considered a contemporary of the Sogdian ash and both a relict and an endemic of this grove.

Botanical illustration: turanga poplar branch showing two leaf shapes on one shoot
Illustration Turanga: narrow leaves on lower shoots, broad ones above — on the same tree

It is easy to recognise: two entirely different leaf shapes coexist on one tree.

What else grows here

Park materials record more than 50 rare and relict plant species within the natural monument.

Botanical illustration: saxaul with leafless jointed twigs
Illustration Saxaul: leafless jointed twigs that photosynthesise through the stem
Botanical illustration: ephedra with jointed stems and red cones
Illustration Ephedra: jointed stems and small red cones

Geology

The grove is of geological interest too: recent tectonic movements show here as folded deformations, where loose rock forms folds of varying size and shape.

Not verified yet Whether the summer terrace and guest houses recorded in park materials are still operating in 2026, along with prices and booking. Our data predates 2022. Also unverified: the road to the grove, its distance from the checkpoint and from the Valley of Castles.

→ Charyn Canyon overview

Sarytogay ash grove: when to go, month by month

  1. January: possible
  2. February: possible
  3. March: possible
  4. April: good
  5. May: good
  6. June: possible
  7. July: possible
  8. August: possible
  9. September: best time
  10. October: best time
  11. November: possible
  12. December: possible

Autumn is the time, September–October: the grove turns gold, a completely different picture from the red canyon walls.

Sarytogay ash grove: tips before you go

  1. Do not stop at the Valley of Castles: the grove is a separate park route that day-trippers usually miss.
  2. Ask on site about the road to the grove and its distance from the checkpoint: it is a different spot from the Valley of Castles.
  3. For the golden foliage, plan your visit for September–October.
  4. Spot turanga by its leaves: narrow on the lower shoots and broad on the upper ones of the same tree.

More to see nearby

Frequently asked questions

What makes the ash grove interesting?
It preserves natural stands of Sogdian ash, a relict species from the Paleogene. The tree survived the glaciations and still grows here in the Charyn floodplain in its original form.
How large is the grove?
5,014 hectares, of which about 1,100 hectares are pure ash stands. Ash accounts for roughly 35% of the forested area.
When is the best time to visit?
Autumn, when the foliage turns gold. It is an entirely different scene from the red canyon walls, and most day trips skip the grove altogether.

Sources

  • Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR No. 447-r of 19 March 1964 — natural monument status

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