Butakovka waterfall and gorge

Butakovka waterfall sits in the Butakovka gorge right above Almaty, inside Ile-Alatau National Park. There are two ways in. The classic hike starts at the Medeu skating rink and crosses the Maly Komissarovsky pass — about 2.5–3 hours each way. The short way starts from Dostyk Avenue: you go up through Butakovka village and the park eco-post to a barrier, then walk roughly 2.3 km. Sources give the height as anything from 15 to 30 m. Peak season is mid-June to late October, but the falls draw people in winter too, when they freeze into an ice cascade.

Where is Butakovka waterfall

The gorge lies in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau, next to the Medeu valley; the Maly Komissarovsky pass separates the two. Lower down is Butakovka village, higher up an eco-post, a ranger’s cabin and, since spring 2026, a visitor centre. The gorge belongs to Ile-Alatau National Park: Informburo reported in 2016 that the park collects the entry fee at the barrier, and Bes.media noted in 2026 that the visitor centre was built in partnership with the park, which keeps permanent land-use rights.

Tengrinews (2021) calls the falls one of Almaty’s favourite outings in any season and easier to reach than most mountain routes. Plenty of beginners and experienced hikers use the trail, so there is usually someone to ask the way.

Quick facts

Why the numbers clash: nobody quoted here measured the falls, and “route length” depends on where you start counting — Medeu, the bus stop or the barrier. The 14 km in the 2021 piece is probably there and back, but the article does not say.

Hiking from Medeu over the pass

Tengrinews (2020) describes the route like this: from the Medeu rink, walk about 50 m down the right side of the road to where an asphalt lane turns right into the hills. Follow it until it becomes a dirt track, climb the trail to the Maly Komissarovsky pass and descend into the Butakovka gorge. You reach asphalt and a parking area; the gorge trail starts there and leads past a meadow with gazebos, through a small wood and across the river to the falls.

Sxodim (2023) gives a slightly different start: from the Medeu sports complex head into the left-hand Komissarovsky gorge, past the villas, and take the trail up to the pass — about an hour. Then drop into the Butakovka gorge and walk upstream past the forester’s house.

Bus No. 12 runs to Medeu. If you drive, note that Medeu has its own vehicle access rules: in September 2026 the city council adopted new restrictions — details in our overview of nature near Almaty.

The short way from Dostyk Avenue

If you would rather skip the pass, Sxodim describes the approach from the city: drive up Dostyk Avenue to the “Butakovka” sign below the Bellagio restaurant, continue through the village and past the eco-post to the forester’s house, where a barrier closes the road. From there a single track leads about 1.5 km to a small bridge and another 800 m to the falls. It is the easy option for families, but it does take you through the park’s eco-post, where the fee is charged.

When to go

Tengrinews suggests mid-June to late October. In summer the flow is strongest: Sxodim says you can stand under it, and Tengrinews mentions hikers taking a dip in the icy pool after the walk.

In winter the falls freeze. Sxodim describes a cascade of blue icicles; Tengrinews (2021) quotes a visitor saying the surface turns to ice while the stream keeps running fast underneath. The same article reminds hikers to start early enough to be back down before dark. We found no reliable information on winter trail conditions on the pass.

Entry fee

You pay the Ile-Alatau National Park rate, set in MCI (the monthly calculation index) by Order No. 232. The tenge amount changes every January with the MCI, so check the fee calculator. In 2016, according to Informburo, everyone passing the barrier paid — by car, by bike or on foot. We have not checked the current practice at this particular post.

Butakty visitor centre

In April 2026 the Butakty visitor centre opened in the gorge. Bes.media reports that a private company built it in partnership with Ile-Alatau park, with public toilets, a café and space for workshops and school programmes. Environmentalists from the Green Salvation society had criticised the project in 2025 over design changes and risks to the gorge’s water. For hikers, the practical upshot is toilets and somewhere to warm up and eat.

On the trail

Tengrinews’ advice for this route:

• the stones at the river crossing are slippery — cross slowly, ideally in light waterproof shoes;
• mountain weather turns fast, so bring a jacket or rain shell even if Almaty is sunny;
• do not hike alone, and tell someone your route and return time;
• carry water, food, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent;
• pack out all your rubbish.

More general prep is in before you go to a national park.

Nearby

• Big Almaty Lake — also Ile-Alatau, but a full day on foot.
• Turgen waterfalls — seven falls about 1.5 hours from the city.
• Nature near Almaty: 15 places for a day out — distances and seasons compared.