Black Canyon Viewpoint
Қара Шарын / Чёрный каньон
A dark basalt canyon on the upper Charyn River. It is a roadside viewpoint on the way to Kolsai Lake, overlooking the deep valley the river has cut.
Black Canyon is a section of the upper Charyn River, formed by dark rock layers, in contrast to the red Castle Valley downstream. Its walls are steep, and the river winds along the canyon floor. The viewpoint lies beside the road from Charyn to Saty Village and is usually a roadside stop on the two-day trip, where 20–30 minutes is enough for photos. The viewpoint has no railing and the wind is strong, so never approach the cliff edge. Dirt-road sections turn muddy after rain.
Opening hours
All day