Ugam-Chatkal National Park

Ugam-Chatkal Overview

Ugam-Chatkal National Park, locally known as Угам-Чаткал миллий боғи, is a large and ecologically diverse protected area in eastern Uzbekistan. Encompassing approximately 575 square miles (1,489 square kilometers), the park lies within the Tashkent Region and forms part of the Western Tien Shan mountain system.

Established in 1992, it stretches along the border with Kazakhstan and includes part of the Chatkal and Ugam mountain ranges. This transboundary park is recognized for its rich biodiversity, rugged alpine landscapes, and its role in protecting key ecosystems within Central Asia.

The terrain of Ugam-Chatkal National Park is a dramatic mix of high mountains, steep valleys, forested slopes, and alpine meadows. Elevations range from lowland riverbanks to peaks rising over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), resulting in striking topographic variation.

The park is traversed by several rivers, including the Chatkal and Ugam, which carve deep gorges and feed into sparkling streams and glacial lakes. Vegetation varies with altitude and includes juniper forests, mountain herbs, and broadleaf trees such as maple and walnut in lower areas. During spring and summer, wildflowers blanket the meadows, creating vivid landscapes against a backdrop of snowcapped peaks.

Ugam-Chatkal is home to a wide array of wildlife, including several rare and threatened species. Among the most notable mammals are the snow leopard, Central Asian lynx, Tien Shan brown bear, and Siberian ibex. These species inhabit the higher elevations and remote valleys, while roe deer, wild boar, and red foxes are more common in the lower zones.

The park is also a haven for birds, with over 200 species recorded, including golden eagles, bearded vultures, Himalayan snowcocks, and hoopoes. Amphibians, reptiles, and numerous invertebrate species thrive in the moist forest and river environments, contributing to the park’s ecological richness.

Popular features of the park include the Charvak Reservoir, a turquoise lake at the foot of the mountains, and the scenic Beldersay and Chimgan valleys, which are favored for their beauty and accessibility. The park’s alpine meadows and juniper forests provide stunning settings for outdoor activities.

Panoramic views from high ridges reveal sweeping mountain vistas and attract photographers and nature enthusiasts alike. The park is also significant for its proximity to Tashkent, making it a popular destination for both tourists and local visitors.

Visitors can engage with Ugam-Chatkal National Park through hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, camping, and wildlife watching. Well-established trails in the Chimgan and Beldersay areas cater to a range of experience levels, while more remote areas offer challenging trekking routes.

In winter, parts of the park serve as ski resorts. Local tour operators and eco-lodges provide access to guided excursions and nature tours, supporting both recreation and environmental education.

Conservation within Ugam-Chatkal National Park has been strengthened by its inclusion in the Western Tien Shan UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting its global ecological value. Challenges remain, including illegal logging, overgrazing, and unregulated tourism in some areas.

However, international cooperation between Uzbekistan and neighboring countries, along with national environmental policies, has led to improved protection measures. Ongoing efforts focus on habitat preservation, sustainable tourism, and scientific monitoring to ensure the park’s long-term ecological health.

Park Map

Ugam-Chatkal National Park Highlights

Wildlife

Birds

With its combination of high-altitude peaks, river valleys, and mixed forests, Ugam-Chatkal National Park provides essential habitat for both migratory and resident bird species. Many birds here are specialized for mountain and forest ecosystems.

Himalayan Snowcock
A large, ground-dwelling bird that lives in rocky highlands and alpine meadows, the snowcock has cryptic plumage and loud, echoing calls that ring across mountain slopes.

Golden Eagle
This powerful raptor is often seen gliding over cliffs and ridges. It hunts marmots, hares, and birds, using its keen eyesight and silent flight to ambush prey from above.

Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier)
Feeding primarily on bone marrow, this striking vulture drops bones from great heights to break them. It has long wings and a reddish-bearded face, making it unmistakable in flight.

White-winged Woodpecker
Found in forested valleys, this woodpecker uses its strong bill to extract insects from bark. Its black and white plumage blends with tree trunks as it forages along vertical surfaces.

Blue Whistling Thrush
A large, dark-blue bird often found along streams, it feeds on snails, insects, and berries. Its loud, whistling call echoes in the valley during dawn and dusk.

Eastern Rock Nuthatch
A small, active bird that clings to rocky surfaces and cliffs, the nuthatch forages for insects and seeds and often nests in crevices and ledges.

Common Chukar
This partridge-like bird prefers rocky, scrub-covered slopes. It travels in small flocks and feeds on seeds and insects, calling with a distinctive “chuk-chuk” sound.

Eurasian Hobby
A fast-flying falcon that hunts dragonflies and small birds in mid-air. It frequents forest clearings and open spaces and is admired for its agility and speed.

Hume’s Whitethroat
A small, insect-eating warbler often found in shrubs and low forest layers. It sings a soft, trilling song and migrates through the park during the warmer months.

Cinereous Vulture
One of the largest raptors in Eurasia, the cinereous vulture is a dark, powerful scavenger that feeds on carrion. It nests on remote cliffs and plays an essential role in the mountain ecosystem.

Ugam-Chatkal National Park, located in the Tashkent Region of eastern Uzbekistan, is part of the western Tian Shan mountain range and features alpine meadows, forested valleys, and rugged cliffs. The park supports a rich variety of Central Asian and mountain-adapted wildlife, some of which are rare or endangered.

Snow Leopard
This elusive predator is one of the park’s most iconic species. It roams the high mountain ridges, hunting wild goats and sheep, and is rarely seen due to its secretive nature and excellent camouflage.

Siberian Ibex
A robust wild goat with long, curved horns, the Siberian ibex lives in steep, rocky terrain. It is a key prey species for snow leopards and is often seen in herds scaling cliff faces.

Central Asian Lynx
A powerful and solitary feline, the Central Asian lynx hunts in dense forests and alpine zones. It preys on hares, marmots, and small ungulates and is noted for its ear tufts and stealthy behavior.

Wild Boar
This adaptable omnivore is found throughout the park, rooting through the forest floor for tubers, insects, and fallen fruits. It plays an important role in the ecosystem by turning over soil.

Red Deer
One of the larger herbivores in the park, the red deer browses in meadows and forests. Males develop large antlers and are especially active and vocal during the rutting season.

Menzbier’s Marmot
Endemic to parts of the western Tian Shan, this burrowing rodent lives in alpine meadows and grasslands. It hibernates in winter and uses loud calls to alert others of predators.

Eurasian Brown Bear
This powerful omnivore inhabits forested slopes and high pastures. It forages for berries, roots, and small animals and hibernates through the coldest months of the year.

Gray Wolf
Roaming in small packs, gray wolves hunt deer, ibex, and smaller mammals across the park’s varied habitats. They are intelligent and play an important ecological role as top predators.

Tolai Hare
A desert- and steppe-adapted hare, the Tolai is fast and agile, often found in open meadows and lower forest edges, feeding on grasses and shrubs.

Indian Crested Porcupine
This large, nocturnal rodent is covered in defensive quills and digs for roots, bulbs, and fruit at night. It prefers rocky and wooded areas within the park.

Birds

Himalayan Snowcock
A large, ground-dwelling bird that lives in rocky highlands and alpine meadows, the snowcock has cryptic plumage and loud, echoing calls that ring across mountain slopes.

Golden Eagle
This powerful raptor is often seen gliding over cliffs and ridges. It hunts marmots, hares, and birds, using its keen eyesight and silent flight to ambush prey from above.

Blue Whistling Thrush
A large, dark-blue bird often found along streams, it feeds on snails, insects, and berries. Its loud, whistling call echoes in the valley during dawn and dusk.

Eastern Rock Nuthatch
A small, active bird that clings to rocky surfaces and cliffs, the nuthatch forages for insects and seeds and often nests in crevices and ledges.

Common Chukar
This partridge-like bird prefers rocky, scrub-covered slopes. It travels in small flocks and feeds on seeds and insects, calling with a distinctive “chuk-chuk” sound.

Eurasian Hobby
A fast-flying falcon that hunts dragonflies and small birds in mid-air. It frequents forest clearings and open spaces and is admired for its agility and speed.

Hume’s Whitethroat
A small, insect-eating warbler often found in shrubs and low forest layers. It sings a soft, trilling song and migrates through the park during the warmer months.

Birds

Himalayan Snowcock
A large, ground-dwelling bird that lives in rocky highlands and alpine meadows, the snowcock has cryptic plumage and loud, echoing calls that ring across mountain slopes.

Golden Eagle
This powerful raptor is often seen gliding over cliffs and ridges. It hunts marmots, hares, and birds, using its keen eyesight and silent flight to ambush prey from above.

Blue Whistling Thrush
A large, dark-blue bird often found along streams, it feeds on snails, insects, and berries. Its loud, whistling call echoes in the valley during dawn and dusk.

Eastern Rock Nuthatch
A small, active bird that clings to rocky surfaces and cliffs, the nuthatch forages for insects and seeds and often nests in crevices and ledges.

Common Chukar
This partridge-like bird prefers rocky, scrub-covered slopes. It travels in small flocks and feeds on seeds and insects, calling with a distinctive “chuk-chuk” sound.

Eurasian Hobby
A fast-flying falcon that hunts dragonflies and small birds in mid-air. It frequents forest clearings and open spaces and is admired for its agility and speed.

Hume’s Whitethroat
A small, insect-eating warbler often found in shrubs and low forest layers. It sings a soft, trilling song and migrates through the park during the warmer months.

Ugam-Chatkal Overview

Park Map

Ugam-Chatkal National Park Highlights

Birds

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Birds

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Birds

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Zaamin National Park

Sarkent Nature Park

Sayram-Ugam National Park

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Ugam-Chatkal National Park

Ugam-Chatkal Overview

Park Map

Ugam-Chatkal National Park Highlights

Popular

Share your clicks with us

Related National Parks More Uzbekistan

Zaamin National Park

Sarkent Nature Park

Sayram-Ugam National Park