The reserve's territory covers the south-eastern spurs Bureya Range and the northern outskirts of the Sredneamurskaya lowlands.

The rivers and streams generally run from northwest to southeast with the upper half in rocky valleys and lower courses in meandering floodplain.

This climate is characterized by high variation in temperature, both daily and seasonally; with dry winters and cool summers.

[4][5] Most of the territory is forested, with some marshy floodplains in the lowlands, and tundra (moss, lichen, mountain herbs and small shrubs) on the top of Mt.

Plants in the Bastak Reserve belong to three different floristic complexes: Sea of Okhotsk, East Siberian, and Manchurian.

[2] The birds of the reserve (195 species reported), reflect the diversity of terrain and the location at the meeting points of different ecoregions.

There is one educational hiking trail in the reserve, however, that is open to the public, but it requires permits to be obtained in advance, hikers must have vaccinations against tick-borne infections, and visitors are limited to 40 per month.