The slopes are steep, built on Triassic schist, overlaid by Jurassic limestone, and Quaternary loess on the ridges.

The top of the ridge is a hilly plateau that varies in width from a few hundred meters up to 7 km.

From 400 to 900 meters the dominant trees are Black European Pine (a subspecies of Pinus nigra, with stands of Sessile oak (Quercus petraea), ash and hornbeam.

Public access is limited: mass recreation and construction of facilities is prohibited, as are hunting and fishing.

The reserve does support environmental education, and maintains a number of "ecological trails" that are open to public hikers.