The Bistra massif rises north and west of Kičevo and forms part of the boundary of Mavrovo National Park, the largest national park in North Macedonia. The mountain reaches above 2,160 metres and offers some of the best hiking terrain in the western part of the country — beech forests in the lower valleys give way to open meadows and rocky ridges with views across to Lake Mavrovo and, on clear days, into Albania.
Kičevo is a practical starting point for day walks into the Bistra foothills. The approach roads heading northwest out of town lead into the park within forty minutes by car. In summer the high meadows are covered in wildflowers and grazed by sheep; in winter the upper slopes attract cross-country skiers. Trails are marked but infrastructure is basic — bring your own map and water.