In modern Russia, geotourism activity is not paid enough attention, there are no regulatory base, the generally accepted system of concepts and terms, a single classification of geological and mining tourism resources. The value of the mining heritage objects in the total assessment of the tourist and recreational potential of the territories is understated, they are not always taken into account in the schemes of recreational zoning. The problems of development of geotourism are considered on the example of the North-Western recreational region (the Republic of Karelia, the Leningrad oblast, the Novgorod oblast, the Vologda oblast, the Pskov oblast). The methodological basis of the study is a comprehensive approach to the study of geotourism centers and territories promising for its development. The objects of the research are geological and mining-industrial tourist resources, mining and tourism industry enterprises, information and educational centers, lithomorphic landscapes typical for deposits, and their anthropogenic modifications. The classification of territories for the development of geotourism is based on the historical-geographical approach. The stages of formation of the mining industrial heritage are singled out, the chart of regionalization of the North-Western recreational region of Russia is compiled according to the indicators of the geotourism potential. The range of problems associated with the development of geotourism in the North-West region has been identified (preservation of the geological heritage in mining and recreational activities, protection of heritage sites located in the territories of different subjects of the Russian Federation etc.). Promising areas for the development of geotourism have been identified. The expansion of the resource base of geotourism is proposed through the inclusion of peat deposits, ceramic clays and related infrastructure.