Kocaeli Walking Routes
When we say Kocaeli, which can be said right under the nose of Istanbul, the first earthquake comes to our minds. Here we come to break this perception.. Because Kocaeli, with its nature, has forests and walking paths where every Istanbulite can get away for the weekend.. In fact, 48.5 percent of Kocaeli is covered with forests.
The plateaus in particular are quite suitable for camping. By the way, it is also worth mentioning that Izmit district is Kocaeli province.. Let’s not mix.. Let’s come to Kocaeli, where there are eight nature parks, and the walking routes in Kocaeli:
Kocaeli: Kandıra, Sardala Bay
After passing Ağva, you will see the Kandıra signs. Sardala Cove, which you can reach by following it, is located in Pınarlı Mahallesi.. Starting from Bağırganlı Village, a walking track begins with an 8 km wooded road.. After this walking path, you reach the sea on the back of huge cliffs, namely Sardala Bay, or Malkara.. Another walking route is the pond, or in other words, İpsiz Recep Harbor, which you will reach by following the forest path for 20 minutes with your back to the sea.. You can pitch a tent on the plains overlooking the bay.. There is no business in the region..
Kocaeli: Cold Water Dere Canyon
The 10-kilometer and 5 kilometers from Izmit 130 kilometers from Istanbul and 30 kilometers from Izmit. The entire challenging track, which will take hours, is through the water.
Take the west exit of the Izmit TEM highway and go in the direction of Bursa.. When you come to Yuvacık neighborhood of Başiskelesi district, turn towards the village.. After passing the Yuvacık Dam, the track can be entered from two points: in front of the Aytepe cold water reservoir above or from the Beşkayalar National Park.. The canyon is entered by following the creek.
Kocaeli: Kazandere- Aksığın
The 9-kilometer medium difficulty track 4 is 125 kilometers from Istanbul and 20 kilometers from Izmit. It can be completed in hours.
Take the Izmit east exit of the TEM highway and turn towards Bursa.. Passing Yuvacık Dam over Yuvacık town, turn towards Kazandere and Aksığın villages.. You can start the walk from Aksığın Village or Kazandere Village.. Kazandere is a stream that separates these two villages from each other.. You can start the hiking trail from one of the villages of Aksığın or Kazandere.. You can enter the cave that the villagers use to grow mushrooms on the walking path with your flashlight.. The stream course will start from the concrete bridge connecting the two villages.. The flow direction of the creek will be followed and it will be continued towards Yuvacık Dam.. Some parts of the course with ponds and small waterfalls may be challenging and require mountaineering equipment.. Yuvacık Dam end point.
Kocaeli: Maiden’s Tower
10 kilometers long medium difficulty track that will take 4 hours, 130 kilometers from Istanbul, Kocaeli & Izmit’ It is 18 kilometers from e.
Exit the TEM Izmit east exit and turn in the direction of Bursa.. On the Maiden’s Tower walking route, after passing through the Serindere trout facilities or over Yuvacık Dam, turn left after 100 meters after the bridge at the end of the dam and turn to Aksığın, Tepecik and Serindere signboards.. Serindere is reached after Aksığın and Tepecik Villages.. The route started from the facilities in Serindere and proceeds along the stream.. The Maiden’s Tower peak rises at the confluence of the streams where the valley splits into two on the way to the top.. There is Sular Dere on the left and Bankrupt Stream on the right.. You can reach the Maiden’s Tower with a height of 605 meters, following the 1.5-hour climbing path from the right side of the creek.. The end point will be where we started by following the right or left side of the creek.
Kocaeli: Kayaüstü Plateau and İnönü Plateau
After exiting the Bursa turn on the Izmit Tem highway. then it turns into Yuvacık Dam located in Yuvacık Neighborhood.. The route starting from Tepecik Village has a total of 15 kilometers and a 5-hour walking distance.. It is located 130 km from Istanbul.. Two kilometers after the start of the track, continue at the forest road junction on the left.. If you wish, you can go to the rocky area with a beautiful view, called the 900-meter-high Bare Rock, on the condition of commuting.. Kayaüstü Plateau is a scenic plateau above Tepecik Village, suitable for camping. You can also go to İnönü Plateau from the road you follow through the forest and on the path.. (If you want to go directly to İnönü Plateau, you can take the 12-kilometer road in 4 hours.)
Kocaeli: Ballıkayalar
After passing Gebze on the D-100 highway in the direction of Izmit After proceeding in the direction of Tavşanlı Village, it starts 100 meters after the village, after the bridge on the left.. You will already see the Balilayalar National Park signs.. It takes a total of 4 hours to complete the 10-kilometer walking track, which is 60 kilometers from Istanbul.. Spreading over an area of 1847 hectares, the region was classified as a Nature Park in 1995 because it hosts various plant communities and animals such as hawks, jackals and moles. There is an entrance fee to the National Park.
It is the closest nature hiking trail to Istanbul.. Ballıkayalar is a small canyon with a stream bed.. There are two hiking trails in the National Park: the camper’s choice and the one that goes over the canyon where the mountaineers practice, and the other that goes along the stream.. There are ponds and waterfalls in the 1.5 km valley.. You can take your swimsuit with you according to the weather conditions.. The valley, which has a height of 5-10 meters in the north, rises to 80-100 meters in the south.. It is the most important rock climbing region of the Marmara Region with its walls made of solid limestone.
Kocaeli: Aytepe- Servetiye (Kungul Mountain)
Izmit Tem highway west When you take the exit from the exit to the Bursa direction, you will return to Yuvacık Village.. After passing Yuvacık Dam, follow the Aytepe road from Servetiye Mosque Village.. The trek starts from the Aytepe Forestry Directorate facilities at an altitude of 1086 meters and proceeds towards the Kungul Mountain, which is 1259 meters high.. The name of Aytepe is actually Ayıtepe because of the bears living in the forest.
The walking track, which is 135 km from Istanbul and 25 km from Izmit, takes 10 kilometers in total and takes 4 hours. Click for the road map
In Kocaeli’s easiest but long walking route decorated with small waterfalls, one follows a dirt path.. There is also a camping area on the Old Plateau on the track.
Kocaeli: Chin Mountain
On the Izmit Tem highway, take the exit from the Körfez and go to the Sopalı District of the Derince district.. Walking starts from the facility belonging to Derince Municipality.
The trekking route, which is 80 km from Istanbul and 5 km from Derince, takes 10 kilometers in total and takes 4 hours.
On the Chin Mountain, at an altitude of 646 meters. The source where the jaw water comes out is located in the middle of the walking path.. By following the dirt road in the valley on the right side of the municipal facilities, the path leading into the forest from the right of the water collection dam is followed.. After a 2-hour journey, the water source is reached.. The summit can be reached by the pathway above the water source.. You can also return to the starting point from the right side of the mountain.
Kocaeli: Çınarlı Dere
A 15-kilometer track that is 80 kilometers from Istanbul and 5 kilometers from Izmit in 5 hours It continues.
Deviating from the west exit of the Izmit Tem highway, the walking track starts from the Polygon facilities of the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, located at the Izmit Ismet Pasa Stadium right next to the exit.
Çınarlı Dere, Izmit and Derince districts are located in one It is the stream that separates the two districts and forms the border of the two districts.. As an alternative to the dirt road, it is also possible to walk through the stream.. There is also a small waterfall in the valley 50 meters below the dirt road.. We finish the track where we started.
Kocaeli: Serindere Canyon
130 kilometers from Istanbul and 18 kilometers from Kocaeli, the medium difficulty hiking trail is 10 kilometers and 4 kilometers away. It can be completed in hours.
You can go to the track from Izmit by the Kullar – Kartepe road or the Yuvacik – Tepecik – Serindere road.. There are three different routes here:
1- The Maiden’s Tower in Parkura Serindere Village will start from the left side of the trout facilities. The canyon is entered from the south of the Ornek Village.. Originating from İnönü Plateau, Serindere flows through a steep canyon.. Even though you proceed from the path by the creek, it is mandatory to enter the water from time to time.. Also, considering the slippery stones in the creek, it is a challenging track.. After following the creek for two hours, after the concrete bridge, we proceed through the path in the forest.. After walking through the forest for 1 hour, it is returned to the stream and passed through a 150-meter tunnel that can be easily passed with a flashlight.. The track can end after the tunnel or you can go up to the Maiden’s Tower on the opposite slope.
2- This time we start the track by following the stream on the right side of the trout facility.. On the track with waterfalls and ponds, there are difficult places that require walking through the water.. You can complete the track either by starting from where you started or by leaving İnönü Plateau.. Professional mountaineering equipment is required to complete the entire canyon. The duration of the track can vary from 3 to 6 hours.
3- The track can be started from the trout facilities or vice versa from Yuvacık.. It is an easy dam track that follows the path on the shore of Yuvacık dam.
Kocaeli: Hot Dere Canyon
The difficult track, 130 kilometers from Istanbul and 30 kilometers from Izmit, It is 10 kilometers and can be completed in 6 hours.
Take the west or east exit of the Izmit tem highway to Bursa direction.. When you come to the Bahçecik neighborhood of Başiskele district, turn to the Menekşe Plateau road.. The track starts on the first bridge that crosses the stream.. It proceeds in the direction of the stream’s flow. It is walkable in summer, as it is completely water-passed.. Hiking requires equipment and even a guide. The track, consisting of waterfalls and ponds, passes through Beşkayalar National Park and ends at the trout farms where Yuvacık Dam begins.
Kocaeli: Kerpe- Sarısu
Izmit east of Tem highway Take the exit, turn to Kandıra road and follow the Kerpe sign. The track, which is 150 kilometers from Istanbul and 55 kilometers from Izmit, takes 13 kilometers and takes 4 hours.
Kerpe, which is a coastal town, passes through the bays on the hiking route.. After entering Kerpe, the walking route starts in the direction of Sarısu from the bay on your left.. After walking for two hours, you arrive at a deserted and calm cove.. You can swim in the summer. You can also spend 1 day here with breakfast and the sunset.
Kocaeli: Dümbüldek Suyu
The track that you can reach via Şile or Gebze is in Karagöllü Village of Derince district of Kocaeli. We start walking by following the mountains to the north from the exit of. After 4.5 km, you can see the source of Dümbüldek Water.. The end point will be the starting point. Dümbüldek juice is a natural treatment place for those suffering from kidney stone disease.. It is also said to be therapeutic for blood pressure, urinary tract diseases and many diseases.
Kocaeli: Fulacık- Avcıdere- Akçat
In the Karamürsel Mountains of İzmit, especially in spring The path, on which you will walk among beech and hornbeam trees in the months of March, starts from Fulacik Village and is completed in about 15 kilometers.
Kocaeli: Gölcük-İrşadiye Village and Mesruriye Villages
These villages, located on the ridge of Gölcük or on the foothills of the Western Samanları Mountains, were established on a land called beylik.. We will walk about 15 km between the villages of İrşadiye and Mesruriye, the villages founded by Georgians from Maradit Village of Borcka.
Kocaeli: İzmit- Gölcük- Mesururiye Senaiye
We have two options, 13 km easy and 18 km medium difficult.
Our track between the villages on the outskirts of İzmit Gölcük consists of paths in the forest and mountain roads.
Kocaeli: Teksen Hisarkale Ortaköy
The walking route, which starts from Teksen Village of Kandıra, has a total length of 15 km.. We will see the ruins of Hisarkale by passing through the forest paths. It takes about 15 km.
Kocaeli: Sevindik- Kırcalı Alihocalar
We will start from Sevindik village, pass through Dümbüldek forests on the 15-km hiking trail, and end our route in Kırcalı.
Kocaeli- Gölcük- Nüzhetiye Waterfall
We will tour the waterfall in Nüzhetiye village on the approximately 4 km long route.
Kocaeli- Sakarya: Maden Creek
Maden Creek, located within the borders of Kocaeli Sakarya, has a walking track on a creek bed that will fascinate you
Kocaleli Bolluca – Şile Gökmaslı Semi
The 25 km long challenging track starts from the villages of Derince in Izmit and ends in the villages of Sile in Istanbul. Since it is a long route, it is more suitable for nature lovers with equipment and condition..
Click for Şile hiking trails