Horma Canyon in Küre National Park - A wooden walkway runing along a rocky cliffside above a narrow creek of Devrekani.

Photo taken in Horma Canyon - Pınarbaşı, Kastamonu, Türkiye (more photos below)

Western Black Sea - Discovery
(Küre, Yenice, Bolu)

March 29 - April 1, 2025
Notes & Photography

Basics

A short trip from Istanbul only for a few days of change away from the city. I did plan for the Küre mountains and Yenice forests for some time so this became a discovery trip to sample both, but nothing too involved or into the wild.

Below is a map of places seen in photographs.

Resources

- Küre mountains:
https://cultureroutesinturkey.com/kure-mountains-trail/

- Yenice Forests:
https://cultureroutesinturkey.com/yenice-forest-trails/

Notes

Valla canyon is not permitted to enter without equipment. I found a camping place close to the entrance but the water level was already high. This can be a good adventure with proper team and equipment. So please note that you can not actually enter Valla Canyon but just look at the entrance from a viewpoint.
I skipped Azdavay and Çatak Canyon, after learning that it is not possible to hike through it. So therefore, my favorite was Horma canyon since it is a 3 km walk ending in a waterfall.
Kara Çorba (Black soup) is advisable - it is a chicken soup that it actually quite dark in color.
Ilgarini walk is pretty lovely, marked in GR standards (much more frequently in comparison to St. Paul, Lycian or Hittite Trails) however it is not that long as a hike.
Safranbolu - for those haven’t been there - is on the way between Pınarbaşı and Yenice, just before Karabük - I did not stop by again.
Drive between Karabük and Yenice is quite engaging - you pass through some 15 short tunnels, and the Filyos river, train tracks, and the asphalt are zigzagging quite nicely in the flow.
Drive between right after Devrek (Zonguldak) to Yedigöller via Eğerci (not the main road) is beautiful, scenic and peaceful.