Kaçkar Mountains National Park

Kaçkar Mountains Overview

Kaçkar Mountains National Park, known in Turkish as Kaçkar Dağları Milli Parkı, is a vast and awe-inspiring protected area located in northeastern Turkey, within the provinces of Rize and Artvin.

Covering approximately 126 square miles (326 square kilometers), the park lies within the eastern Black Sea region and encompasses the highest parts of the Kaçkar Mountain Range, including Mount Kaçkar itself, which reaches an elevation of 12,917 feet (3,937 meters).

Established in 1994, this park is known for its alpine scenery, glacial valleys, rich biodiversity, and cultural traditions that reflect a deep connection between people and the highland environment.

The terrain of Kaçkar Mountains National Park is rugged and dramatic, defined by steep ridges, rocky peaks, deep gorges, and hundreds of glacial lakes scattered throughout high-altitude basins. The landscape transitions from lush, temperate rainforests and dense coniferous woodlands in the lower elevations to alpine meadows and rocky outcrops above the tree line.

These high meadows, known as yaylas, are covered in colorful wildflowers during the summer months and are grazed by livestock tended by semi-nomadic herders. Waterfalls cascade down cliffsides, and clear, fast-moving streams crisscross the valleys, fed by snowmelt and glacial runoff.

Wildlife in the park is abundant and diverse, supported by its variety of habitats and relative isolation. Mammals commonly found include brown bears, wild goats, wolves, lynx, and red deer. Smaller animals such as martens, squirrels, and hedgehogs are also present.

Birdlife is equally rich, with species such as golden eagles, bearded vultures, and Caucasian black grouse soaring above the ridges or nesting in forested slopes. The high-altitude wetlands and lakes also attract migratory waterfowl during the spring and autumn seasons. The park is recognized as one of Turkey’s biodiversity hotspots, with numerous endemic plant species found nowhere else in the country.

Kaçkar Mountains National Park is a favorite destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure in a pristine mountain environment. One of the most popular features is the long-distance trekking route between the Black Sea coast and the eastern Anatolian plateau, with Mount Kaçkar as the ultimate summit challenge for experienced climbers.

The park also offers scenic day hikes, horseback riding routes, and nature walks that pass through flower-filled meadows, mountain villages, and panoramic ridgelines. Traditional stone houses, wooden lodges, and tents provide shelter for trekkers and visitors in remote areas of the park.

Visitors engage with the park through trekking, camping, mountaineering, birdwatching, and photography. Local villages, such as Ayder and Çamlıhemşin, serve as gateways into the park and offer accommodations and cultural experiences. These settlements preserve highland traditions, cuisine, and music, enriching the visitor experience with a sense of place and heritage.

Conservation efforts in Kaçkar Mountains National Park focus on balancing tourism with the protection of fragile alpine and subalpine ecosystems. Challenges include habitat disturbance from grazing, trail erosion, and the potential impacts of climate change on glacial systems.

However, the park has benefited from strong local stewardship, scientific monitoring programs, and regulations that limit development within its core zones. Community involvement and eco-tourism initiatives have further supported conservation goals while celebrating the cultural and ecological value of this remarkable highland region.

Park Map

Kaçkar Mountains National Park Highlights

Wildlife

Birds

Kaçkar Mountains National Park is also a paradise for birdlife, especially highland raptors and mountain species that breed and forage in the cliffs, meadows, and lush forests of the region.

Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture)
This rare and iconic bird soars over the highest peaks, feeding on bones which it drops from heights to crack open. It has an impressive wingspan and rust-colored plumage.

Golden Eagle
Gliding over mountain ridges, the golden eagle hunts marmots, hares, and young wild goats. It nests on cliff ledges and is a powerful presence in the park’s high-altitude ecosystems.

Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Roosting in rock crevices or dense forest, this massive owl hunts rodents, birds, and reptiles at night. Its deep hoots are sometimes heard echoing through alpine valleys.

Caucasian Black Grouse
A rare and localized species in Turkey, this ground-dwelling bird inhabits alpine meadows and rhododendron thickets. Males perform elaborate courtship displays during spring.

Wallcreeper
With dazzling crimson wings and a fluttering flight, the wallcreeper clings to sheer cliff faces in search of insects. It is a signature species of rocky mountain walls.

Alpine Accentor
This high-altitude songbird nests among rocks and forages on grassy slopes. Its subdued colors blend into alpine habitats, and it often sings from low perches during summer.

Snowfinch
Found near snowfields and high meadows, the snowfinch is one of the few birds that remain active at high elevations. It nests in rock crevices and forages in flocks.

Raven
A year-round resident of cliffs and alpine areas, the raven is intelligent and resourceful. It feeds on carrion, insects, and fruit and is often seen in pairs or small groups.

Short-toed Snake Eagle
This eagle patrols lower alpine slopes and open clearings, scanning for snakes and large lizards. It hovers mid-air before diving on prey and is often seen soaring in circles.

White-throated Dipper
Along the fast-flowing streams and rivers, this aquatic bird dives underwater to catch insects and larvae. It’s frequently seen bobbing on rocks and singing near waterfalls.

Kaçkar Mountains National Park is one of Turkey’s most dramatic and ecologically intact wilderness areas—where forest, glacier, and meadow meet, creating a sanctuary for elusive mammals and an alpine aviary of rare and resilient birdlife.

Kaçkar Mountains National Park, located in northeastern Turkey within Rize Province, is a breathtaking alpine wilderness of towering peaks, deep glacial valleys, high meadows, and ancient forests. As part of the Eastern Black Sea range, the park includes some of Turkey’s highest elevations and most pristine natural habitats, supporting a rich array of wildlife uniquely adapted to alpine, subalpine, and temperate forest ecosystems.

Brown Bear
A key species in the park’s mountain forests and meadows, the brown bear forages for berries, roots, insects, and fish. It is most active in spring and summer and hibernates in dens during the harsh winter months.

Grey Wolf
This top predator roams alpine meadows and remote valleys in packs. It hunts wild goats, deer, and smaller mammals and plays a crucial role in balancing herbivore populations in the highlands.

Wild Goat (Bezoar Ibex)
Thriving on the steep cliffs and rocky ridges of the Kaçkar range, wild goats are excellent climbers. Males display large, spiraled horns and move in small groups across nearly vertical terrain.

Red Fox
Found in both forested and alpine areas, the red fox preys on rodents, birds, and insects, and also scavenges for berries and small animal remains. It is active year-round, even in snow.

Roe Deer
This graceful herbivore is common in subalpine forests and meadows. It browses on grasses, herbs, and young shoots and is most often seen at dawn and dusk.

Wild Boar
Foraging in the lower forested zones, wild boars dig through the soil for roots, acorns, and invertebrates. They are strong and hardy, well-adapted to the park’s seasonal extremes.

European Lynx
Elusive and solitary, the lynx prowls dense forests and alpine slopes. It hunts hares and small deer and is rarely seen, but its tracks are often found in snowy, high-elevation areas.

European Pine Marten
A nimble forest carnivore, the pine marten hunts squirrels, birds, and insects and is often found in old-growth beech and fir forests. It is most active at dawn and dusk.

Caucasian Viper
This venomous snake is well-camouflaged among rocks and alpine vegetation. It feeds on small mammals and amphibians and is typically found at mid to high elevations in sunny, rocky zones.

Spur-thighed Tortoise
Though more common in the park’s lower, drier areas, this slow-moving reptile grazes on wildflowers and grasses. It retreats to shelter during cold weather and extreme heat

Birds

Kaçkar Mountains National Park is also a paradise for birdlife, especially highland raptors and mountain species that breed and forage in the cliffs, meadows, and lush forests of the region.

Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Roosting in rock crevices or dense forest, this massive owl hunts rodents, birds, and reptiles at night. Its deep hoots are sometimes heard echoing through alpine valleys.

Wallcreeper
With dazzling crimson wings and a fluttering flight, the wallcreeper clings to sheer cliff faces in search of insects. It is a signature species of rocky mountain walls.

Alpine Accentor
This high-altitude songbird nests among rocks and forages on grassy slopes. Its subdued colors blend into alpine habitats, and it often sings from low perches during summer.

Snowfinch
Found near snowfields and high meadows, the snowfinch is one of the few birds that remain active at high elevations. It nests in rock crevices and forages in flocks.

Raven
A year-round resident of cliffs and alpine areas, the raven is intelligent and resourceful. It feeds on carrion, insects, and fruit and is often seen in pairs or small groups.

Birds

Kaçkar Mountains National Park is also a paradise for birdlife, especially highland raptors and mountain species that breed and forage in the cliffs, meadows, and lush forests of the region.

Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Roosting in rock crevices or dense forest, this massive owl hunts rodents, birds, and reptiles at night. Its deep hoots are sometimes heard echoing through alpine valleys.

Wallcreeper
With dazzling crimson wings and a fluttering flight, the wallcreeper clings to sheer cliff faces in search of insects. It is a signature species of rocky mountain walls.

Alpine Accentor
This high-altitude songbird nests among rocks and forages on grassy slopes. Its subdued colors blend into alpine habitats, and it often sings from low perches during summer.

Snowfinch
Found near snowfields and high meadows, the snowfinch is one of the few birds that remain active at high elevations. It nests in rock crevices and forages in flocks.

Raven
A year-round resident of cliffs and alpine areas, the raven is intelligent and resourceful. It feeds on carrion, insects, and fruit and is often seen in pairs or small groups.