Mount Sarıçalılık National Park

Mount Sarıçalılık Overview

Mount Sarıçalılık National Park, known in Turkish as Sarıçalılık Dağı Milli Parkı, is located in the Marmara Region of northwestern Turkey, within the borders of Bilecik Province. The park spans an area of roughly 40 square miles (104 square kilometers) and centers around Mount Sarıçalılık, a prominent feature of the Sündiken Mountains.

This mountainous area marks the transition between the Marmara and Central Anatolian regions, giving the park a unique ecological character. The terrain includes rugged hills, deeply carved valleys, and expansive forested plateaus.

Mount Sarıçalılık itself, though not one of the highest peaks in Turkey, rises steeply and dominates the skyline with its heavily wooded slopes and scenic ridgelines. The park’s vegetation varies with elevation, featuring dense stands of black pine, fir, and oak at higher levels, while mixed forests and patches of shrubland appear in lower zones.

The biological richness of Mount Sarıçalılık National Park is shaped by its varied habitats, making it an important refuge for wildlife. Mammals such as wild boars, red foxes, roe deer, and martens are frequently spotted within the wooded areas.

Bird species are diverse, with the park hosting hawks, woodpeckers, Eurasian jays, and occasionally short-toed eagles. In spring and summer, the forests come alive with songbirds and butterflies, while amphibians and reptiles thrive near streams and shaded woodland pools. The ecological variety is further supported by the presence of several endemic plant species, especially among the highland meadows and clearings, contributing to the park’s botanical significance.

One of the park’s most attractive features is its untouched natural environment, which remains relatively unknown to mass tourism. This has allowed Mount Sarıçalılık to preserve a sense of remoteness and tranquility. Its scenic hiking trails wind through forested hills and across open ridges, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

In certain areas, visitors may come across natural springs, rock outcrops, and blooming wildflowers during the warmer months. Seasonal changes provide different experiences: lush greenery and vibrant colors in spring, golden foliage in autumn, and peaceful snow-covered trails in winter.

The park offers several ways for visitors to connect with its natural beauty. Hiking and trekking are the most popular activities, with trails suitable for a range of skill levels. Birdwatching and nature photography are also growing interests, particularly during migratory seasons.

Designated picnic areas and scenic overlooks give families and casual visitors easy access to the park’s serene environment. Though camping is not as developed here as in more widely known parks, it is possible in specific areas with proper preparation, offering a quiet alternative to more commercial destinations.

Conservation efforts in Mount Sarıçalılık National Park aim to protect its relatively pristine landscapes and biodiversity. Its low visitor volume has helped minimize human impact, but challenges such as illegal logging, unmanaged grazing, and the threat of forest fires still exist.

Local authorities, in cooperation with national environmental bodies, have emphasized preventive strategies, habitat monitoring, and community awareness programs. The park’s official designation has brought greater attention to its ecological value, paving the way for more structured conservation planning and potential eco-tourism development that respects its natural integrity.

Park Map

Mount Sarıçalılık National Park Highlights

Wildlife

Mount Sarıçalılık National Park, located in the Black Sea region of northern Turkey near Zonguldak, is a rugged and forest-rich area named after Mount Sarıçalılık. With dense temperate broadleaf forests, deep valleys, and high plateaus, the park provides ideal habitat for a range of forest-dwelling mammals and reptiles that thrive in its cool, humid climate and varied terrain.

Brown Bear
A key inhabitant of the park’s mature forests, the brown bear is an omnivore that forages for berries, roots, insects, and small animals. Though elusive, its tracks and signs are often found in remote valleys.

Grey Wolf
Roaming the park’s remote woodlands and ridges, the grey wolf plays an important ecological role by controlling populations of deer, boars, and smaller mammals. It is mostly active at dusk and dawn.

Red Fox
Widespread and highly adaptable, the red fox hunts rodents and birds in meadows and forest edges. It also feeds on fruit and insects and is often spotted near open clearings.

Roe Deer
These graceful herbivores are frequently seen in forest glades and high pastures. They browse on grasses and young shoots and use their agility to avoid predators such as wolves.

Wild Boar
Thriving in the park’s mixed forests and valleys, wild boars use their powerful snouts to root for food. They are often active at night and move in small family groups.

European Pine Marten
Agile and solitary, the pine marten lives in old-growth forests and hunts squirrels, birds, and insects. It is most active during twilight and is well-adapted to life in the tree canopy.

European Wildcat
A rare and secretive feline, the wildcat roams thick underbrush and wooded slopes. It resembles a large domestic cat but is more muscular and feeds primarily on small mammals.

Eastern Hedgehog
This nocturnal insectivore is common in the park’s undergrowth and forest edges. It feeds on worms, beetles, and other invertebrates and curls into a spiny ball when threatened.

Caucasian Viper
A venomous but shy reptile found in rocky and forested areas, this viper preys on small mammals and amphibians. It is rarely seen but plays a role in rodent control.

Smooth Snake
A non-venomous species often found basking on sunny clearings or stone walls, the smooth snake feeds on lizards and insects and is well-camouflaged in leaf litter.

Birds

Mount Sarıçalılık National Park is also home to a wide variety of bird species, particularly those adapted to dense temperate forests, mountain ridges, and open meadows.

Golden Eagle
Soaring above high ridges and deep valleys, the golden eagle preys on hares, foxes, and birds. It builds large nests on cliffs and is a symbol of wilderness in the park.

Eurasian Eagle-Owl
One of Europe’s largest owls, this nocturnal predator roosts in cliffs and large trees. It preys on rodents and birds and has a deep, booming call that echoes through the forest.

Common Buzzard
A versatile raptor, the buzzard is often seen circling over clearings and open slopes. It feeds on small mammals and reptiles and is common throughout the park.

Black Woodpecker
This large woodpecker is a forest specialist that drills into trees in search of insects. Its powerful drumming can be heard echoing through old-growth forests.

White-throated Dipper
Inhabiting fast-moving mountain streams, the dipper is an aquatic songbird that dives underwater to catch insects and larvae. It perches on rocks and bobs its body rhythmically.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
A smaller woodpecker species, it is frequently seen in mixed woodlands, feeding on insects and seeds. Its rhythmic drumming and bold black, white, and red plumage make it easy to identify.

Crested Tit
A small forest bird with a distinctive pointed crest, it forages in conifers for insects and seeds. Its cheerful song is a familiar sound in the park’s pine woods.

Nutcracker
This forest-dwelling corvid feeds mainly on pine seeds and is important in seed dispersal. It has a harsh, raspy call and is most often seen in coniferous zones.

Tawny Owl
Active at night and roosting in tree hollows by day, the tawny owl preys on small mammals and birds. Its iconic hooting call adds to the nocturnal soundscape of the forest.

Coal Tit
This small, agile songbird moves quickly through pine branches in search of insects and seeds. It’s recognized by its black cap, white cheeks, and soft, high-pitched calls.

Mount Sarıçalılık National Park is a hidden gem of the Black Sea region, combining lush forest canopies, quiet streams, and wild mountain slopes to create a sanctuary for forest mammals and a rich variety of bird species in one of Turkey’s most ecologically diverse landscapes.