Kartepe walking tour & town guide

The summit and the cable car

A cable car climbs from the lower slopes toward the top of the mountain, passing over the forest with wide views back over the Gulf of İzmit on one side and Lake Sapanca on the other. At the summit the ski area has a handful of lifts and runs, and from December to March the slopes fill with day-trippers from Istanbul and Kocaeli.

In summer the same roads lead up to cool meadows, picnic spots and viewpoints, and on many mornings the summit sits above a sea of moving clouds.

Kuzuyayla Nature Park

Kuzuyayla is a high plateau on the mountain protected as a nature park. Quiet dirt paths run through old beech and fir forest, along small creeks and across open clearings, and the air is noticeably cooler than in the city below. It is a place for long, peaceful walks with only birdsong and running water for company, especially beautiful in autumn colors and after rain.

Maşukiye

At the foot of the mountain, the village of Maşukiye is built along a fast, clear stream that tumbles down in small waterfalls. Its lanes are lined with garden restaurants where tables sit beside the water under plane trees, and fresh trout from the local farms is the dish everyone comes for. Lake Sapanca is only a few minutes' drive away.

A classic walk: Maşukiye to the forest

Start in the center of Maşukiye and follow the stream uphill past the restaurants and small waterfalls, then continue on the village road into the forest. Drive or take a minibus up to Kuzuyayla for a loop through the nature park, and finish with the cable car for the view over the gulf and the lake. Bring a warm layer: the mountain is several degrees cooler than İzmit.