Gölcük Nature Park, Bolu

Overview

Twenty minutes south of Bolu, a small lake lies in a bowl of beech, fir and pine. On its shore, however, stands a dark wooden house with a red roof, so neatly reflected in the still water that it has become the symbol of the lake. So this is Gölcük Nature Park, the favorite weekend escape of Bolu, halfway between Istanbul and Ankara.

The Story of Gölcük Nature Park

A man-made lake in the forest

To begin with, Lake Gölcük is not natural. Instead, it is actually a reservoir held back by a dam, small enough to walk around in less than half an hour.

From picnic ground to nature park

Originally, the area was registered as a picnic and recreation area in 1958. Later, in 2011, the lake and its forest became a nature park. Since then, furthermore, it has been managed under Turkey’s national parks law, and on weekends local families come for picnics.

What to Do at Gölcük Nature Park

Walk or cycle around the lake

First, follow the path around the shore. Since cars are not allowed on it, it serves as a walking and cycling route. On the way, look across the water to the lake house, a state guesthouse of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Picnics, fishing and photography

After that, find a place by the water. All around the lake, for example, families picnic, anglers cast their lines and photographers wait for the morning mist to lift. Besides, the park has a cafe, a restaurant, bungalows and a small mosque.

Gölcük Nature Park in every season

Finally, choose your season. In autumn, for instance, the beech trees turn gold and red around the water. By contrast, in winter, snow often covers the forest and the lake can freeze, under the Black Sea climate of the region.

Facilities Around the Lake

The park lies at about 1,217 m (3,990 ft) in Bolu’s central district, beside the road to Seben and Kıbrıscık. Around Gölcük Göleti, the lake itself, you find fishing piers, picnic areas, a children’s play area and a volleyball court, and three day-use facilities serve food and drink. The park belongs to the nature conservation and national parks service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Tips for visiting Gölcük Nature Park

How to Visit Gölcük Nature Park

In practical terms, the lake lies about 13 kilometers (8 miles) south of central Bolu, on the road to Seben. From Istanbul, for example, it is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) away, and from Ankara about 200 kilometers (124 miles). Also, city buses from Bolu and the minibuses to Seben and Kıbrıscık pass nearby.

Afterward, compare it with the other lakes of Bolu: Lake Abant and the seven lakes of Yedigöller National Park. For more ideas near Istanbul, read our guide to day trips from Istanbul.