Karagöl Nature Park sits above 1,400 metres in the Köroğlu mountains, in Kıbrıscık district of Bolu province, around a small but deep lake of one hectare that is entirely surrounded by forest. The altitude shows in the woodland: black pine makes up three quarters of the park, and the directorate calls these among the finest examples of such stands. The site was registered as a type A recreation area of 15 hectares in 1976 and declared a nature park on 11 July 2011, when it grew to 35.03 hectares.
Downy oak, aspen, common juniper, wild pear and hawthorn grow among the pines, with milkvetch, bramble, holly, ivy, elder and mullein beneath them, and several crocus species including Crocus abanticus and Crocus ancyrensis. The mix of forest, stream and lake gives the park an unusual range of habitats. The directorate reports that the fresh water supports a high diversity and population of frogs, and that this in turn feeds the reptiles and birds that prey on them. It assesses the park's faunal condition as good.
There is a country restaurant, a warden's house, five bungalows on the lake shore, an administrative building and ten glamping units. Walking, cycling, rod fishing, picnicking, sport and overnight stays are the listed activities. Capacity is 250 visitors, 40 vehicles and 50 tents.
The park lies 18 kilometres south of Kıbrıscık on the Beypazarı road, beside the road linking Bolu with Seben, Kıbrıscık and Beypazarı. Kıbrıscık is 62 kilometres south of Bolu, which puts the park about 80 kilometres from Bolu city centre, asphalt the whole way.
- Designated
- 11.07.2011
Visiting hours
- Visiting hours
- 09:00 - 18:00
Getting there
- Access
- Eighteen kilometres from Kıbrıscık and eighty from Bolu.
When to go
- Climate
- Across Bolu as a whole, monthly mean temperatures run from 0.6 °C in January to 20 °C in August; the mean stays between 15 and 25 °C in June, July, August and September; rainfall is heaviest in May (61 mm) and lightest in August (24 mm). Long-term means for 1929-2025 from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM).
