Türkiye · TR

Ilgaz Mountains

The Ilgaz Mountains rise at the meeting point of Turkey's Central Anatolian plateau and Black Sea coast, reaching 2,587 m at their highest peak, Büyükhacettepe. Known in antiquity as Olgassys and today nicknamed the Sea of Trees for its dense fir and pine forests, this range is one of the western Black Sea Region's most striking natural landmarks. It straddles the provincial border between Kastamonu and Çankırı, and the state highway D.765 climbs through a dramatic pass at 1,850 m to link Ankara to the coast. Winter turns Ilgaz into Turkey's most accessible ski destination—just 200 km from Ankara—while summer reveals a web of hiking trails, trout streams, and alpine meadows rich with rare endemic flowers. Mount Ilgaz National Park, established in 1976, protects the heart of the range and offers a rare combination of wilderness and well-served recreation.