Kurşunlu Waterfall

What makes it special

Seven small pools step down a two-kilometre canyon on a tributary of the Aksu, linked by a chain of little cascades. The main fall drops 18 metres into the pool at the bottom, over rock that is travertine.

Turkish red pine fills the canyon, with plane, laurel, carob, wild olive, mastic and fig trees scattered among it. Water mint and reeds grow at the edges, and water lilies float in the pools. On the paths, look out for squirrels, rabbits, woodpeckers and turtles.

Villagers once ran ten water mills along this stream, and one historic mill still stands inside the park.

Farming and water use in the area have cut the flow sharply in recent years. Expect a smaller fall than older photographs show, and a pool that can look murky.

Visiting

Starting from the car park at the entrance, you come first to the picnic area, with its restaurant, toilets, drinking water and a children's play park. The walking path then leads down into the canyon on wooden platforms, stone paths, earth tracks and small suspension bridges.

Follow it past the pools to the viewing terraces over the main fall. At a relaxed pace the walk fills about two hours. With a picnic and a long rest at a table or in the restaurant, the day can stretch to five or six hours.

Tips

Wear shoes with grip. The wooden steps and stone paths turn slippery in damp weather, and some stretches are uneven.

Bring water and snacks for the walk. Picnics are allowed but barbecues are not, and swimming in the pools is not permitted. Weekend middays get crowded and loud, and litter is a problem here, so take your rubbish home with you.