WALKING/CYCLING ROADS
Değirmendere (Kolophon)-Karacadağ-Tahtalı-Ürkmez (Lebedos)
Distance: 27.5 km
Duration: 9 hours 30 minutes
Starting point elevation: 158 m
Highest point: 738 m
Endpoint elevation: 6 m
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 38°06’40.63”N / 27°08’16.95”E
Peak point GPS: 38°04’29.65”N / 27°05’54.62”E
Endpoint GPS: 38°04’29.50”N / 26°58’01.80”E
Duration: 9 hours 30 minutes
Starting point elevation: 158 m
Highest point: 738 m
Endpoint elevation: 6 m
Coordinates:
Starting point GPS: 38°06’40.63”N / 27°08’16.95”E
Peak point GPS: 38°04’29.65”N / 27°05’54.62”E
Endpoint GPS: 38°04’29.50”N / 26°58’01.80”E
Transportation to the beginning of the course: By a private vehicle, the distance between Konak and Değirmendere is 40 km. The airport road can be taken. If you prefer to use public transportation, first you need to go the Cumaovası or ESBAŞ by the İZBAN train. From the transfer points in those two stations, you can take a bus to Menderes. You may prefer to take either the 704 ESBAŞ-Menderes or 804 Cumaovası-Menderes buses. In this region, there are also minibuses that can take you to Menderes and Değirmendere.
Structure of the course: Starting from Değirmendere and going through the ancient city of Colophon, the course passes mostly through a forest, maquis and tangerine gardens. On the route following the forest road and paths, you can see the impressive panoramic views of the shoulders of the Akkaya hill and the fire watchtower. You should bear in mind the length of the course which is always convenient to walking except for periods in which intense high temperatures are observed.
Details of the course: From the center of Değirmendere, you need to go into the main street on the south and walk southwest. About 450 meters ahead, you need to go into the street on the left and when the earth road ends, you will arrive at the ancient Ionian city of Colophon by heading towards east, climbing the shoulder. Then, you should arrive at the forest road by following the shoulder through the inside of the forest on the southwest. The forest road reaches the second shoulder by passing through a new valley. The course splits from the forest road on the shoulder and goes into a path which passes through the forest. By following the line of the shoulder and continuously escalating towards southwest, the path arrives at the main shoulder. You need to go into the forest road and again reach a path; after going down the slope, you will encounter a flat place where a stream passes by. This is the old Karacadağ village located in a very beautiful valley and nearby a stream and yet in which you can see only the remains of abandoned houses. The route, passing by the remains, joins a forest road after passing by the stream towards northwest. After a short walk on the forest road towards right, you need to go into the path in the forest. The path reaches the north slope of the shoulder and joins with the forest road. The forest road heads towards west, then surpasses the shoulder on the right, again rises towards west and finally gets into a rocky region. At this point, the forest ends and the maquis start. You can see the steep rocky hills on the left. At the point where the forest road turns north, you should leave the forest road and go into the path. After a steep climb, you will arrive at a forest road which lies between north and south and located at the line of the shoulder. Here, you can enjoy the perfect view. Behind you, there are the Nif, Babadağ and Mahmut Mountains; on the opposite side, there are the Sisam Island and the blue sea; below is Özdere beach. Then, follow the road towards left for 2 km and reach the Akkaya fire watchtower. The superb view will make you think that the walk is totally worth all your fatigue.
When you turn right from the point heading towards the shoulder with an altitude of 738 meters, and then find the point where the forest road going towards north turns to the valley, to the right, you will arrive at a red lake. At this point you can reach the shoulder by going into the path, to the left. Here you should be able to see the Kaplan Strait and Kaplan Rocks which have quite an impressive view. The Tahtalı Dam Lake is on your right; by going down the slope through the forest and the maquis, you will reach a spring. Afterwards, you need to follow the route reaching the Manastır area by following the water pipe coming off the spring; then the route goes into an earth road from the line of the dam’s body. The road going down the slope following the Gümüldür and Özdere beaches passes by tangerine gardens on a flat field and follows a terrain road straightly towards southwest. At the end, it arrives at the Kuşadası-Seferihisar highway. After heading towards right for 650 meters in the Gümüldür direction, the route goes down the beach through the road on the left between the buildings. The course goes forward for about 2.7 km through the beach or the walking trail and ends at the Kısık Peninsula where the Ionan city of Lebedos was located.
Alternative routes connected to the course: You can arrive at Karacadağ by following the earth roads passing through the Değirmendere and Ataköy Pond. There is also a transition possibility from the Akkaya fire watchtower 30 minutes from the course. Moreover, the course provides links to the Klaros – Ahmetbeyli – Çile - Değirmendere (Colophon) and the Ürkmez (Lebedos) - Kavakdere courses.
Cycling roads: The earth road between the Değirmendere – Karacadağ – Ataköy Pond course is a feasible bicycle path.
Water resources: After Manastır, there is a spring flowing strong on the path.
Camping sites: There are camping sites in Karacadağ village and Gümüldür.
Shopping and accommodation: There are lots of shops in Değirmendere, Gümüldür and Ürkmez. For accommodation, you may prefer to go the guesthouses and hotels in Ürkmez and Gümüldür.
Natural and historical values:
Structure of the course: Starting from Değirmendere and going through the ancient city of Colophon, the course passes mostly through a forest, maquis and tangerine gardens. On the route following the forest road and paths, you can see the impressive panoramic views of the shoulders of the Akkaya hill and the fire watchtower. You should bear in mind the length of the course which is always convenient to walking except for periods in which intense high temperatures are observed.
Details of the course: From the center of Değirmendere, you need to go into the main street on the south and walk southwest. About 450 meters ahead, you need to go into the street on the left and when the earth road ends, you will arrive at the ancient Ionian city of Colophon by heading towards east, climbing the shoulder. Then, you should arrive at the forest road by following the shoulder through the inside of the forest on the southwest. The forest road reaches the second shoulder by passing through a new valley. The course splits from the forest road on the shoulder and goes into a path which passes through the forest. By following the line of the shoulder and continuously escalating towards southwest, the path arrives at the main shoulder. You need to go into the forest road and again reach a path; after going down the slope, you will encounter a flat place where a stream passes by. This is the old Karacadağ village located in a very beautiful valley and nearby a stream and yet in which you can see only the remains of abandoned houses. The route, passing by the remains, joins a forest road after passing by the stream towards northwest. After a short walk on the forest road towards right, you need to go into the path in the forest. The path reaches the north slope of the shoulder and joins with the forest road. The forest road heads towards west, then surpasses the shoulder on the right, again rises towards west and finally gets into a rocky region. At this point, the forest ends and the maquis start. You can see the steep rocky hills on the left. At the point where the forest road turns north, you should leave the forest road and go into the path. After a steep climb, you will arrive at a forest road which lies between north and south and located at the line of the shoulder. Here, you can enjoy the perfect view. Behind you, there are the Nif, Babadağ and Mahmut Mountains; on the opposite side, there are the Sisam Island and the blue sea; below is Özdere beach. Then, follow the road towards left for 2 km and reach the Akkaya fire watchtower. The superb view will make you think that the walk is totally worth all your fatigue.
When you turn right from the point heading towards the shoulder with an altitude of 738 meters, and then find the point where the forest road going towards north turns to the valley, to the right, you will arrive at a red lake. At this point you can reach the shoulder by going into the path, to the left. Here you should be able to see the Kaplan Strait and Kaplan Rocks which have quite an impressive view. The Tahtalı Dam Lake is on your right; by going down the slope through the forest and the maquis, you will reach a spring. Afterwards, you need to follow the route reaching the Manastır area by following the water pipe coming off the spring; then the route goes into an earth road from the line of the dam’s body. The road going down the slope following the Gümüldür and Özdere beaches passes by tangerine gardens on a flat field and follows a terrain road straightly towards southwest. At the end, it arrives at the Kuşadası-Seferihisar highway. After heading towards right for 650 meters in the Gümüldür direction, the route goes down the beach through the road on the left between the buildings. The course goes forward for about 2.7 km through the beach or the walking trail and ends at the Kısık Peninsula where the Ionan city of Lebedos was located.
Alternative routes connected to the course: You can arrive at Karacadağ by following the earth roads passing through the Değirmendere and Ataköy Pond. There is also a transition possibility from the Akkaya fire watchtower 30 minutes from the course. Moreover, the course provides links to the Klaros – Ahmetbeyli – Çile - Değirmendere (Colophon) and the Ürkmez (Lebedos) - Kavakdere courses.
Cycling roads: The earth road between the Değirmendere – Karacadağ – Ataköy Pond course is a feasible bicycle path.
Water resources: After Manastır, there is a spring flowing strong on the path.
Camping sites: There are camping sites in Karacadağ village and Gümüldür.
Shopping and accommodation: There are lots of shops in Değirmendere, Gümüldür and Ürkmez. For accommodation, you may prefer to go the guesthouses and hotels in Ürkmez and Gümüldür.
Natural and historical values:
- Colophon
- Lebedos: You need to get a permission to visit Lebedos which is in a private terrain.
- Tahtalı Dam: Being the biggest surface water resource providing potable water for İzmir, the dam is located on Tahtalı Spring which is 40 km south of İzmir and 5 km east of Gümüldür. The dam, constructed by the State Hydraulic Works, has been providing water for İzmir since 27 August 1997.