Discover Dereceören

Nature and hiking routes offer practical starting points for planning a stay in Dereceören. Abant National Park, the lake, and the described trails offer different ways to shape your trip. Information about the landscape, elevation profile, and access can help you tailor your plans before choosing a hotel for your stay.

Nature at Lake Abant

Abant National Park covers a total of 1,196.5 hectares, including the lake’s 127-hectare surface area. Lake Abant is a crater and sedimentation lake in the Abant Mountains. The endemic Abant water lily grows naturally in the lake. The lake’s geological description and this distinctive plant species provide two clear focal points for a nature-oriented stay.

The region’s fauna includes the endemic Anatolian crested newt, the Abant dormouse, and the Abant trout. To date, no other location where the Anatolian crested newt has been found has been recorded anywhere in the world. Habitats are also found in different parts of the region: otters live around Lake Abant, while the region’s forests provide suitable habitats for many wild animals and red deer.

Hiking Routes and Elevation Details

An event description dated November 30, 2025, describes the Abant Bıçkı Yanı Orman Deposu hiking route. It crosses plateaus and follows forest roads past a lake and small and large streams. In sequence, it passes Lake Abant, Samat Yaylası, and Bulanık Yaylası, and ends at Bıçkı Yanı Orman Deposu. Its difficulty is rated 3 out of 6. The route starts at 1,338 meters, reaches a maximum elevation of 1,429 meters, and ends at 1,105 meters. The highest point is therefore above the starting point, while the end of the route is at a lower elevation.

Another route described is Akçaalan–Abant. It is 22 kilometers long and reaches Dereceören via an unpaved road through the forest. Beyond Dereceören, it follows a gently ascending section through the forest to the Feriz slope. The route also leads to Mangırlar Yaylası, one kilometer away, and then climbs two kilometers to the summit of Abant.

The two routes can be compared using different details: the total distance and route description are given for Akçaalan–Abant, while the difficulty, elevation points, and sequence of stops are highlighted for the Abant Bıçkı Yanı Orman Deposu hiking route. This allows you to consider the described routes according to the information that matters for your plans.

Getting to and Exploring the National Park

A separate distance of 22 kilometers is given for driving to Abant National Park: from the D-100 highway between Ankara and Istanbul, the route goes via the turnoff near Ömerler Köyü and an asphalt road to the park. This road journey should be distinguished from the 22-kilometer Akçaalan–Abant route.

The area around Lake Abant can be explored by car, as well as by rented bicycle or horse-drawn carriage. Since rental options may vary in availability, it is advisable to check in advance about renting a bicycle or carriage. A free visitor and information center and a nature museum are located at the entrance to the national park. The park also has a camping area for tents and motorhomes, as well as restaurants and cafés. A market offers regional products to browse and buy. If you plan to include any of these options in your day’s itinerary, check the current opening hours or availability in advance.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kürkçüler Köyü, Demirciler, Elmalık, Çamlıca Köyü, Bölücekova Köyü, Kındıra, Göynük, Dokumacılar Köyü.

For the overview of the wider region, see: Bolu.