Lake Gölcük: Bolu’s Forest Lake on the Doorstep

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1. What is Lake Gölcük?
2. How do you get to Lake Gölcük?
3. When is the best time to visit Lake Gölcük?
4. What is the history of Lake Gölcük?
5. What is Lake Gölcük famous for?
6. What can you do at Lake Gölcük?
7. Frequently asked questions about Lake Gölcük
8. What do the official records say about Lake Gölcük?

What is Lake Gölcük?

Gölcük is a small lake in the forest above Bolu, at an average altitude of about 1,217 m. Pure fir stands and mixed fir, beech and hornbeam forest surround the water, and the area is protected as Gölcük Nature Park, one of ten nature parks in the province (Bolu Culture and Tourism Directorate).

It is much smaller than Lake Abant, and that is its appeal: a level walk around the shore takes well under an hour, the town is a short drive away, and the view of the firs reflected in the still water is one of Bolu’s classic pictures, especially under snow.

How do you get to Lake Gölcük?

The lake is about 10 km from the centre of Bolu on a fully paved road (Bolu Culture and Tourism Directorate); the 2002 inventory gives 13 km south. Take a taxi or drive; the road climbs steadily through forest. In winter, snow tyres or chains are needed.

Bolu is on the O-4 motorway between Istanbul and Ankara. The nearest airports are Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Ankara Esenboğa.

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When is the best time to visit Lake Gölcük?

Gölcük is a year-round place. Spring and summer are best for walking and picnics, autumn brings colour to the beech and hornbeam among the firs, and in winter the lake and forest under snow are what many visitors come for. Weekends, especially on sunny days, are busy with families from Bolu and further afield; weekday mornings are calm.

A good plan is a morning at Gölcük and an afternoon in town for the Bolu Museum, the Great Mosque and the Orta Hamam, or the other way round, with Gölcük for sunset.

What is the history of Lake Gölcük?

The 2002 inventory describes Gölcük as an artificial lake, created by a dam. At the time the lake and its surroundings were a forest recreation area under the West Black Sea National Parks Regional Directorate, with a forestry guesthouse and an open-air restaurant on the shore, and no overnight accommodation for the public.

It is now a nature park with a guesthouse and bungalows, walking trails, viewing terraces, picnic areas, a restaurant and a café (Bolu Culture and Tourism Directorate).

What is Lake Gölcük famous for?

• Winter scenery. The inventory calls the view of the lake under snow, ringed with pine and fir, magnificent.
• An easy escape from town. Forest, water and clean air 10 km from the centre.
• A favourite photography spot, especially at first light and in fresh snow.

What can you do at Lake Gölcük?

Walk round the lake. A flat path circles the shore. You can also go round by bicycle or in the electric vehicles available in the park.

Hike in the forest. Marked trails lead into the fir and beech woods and up to viewing terraces.

Picnic. There are picnic areas, drinking fountains and toilets around the lake.

Eat. A restaurant with an open-air garden and a café serve food and tea by the lake.

Stay. The park has a guesthouse and bungalows, so you can see the lake at dawn before the day visitors arrive.

Fish. The inventory lists Gölcük among Bolu’s lakes with trout and carp for angling; check the current rules at the park.

Explore the other nature parks. Ayıkayası, Beşpınarlar, Kargılı Gölcük and Göksu are also nature parks in the Merkez district around Bolu, and the Akkaya travertines are 10 km south of town on the Mudurnu road.

See the Akkaya travertines. On the Mudurnu road 10 km south of Bolu, white travertine terraces that the 2002 inventory calls “Bolu’s Pamukkale” are now a protected area. The mineral water that rises at Akkaya, at about 20°C and with a distinctive taste, is bottled.

Go on to Gölköy. The Gölköy reservoir, 10 km west of Bolu, was built to irrigate the Bolu plain; the inventory describes its forested shores, with carp and trout, as handy for picnics and angling because it is so close to town.

Climb to the Aladağ plateaus. About 25 km south of Bolu, the Aladağ plateaus spread across forested mountain slopes. The 2002 inventory describes green meadows ideal for picnics, forestry facilities, a scout camp and a pond, with camping possible on several of the plateaus.

Combine with the lakes further out. Lake Abant is about 33 km southwest of Bolu and Yedigöller National Park about 42 km north; both make good next stops.

Frequently asked questions about Lake Gölcük

What do the official records say about Lake Gölcük?

Gölcük is an artificially made barrier lake 13 km south of Bolu. The view of the lake, surrounded by pine and fir trees, under snow is magnificent. Right on the shore of the lake there is a guesthouse of the Ministry of Forestry and an open-air restaurant. The lake and its surroundings are under the supervision of the West Black Sea National Parks Regional Directorate as a forest recreation area.

In the winter and summer months many people come from the region and from the surrounding cities for the day to tour, see, rest, camp and picnic. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Bolu Provincial Tourism Inventory, 2002)