Girlevik Waterfall: Erzincan’s Summer Shade and Winter Ice

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

What is Girlevik Waterfall?

Girlevik Waterfall (Girlevik Şelalesi) is the most visited natural sight near Erzincan city. Water from nine springs at the foot of the Munzur Mountains gathers above the town of Çağlayan and drops about 30–40 m over the rocks in three tiers, into a wooded gorge with picnic areas, rest spots and paths around it.

The 2002 inventory calls it a picnic place famous for its natural coolness and beauty. In summer it is a refuge from the heat of the plain; in winter, when the water freezes into curtains of icicles, it becomes a climbing wall. The inventory notes that it draws many Turkish and foreign visitors to the area. Because it is only half an hour from the city, most people come for a few hours, often for lunch by the water, rather than for a whole day.

How do you get to Girlevik Waterfall?

The waterfall is in Çağlayan, southeast of Erzincan city: the inventory gives 29 km and more recent sources about 33 km, a drive of around 30–35 minutes along the Çağlayan road. Taxis or a hire car from the city are the simplest option.

The road to the Ergan Mountain ski centre branches off near the Çağlayan junction, so the two are easy to combine in winter.

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When is the best time to visit Girlevik Waterfall?

Summer is the busy season, when families come out from the city to picnic in the shade and cool off by the cold water. Weekends can be crowded, so go on a weekday morning for a quieter visit.

Winter is when the waterfall is most striking. In cold spells it freezes into icicles and pillars, and ice climbers come for the frozen falls. Paths can be icy, so wear proper boots.

Spring and autumn are quieter than summer and milder than winter, and the trees around the gorge are at their freshest or turning colour.

What is the history of Girlevik Waterfall?

Girlevik has long been a picnic place for people from Erzincan. Its water comes from nine springs fed by the foothills of the Munzur Mountains, which gather above Çağlayan before the drop. The site is protected as a natural site area, and entry is free.

In the 2002 inventory the Ministry of Culture and Tourism singled out frozen waterfall climbing as one of the things that set Erzincan apart, noting that the province was then the only place in Türkiye where it could be done.

What is Girlevik Waterfall famous for?

• Ice. In hard winters the whole fall freezes into hanging icicles, a much-photographed sight in Turkish media every January and February.
• Ice climbing. The frozen falls offer a setting for ice climbing and winter photography.
• Cold water in summer. The springs keep the water cold even in July and August.
• Trout. Restaurants near the falls serve local dishes, especially trout.

What can you do at Girlevik Waterfall?

Walk the paths. Nature trails lead around the falls, with views of the three tiers from below and from the side.

Have a picnic or a trout lunch. There are picnic areas and rest spots under the trees, and restaurants close by.

Climb the ice. Experienced ice climbers come in mid-winter; go with a local club or guide and your own equipment.

Ski at Ergan. The Ergan Mountain ski centre, opened in 2013, has four runs totalling about 12 km and gondola and chairlift links, on the road towards Yaylabaşı.

Paraglide above Yaylabaşı. The inventory notes that paragliding is done from Ergan Tepesi above Yaylabaşı, on the same mountain as the ski centre, and in summer the take-off looks over the whole Erzincan plain.

Hike towards the Munzurs. The inventory lists a walking route from Yaylabaşı to the Melan pasture in the Munzur Mountains, which rise behind the falls.

Frequently asked questions about Girlevik Waterfall

What do the official records say about Girlevik Waterfall?

The waterfall, in the town of Çağlayan 29 km southeast of Erzincan, is a picnic place famous for its natural coolness and beauty. Offering climbing on the icicles formed when the water freezes in winter, and the chance to cool off in its cold waters in summer, Girlevik Waterfall draws many domestic and foreign tourists to the region. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Erzincan Provincial Tourism Inventory, 2002)

Another distinguishing feature of Erzincan, whose natural structure has features suitable for mountaineering, is that it is the only city in Türkiye where “frozen waterfall climbing” can be done. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Erzincan Provincial Tourism Inventory, 2002)