Munzur Valley National Park: Tunceli’s Sacred River Gorge

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

What is Munzur Valley National Park?

Munzur Valley National Park (Munzur Vadisi Milli Parkı) protects the long gorge that the Munzur River has cut between Ovacık and the city of Tunceli, together with the mountains and side valleys on either side. It covers about 420 km², making it one of the largest national parks in Türkiye, and it is generally described as the richest in plant life: 1,518 plant species have been recorded here, 43 of them found nowhere else.

The road from Tunceli to Ovacık runs through the park along the river, so you can see much of it from a car. The rewards come when you stop: trout pools under plane and walnut trees, side canyons with small waterfalls, oak-covered slopes climbing to bare limestone walls, and, at the top, the Munzur Springs.

How do you get to Munzur Valley National Park?

The park entrance is about 8 km northwest of Tunceli city centre, on the asphalt road to Ovacık. From the entrance the road follows the river for most of the 65 km to Ovacık. Minibuses run between Tunceli and Ovacık, but a car gives you the freedom to stop at viewpoints and picnic spots.

Tunceli itself is reached by road. The nearest airport is Elazığ, about 120 km from the city; Erzincan is the alternative from the north. See our Tunceli guide for full transport details.

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When is the best time to visit Munzur Valley National Park?

The climate is harsh: winters are long, snowfall is heavy, and annual precipitation is between 600 and 1,000 mm. The most reliable season is from mid-June to late August, when snow has cleared from the upper valley. June brings the highest water, the best rafting and the strongest flow at the springs; July and August are the warmest months for camping and walking. Autumn colours on the oak and walnut trees are worth seeing in October, but nights are cold and weather can turn quickly.

What is the history of Munzur Valley National Park?

The park was declared on 21 December 1971 to protect the gorge and its forests and wildlife. The valley’s protection has not been free of debate: a hydroelectric dam built on the Mercan stream in 2003 was found to lie inside the park’s borders, and environmental groups including WWF have called for stronger protection of the river system.

For local people the valley was sacred long before it was a national park. The Munzur is regarded as a holy river in Alevi belief, and shrines, springs and trees along its course are places of prayer and offering.

What is Munzur Valley National Park famous for?

Geology and landscape. The 2002 inventory describes the Munzur Mountains, rising between the Karasu and Murat depressions, as made up of metamorphic, volcanic and sedimentary rocks. This mountain mass, which reaches 3,300 metres in the north, is deeply cut by the valleys of the Mercan and the Munzur. The glacial lakes seen in the upper Mercan valley, the springs that bubble up where the mountains meet the Ovacık plain, and the small waterfalls that drop along the valley are the most striking features of the park’s landscape.

Forests. According to the inventory, the hills and slopes are covered in oak forest, while on the valley floor a rich plant cover of walnut, alder, ash, elm, plane, poplar, willow and shrubs grows. The steep, sheer slopes are bare.

Wildlife. The inventory lists wolf, fox, bear and red-legged partridge, along with rarer species such as wild goat, lynx, otter, grey partridge and golden eagle, and abundant trout in the Munzur and the Mercan. Current surveys add chamois, bezoar ibex, wildcat, marten, bearded vulture, griffon and Egyptian vultures, Caspian snowcock and eagle owl.

What can you do at Munzur Valley National Park?

• Drive the valley road. The Tunceli–Ovacık road is the spine of the park. Stop at the river beaches, bridges and side valleys rather than driving straight through.
• Walk the side valleys. The Mercan valley and other side gorges lead up towards the high ground and its glacial lakes, including Karagöl. Routes are rough and largely unmarked, so go with local knowledge.
• Raft. The Munzur’s volume and speed make it good for rafting in early summer.
• Fish. Trout fishing in the Munzur and Mercan is one of the park’s listed activities.
• Camp and picnic. Camping and picnicking are permitted in the park; the riverbanks near the lower valley are the usual spots in summer.
• Visit the springs. End the drive at the Munzur Springs near Ovacık, the source of the river.

Treat shrines and offering places with respect, take litter away with you, and keep your distance from wildlife, including bears.

Frequently asked questions about Munzur Valley National Park

What do the official records say about Munzur Valley National Park?

The geological structure of the Munzur Mountains, which rise between the Karasu and Murat depression areas, is made up of metamorphic, volcanic and sedimentary rocks. This mountainous area, which reaches 3,300 metres in the north, is broken up to a great extent by the Mercan and Munzursuyu valleys. The glacial lakes seen in the upper parts of the Mercan Valley, the springs that boil up where the mountains reach the Ovacık plain, and the small waterfalls along the valley are interesting examples in the park’s landscape.

In the national park the hills and slopes are covered with oak forests. On the valley floor a rich plant cover of walnut, alder, ash, elm, plane, poplar, willow and shrub species is seen. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Tunceli Provincial Tourism Inventory, 2002)

Main photo: Azer Koçulu azer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.