Where is Kirklar Mescidi?
Turkey, europe
9 km
3,161 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Kirklar Mescidi, a mosque perched way up high on the border between Trabzon and Bayburt in Turkey. We're talking 3,161 meters (that's over 10,000 feet!). Locals call the area Kırklar Hill, and it's becoming a real hotspot for nature lovers.
You can actually drive (sort of) to this incredible spot. Starting near Şekersu (Trabzon), the dirt track winds for about 9 kilometers (5.5 miles). Don't even THINK about attempting it without a 4x4! The last stretch is seriously gnarly – super narrow, crazy steep, and rough as anything. They carved this path out in 2020, which is both a blessing and a curse! Be warned: two regular-sized cars won't pass each other.
The elevation gain is significant: we are talking about 749 meters, or about 8.32% gradient!
Keep in mind, up in the Pontic Mountains, winter is a no-go. Expect it to be open roughly from mid-May to mid-September. But oh man, the views...totally worth the white-knuckle drive! The mosque itself is built of stone, with a wooden renovation, and even has a kitchen and sleeping areas. Talk about a unique place to spend the night!
Road Details
- Country
- Turkey
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,161 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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