Essentials
Metrics
Select the tab below corresponding to the direction you plan to walk.
Towards Ulupınar:
Towards Çıralı:
Handy Things to Know
The following notes are gathered from our own experiences and from feedback sent to us by other hikers. Let us know how we can improve these notes – and thanks!
Water
- There’s a water fountain at the Chimaera park entrance (along with toilets). There is also a mountain stream, though, if you have a filter with you.
Highlights
- The burning flames are actually in two locations. The main one is lower on the slope but there is also a second location near the highpoint of the section.
- By the main location you’ll also find the ruins of a Byzantium church.
Tips
- There’s a stream that needs to be crossed where you might need to get your feet wet (in spring, it can be knee-high). There used to be a makeshift footbridge but it seems to be missing now.
- There’s an access fee for this zone.
- There are waterfalls / streams coming down the mountain that are cold and refreshing – and bracing if you decide to jump into one of the pools…
- For something a bit different, consider doing a hike up to the flames in the evening (bring a good flashlight, of course, with some sort of headlamp being ideal). The site is interesting at any time but is spectacular once the sun sets. As an added bonus, the admission gate is unmanned at night so there’s no fee (from about 21:00, typically).
Route Planning
- This is the first section of the interior / mountain route that involves climbing Tahtalı Dağı. There is an alternative route that follows the coast, bypassing Tahtalı Dağı, before cutting inland to meet up with the inland route shortly after Gedelme. For the alternative route, follow Çıralı to Tekirova. Both variants are nice though we’re partial to the interior route, for whatever that’s worth.
Camping
- There are some decent wild camping spots near the highpoint.
Pretty Pictures
Sometimes nothing beats a good photo. Or even a bad photo! If you’d like to share some or all of your photo collection with the Trekopedia community, contact us at photos@trekopedia.com and we can arrange a transfer of them. And thanks!
All photos are copyright by their respective owners and are used with permission.
How You Can Help
Trail research is never actually done. Here’s some of what we’re looking for:
✅ More photos! Ideally with geo-location information in the metadata. In addition to using some photos on Trekopedia, we add them to our internal reference database which significantly helps us with trail research. The more photos, the better! If you are willing to share your collection with us, we’d be incredibly grateful. Let us know and we’ll arrange a transfer.
✅ Points of interest. Help us identify (and geo-locate) accommodations, attractions, restaurants, markets, trail waypoints, confusing or problematic junctions, difficult or hazardous places, water sources, and so on.
✅ Tips & recommendations. Share your thoughts with other hikers.
✅ Points of interest. Help us identify (and geo-locate) accommodations, attractions, restaurants, markets, trail waypoints, confusing or problematic junctions, difficult or hazardous places, water sources, and so on.
✅ Tips & recommendations. Share your thoughts with other hikers.
In addition to the above, please see this article for information on more general ways you can help. Thanks!