About
İl Forest Nature Park is a 103-hectare area at Sapanca–Uzunkum on the İstanbul–Ankara Motorway (E80) in the Arifiye district of Sakarya, declared a nature park in 2011. After leaving the motorway at the Sapanca junction, visitors follow Sakarya Caddesi, which runs parallel to the motorway towards Arifiye; the park can also be reached by the Sapanca–Kırkpınar–Kurtköy shared minibuses. The park's main asset is its natural forest, combining deciduous mixed oak–hornbeam woodland, mixed coniferous forest and clearings. Oak, hornbeam, black pine, Turkish red pine, maritime pine and linden grow here, with occasional ash and field maple; the middle layer includes dogwood, medlar, dog rose, hawthorn, smoke tree and bay laurel, and the ground layer rockroses and tree heath. Bears, roe deer, wildcats, badgers, wild boar, jackals and foxes live in the area along with birds such as woodcock, buzzards and sparrowhawks. Facilities include 10 forest lodges, picnic units, gazebos, a kiosk, playgrounds and a small mosque, and visitors can enjoy photo safaris, cycling, nature walks, picnics and overnight stays.
Entry hours (DKMP, October 2026): 08:30–23:00.
- Outdoor
