Sarikamis National Park

Sarıkamış-Allahuekber Mountains National Park is a protected area spanning parts of Kars and Erzurum provinces, covering about 22,519 ha at an average elevation of around 2,300 m. It protects one of Turkey's finest surviving stands of relict Scots pine forest, growing on volcanic soils of the Sarıkamış Plateau and visually reminiscent of Siberian taiga — unusual for Turkey. The park is home to brown bear, wolf, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, chamois, and lynx. It was established both to protect this alpine environment and to commemorate the Battle of Sarıkamış (December 1914–January 1915), a World War I engagement between Ottoman and Russian forces in which a large proportion of the roughly 90,000 Ottoman casualties came from cold and disease in the Allahuekber Mountains rather than combat.

By Plane

The nearest airport is at Kars.

By Car / Road

Access from Sarıkamış town.

On foot. Some roads through the park.

• Allahuekber Mountains — The forested range at the heart of the park, site of the WWI battle.

• Relict Scots pine forest — Old-growth pine stands on the Sarıkamış Plateau.

• Hiking — Trails through the forest and meadows in warmer months.

• Cross-country skiing / snowshoeing — Winter activities through the pine-forested terrain.

Picnic.

Bring water.

Camping or accommodation in Sarıkamış.

Supplies from Sarıkamış.

• Sarıkamış — Gateway town.
• Kars — 60 km north, with Ani ruins.