Doğançay Şelalesi Tabiat Parkı

Doğançay Waterfall flows at the bottom of a deep, forested valley within the village of Maksudiye in Geyve district. The Culture Portal gives its address as Doğançay village and lists the waterfall among the first places to see in Sakarya. According to Turkish Wikipedia, the waterfall is about 25 kilometres from the centre of Sakarya and about 10 kilometres from the D.650 highway between Sakarya and Bilecik. English Wikipedia gives its distance from Adapazarı as 35 kilometres; the difference depends on which point of the city the distance is measured from. The waterfall and an area of about 4 hectares around it were placed under protection on 13 May 2013. Turkish Wikipedia and GoTürkiye, the Ministry's promotion platform, describe this decision as the declaration of a nature park. English Wikipedia writes that the area was registered as a natural monument on the same date; the two sources differ on the name of the protection status. Sources also give different figures for the elevation of the waterfall. The Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism puts the altitude at around 450 metres. The Culture Portal and GoTürkiye write that the waterfall lies 600 metres above sea level. Turkish Wikipedia gives about 400 metres. Since none of them states from which point the figure is measured, the start of the trail or the waterfall itself, these differences should be read together. The Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality's tourism brochure describes the waterfall as a cascade of five steps set side by side on the stream. The water foams down these steps into the bed below. The valley through which the waterfall and the stream flow has quite steep slopes, and its surroundings are covered with rich vegetation. The brochure also notes that there are areas suitable for picnics and walking trails below the waterfall. Reaching the waterfall is a short walk that nonetheless requires care. According to the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the waterfall lies in the stream bed about 300 metres below the point where the walk begins. The descent follows a dirt path through hazelnut orchards, and going down and coming back up takes about 40 minutes on average. Since the path becomes slippery after rain, walking shoes with a good grip are essential. The Directorate also points out that the spot where the waterfall stands is usually cool; it is a good idea to bring a light layer even on a summer day. The road to the waterfall is also used as a hiking trail. Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality has organised routes to Doğançay in different seasons as part of its nature walks programme. According to the municipality's announcements, the autumn walk reached the waterfall on a 10-kilometre trail, while the spring walk reached it on a 15-kilometre trail through forest and across streams. The GoTürkiye platform also suggests a cycling route via Maksudiye that ends at Doğançay. The municipality's walking programme has chosen the waterfall as a route in both spring and autumn; in spring the trees on the slopes come into fresh leaf. In autumn the valley changes colour and the walk is cooler. The stones at the foot of the waterfall are wet and slippery, so do not go too close to the water and keep hold of children's hands. Since it is not always possible to find food on site, bring your own water and food, and take your rubbish back with you. Access by private car is easy. The Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism states that the road is asphalt but winding and only wide enough for two vehicles to pass. The Culture Portal writes that the last 2 kilometres of the road are unpaved. Access with large vehicles can be difficult, and in heavy winters the last kilometres of the road are covered with snow. Before going in the winter months, check the road conditions and current information about the nature park with the Sakarya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. Doğançay is a good stop on the southern valley route between Lake Sapanca and Geyve. After the waterfall you can go down to the Sakarya River and continue to the II. Bayezid Bridge in Alifuatpaşa, and from there to the historic houses of Taraklı.