Soğuksu Milli Parkı (Kızılcahamam)

Declared in 1959, this national park north of the Ankara steppe is a refuge of black pine forest, a fossil-tree geosite, black vulture viewpoints and marked hiking trails. The thermal hotels of Kızılcahamam sit right beside it; forest in the morning, pool in the afternoon is the classic plan. Worth separate visits for autumn colour and winter snow. EGO bus 527 from Ulus terminates at the park gate, so you can come without a car.