Uzungöl Travel Guide
Everything you need to plan a visit to Uzungöl — a still highland lake ringed by pine forest and mist in the mountains above Trabzon, on Turkey’s eastern Black Sea coast.
Uzungöl, meaning “long lake”, lies in the Çaykara district of Trabzon province, high in the forested mountains of Turkey’s eastern Black Sea region. The lake itself formed centuries ago when a landslide dammed the Haldizen stream, and the small village that grew up along its shore takes its name from the water beside it. Steep slopes of pine and spruce rise straight from the lake on almost every side, and the whole valley sits under the damp, cloud-wrapped climate that defines this part of the coast.
What began as a quiet highland village is now a modest holiday base, with wooden guesthouses and hotels lining the shore and a walking path circling the water. The small mosque on the lake edge, its reflection sitting still in the water on a calm morning, is one of the most photographed scenes in the eastern Black Sea. In recent years Uzungöl has also become a genuine draw for visitors from the Gulf and the wider Middle East, who come for cool green scenery that looks nothing like home. It makes an easy stop for a plate of grilled trout or a Black Sea cornmeal-and-cheese kuymak, and a base for short walks into the surrounding highland pastures.
This guide covers the essentials for planning a trip: the top things to do around the lake, when the notoriously wet Black Sea weather is kindest, how to get there from Trabzon, and where to stay.
Top things to do in Uzungöl
Walk the path that circles the lake shore, which takes you past wooden jetties, small footbridges and the lakeside mosque whose reflection is the village’s signature view. Pedal boats are the classic way to get out onto the water itself. Beyond the lake, short trails climb into the surrounding pine and spruce forest, and longer excursions run up to nearby highland pastures such as Demirkapı and Şerah yaylası, where wooden huts and grazing cattle sit above the tree line. Set aside time simply to eat: fresh trout from the lake and the region’s cornmeal-and-cheese kuymak (also called muhlama) are the dishes to try.
When to visit Uzungöl
The eastern Black Sea is one of the wettest corners of Turkey, and Uzungöl sees some rain and morning mist in almost every month. Late spring through early autumn — roughly May to October — brings the greenest scenery and the most comfortable temperatures, with July and August the busiest weeks as domestic and Gulf visitors fill the shoreline path and guesthouses. September is a quieter alternative with the same lush forest. From November the higher passes around the lake can close with snow, the village turns cold and wet, and many guesthouses scale back for the winter, though Uzungöl itself rarely closes completely given its relatively low altitude.
How to get to Uzungöl
The gateway is Trabzon Airport (TZX), from which Uzungöl is reached by a mountain road climbing inland through Çaykara district. Allow about one and a half to two hours for the transfer, longer if mist or rain slows the higher stretches. There is no direct flight or rail option into the village — every visit routes through Trabzon, and a private transfer is the simplest way to make the winding final approach.
Where to stay in Uzungöl
Guesthouses right on the shore put you within steps of the walking path and the lakeside mosque view, though this stretch is also the busiest in peak summer. Properties set back on the hillside above the water trade a short walk for quieter mornings and greener views over the lake. Given how small and single-focused the village is, most visitors treat Uzungöl as a one- or two-night stop within a wider eastern Black Sea or Kaçkar Mountains itinerary rather than a full base for a whole trip.
Know before you go
Uzungöl is a natural lake in Trabzon’s Çaykara district, formed when a landslide dammed the Haldizen stream.
Trabzon Airport (TZX) is the gateway, about one and a half to two hours away by road.
The small lakeside mosque reflected in still water is the most photographed view in the village.
Pedal boats on the lake and walking the shoreline path are the classic things to do.
Best visited May to October; rain and morning mist are possible in every season here.
Most visitors treat Uzungöl as a one- or two-night stop on a wider eastern Black Sea or Kaçkar route rather than a full base.
Tours in Uzungöl
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uzungöl worth visiting?
Yes, if a still forest lake and cool, misty highland scenery appeal to you. It suits a short stop rather than a long stay — a walk around the shore, a pedal boat, a plate of trout and perhaps a trip up to a nearby highland pasture cover what the village offers well.
How do you get to Uzungöl?
Fly into Trabzon Airport (TZX), then take a road transfer of about one and a half to two hours inland through Çaykara district. There is no direct flight or rail link into the village itself.
How many days do you need in Uzungöl?
One or two nights is enough for most travellers — a walk around the lake, a boat ride and a meal by the water. Uzungöl works best as part of a longer eastern Black Sea or Kaçkar Mountains trip rather than a standalone destination.
What is the weather like in Uzungöl?
Wet and often misty, in keeping with the eastern Black Sea climate generally. May to October is greenest and mildest, July and August are busiest, and from November snow can close the higher ground around the lake while the village turns cold and quiet.
What food is Uzungöl known for?
Fresh trout from the lake and the surrounding streams, and the Black Sea cornmeal-and-cheese dish known as kuymak or muhlama, are the two dishes most associated with the village.
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