Örümcek (Spider) Forests

The Örümcek Forests rise within the boundaries of Yeşilköy in the Kürtün district of Gümüşhane, roughly 60 kilometres from the provincial centre, and were placed under protection as a designated Nature Conservation Area in 1998. Spread across approximately 2,630 hectares, the reserve ranks among Turkey's most valuable botanical treasures because it shelters the tallest and thickest-trunked Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) and East Black Sea fir (Abies nordmanniana) found anywhere in Europe and the Caucasus.

Protected Status & Monument Trees

Averaging around 417 years of age, these giants have witnessed four centuries; their monumental trunks soar past 60 metres, and eight of them — four spruce and four fir — are officially registered as Natural Monuments owing to their rarity. The forest's name, meaning "spider" in Turkish, is said to derive both from the labyrinthine density of the interlaced canopy and from the abundance of spiders within it.

Nature & Scenery

Beneath this maze-like cover, accompanied by Eastern beech, bearded alder and badgers, mountain waters gather and spill from a height of about 15 metres to form the tranquil Çağlayandibi Waterfall. For visitors the forest is especially celebrated in autumn, when greens, yellows and fiery reds intermingle in a mesmerising spectacle that draws photographers and hikers alike.

Tourism Value

Agencies favour this stop on Eastern Black Sea and Zigana-Gümüşhane itineraries because of its easily walkable network of trails and the unforgettable impression left by trees found nowhere else. The average visit lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours, and in guided programmes it typically serves as a half-day nature pause along the Kürtün-Zigana crossing. Nearby lie Kürtün town, the Kadırga highland, the Santa ruins, Karaca Cave and Tomara Waterfall. The finest photographic angles are upward shots from the base of the monumental firs and spruces and the setting around Çağlayandibi Waterfall.

Visiting, Access & Tips

Access is via the Trabzon-Gümüşhane highway with a turnoff at Kürtün; because the final forest stretch is narrow and winding, large tour coaches remain in the village square while visitors complete the short distance by minibus or on foot. Parking is limited and unpaved, and disabled access is restricted by the trail terrain. The ideal season runs from late spring through autumn, with the peak being the September-November foliage; winter roads can be difficult due to snow. The recommended route begins in Kürtün, follows the monument-tree and Çağlayandibi line, and continues toward Zigana.