Tomara Waterfall

Priority Stop Popularity 76/100 Visit ~1 saat 30 dk Best Season May-June (peak flow from snowmelt) and July-August (greenery and coolness). Category Nature / Waterfall

Nature Photography

Tomara Waterfall lies within the borders of Seydibaba village in the Şiran district of Gümüşhane, some 130 kilometres from the provincial centre and just 14 kilometres from the town of Şiran, perched on a highland threshold roughly 1,250 metres above sea level.

Natural Features

Its most striking feature is that it is not fed by a single stream but by around forty separate underground springs that burst directly out of the rock face; these sources fan out across the steep cliff and merge into a milky-white, foaming curtain that plunges some twenty metres to the pool below. Even at the height of summer the icy water and its constant roar create a cool micro-climate that sets the site apart from the surrounding steppe heat, which is precisely why it feels like a green island in the landscape. Framed by poplars and willows and equipped with orderly picnic facilities, Tomara was granted nature park status in 2011, and its protected area of about 109 hectares now includes picnic tables, walking trails and viewing terraces. For photographers the foam pool at the base, the side-lit rock wall where each spring is individually visible, and the rainbows that form on misty or rainy days are the most rewarding vantage points.

Culture & Events

Culturally, Tomara hosts the annual Şiran Tomara Waterfall Culture and Tourism Festival, first held in 2009, which turns the falls into a lively gathering place with folk dances, concerts, cross-country runs and cycling races, making it a symbol of local identity rather than mere scenery.

Route & Visiting Tips

Agencies favour Tomara because it breaks the long highway legs of the Gümüşhane-Kelkit-Şiran corridor with a refreshing, free and time-efficient stop; the average visit lasts 60-90 minutes and it is typically paired in a single day with Karaca Cave or the Şiran leg. The best time to visit is May-June, when snowmelt pushes the flow to its peak, and July-August, when the greenery endures; the peak season coincides with the festival months and weekends. In winter the access road may close under snow and the springs partly freeze, so visits become difficult. The suggested route is an early departure from Gümüşhane, a midday Tomara break, then onward toward Şiran and Kelkit in the afternoon.

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons — click a photo for author and licence.

Visit & Logistics

Getting therePrivate vehicle is the most practical option. Follow the Kelkit-Şiran highway from Gümüşhane centre; at the Şiran exit, turn off toward Seydibaba village and follow the signs to the waterfall (130 km from the centre, 14 km from Şiran). By public transport, take a bus/minibus to Şiran and complete the final leg by taxi.
ParkingAn organised open-air car park at the entrance to the recreation area for cars and minibuses; roadside overflow parking is used on busy festival days.
Coach accessThe nature park road is accessible to tour coaches; however, the narrow, steep sections at the Seydibaba turn-off require careful driving for large vehicles, and a midibus is more comfortable.
AccessibilityThe stretch between the car park and the lower viewing terrace is relatively flat and accessible; but the stepped/sloped path down to the base of the falls is not suitable for wheelchairs, so access is limited.
Photo spotsThe foam pool at the base of the falls and lower viewing terrace; the side angle where each spring is individually visible; the rainbow that forms in the spray on rainy/misty days; the wide upper-level view from the walking trail.
Suggested routeA midday stop on the Gümüşhane-Şiran/Kelkit corridor; scheduled on the same day as Karaca Cave or the Şiran leg.

Nearby Places

Tours that include this place

No published tour features this place just yet — but we can build one around you, with no obligation. AI Concierge

Design your own route in this region Pick your stops on the map, we'll price it. Plan a custom tour with this place Choose your activities, we'll suggest the destinations that match.

Sources