Can you use a pushchair at Yedigöller?

Lakeshores and paths are earth, roots and stones, and in autumn they're covered in wet leaves. A pushchair can manage short flat stretches, but for ages 0–3 a back or front carrier is far more comfortable.

Are there places to eat and toilets at Yedigöller?

According to the Bolu Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, a restaurant and a snack kiosk inside the park cover basic needs, but there is no shop on the park road. Ask at the entrance where the toilets are; bring water and snacks, as kiosk hours may be shorter out of season.

Which lakes should you visit at Yedigöller with children?

With small children, the Büyükgöl shore, the 20-metre stream linking it to Deringöl and Nazlıgöl, known for its waterfall, make a full day. Because the lakes sit on two plateaus about 100 m apart in height, the upper-plateau lakes suit children aged 8 and over better.

Can you have a picnic with children at Yedigöller?

Kültür Portalı lists picnicking and relaxing among the activities in the park. Fires and barbecues, however, are allowed only in permitted places and periods; in summer, check the Bolu Governorate's forest decisions. As there is no shop on the road, bring your food with you and take your rubbish home.

Can you see deer at Yedigöller?

Red deer and roe deer live in the surrounding wildlife development area, and Kültür Portalı notes that the deer breeding station inside the park can be visited. Check at the entrance whether the station is open that day; if you meet animals in the wild, don't feed them.

What time should you go to Yedigöller with a child?

Leaving so that you're in the park at around 10:00 and heading back at around 15:00 is the most comfortable rhythm for children. On autumn weekends the car park fills up early, and in October and November the light leaves the valley early.

Yedigöller with Kids: Route, Breaks and Lake Safety

Yedigöller's seven lakes are spread over roughly 1.5 km, which means even children can see the loveliest part of the park without getting worn out. A park day built around a child's pace.

How do you spend a day at Yedigöller with children?

The best formula for a Yedigöller day with children is: enter the park at around 10:00, park the car once, start with the shores of Büyükgöl and Deringöl and walk on to the Nazlıgöl waterfall, take an early lunch break and head back at around 15:00. Because all the lakes are spread over an area of roughly 1.5 km from north to south, even small children can see the loveliest part of the park without getting worn out.

This article focuses on one thing: the day inside the park with children. For choosing a room, the journey and the holiday as a whole, see our family bungalow holiday guide for Bolu. Here you'll find the layout of the park, a route paced for children, an hour-by-hour plan, verified information on food and toilets, safety at the lakeshore, games and what each age group enjoys most.

The park's layout: three things to know with children

According to Kültür Portalı, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's portal, Yedigöller National Park (the 'Seven Lakes') has seven lakes: Büyükgöl, Seringöl, Deringöl, Nazlıgöl, Küçükgöl, İncegöl and Sazlıgöl. The lakes are linked by surface and underground flows.

Distances are short. The lakes are spread over an area of about 1,500 metres from north to south. Leaving the car once and walking is the most comfortable approach for a family.
There's a height difference. The lakes sit on two plateaus about 100 metres apart in height. Walking round every lake therefore means a climb for a small child; sticking to the lower lakes makes a perfectly good day.
Büyükgöl is deep. Büyükgöl, the largest lake, sits at an average altitude of about 780 m and is up to 15 m deep. Deringöl joins Büyükgöl via a 20-metre stretch of flowing water. The shallow look at the shore is deceptive.

A route paced for children

The route below can be adapted for anyone from a new walker up to a 12-year-old. Each stage is a "stop"; turning back from any stop when a child gets tired is part of the plan.

Stage	What's there?	Why it works for children
1. Büyükgöl shore	The park's largest lake, the trout story	The first "wow" moment; a short, flat lakeside walk
2. The Deringöl link	The 20 m stream connecting the two lakes	Seeing water flow from one lake to another
3. Nazlıgöl (Waterfall Lake)	According to Kültür Portalı, water seeping from the lake bed forms a waterfall to its north-east	Children's favourite spot: the sound of the waterfall
4. Upper-plateau lakes (optional)	The lakes on the other side of the roughly 100 m height difference	For ages 8 and up who still have energy
5. Kapankaya Viewpoint (optional)	According to the Bolu Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, a viewpoint that looks down over the lakes	A scenic reward for older children and teenagers

Check how the lakes sit in relation to each other and the order of the paths on the information board at the entrance or with the staff; the order of the stages may vary depending on the signposting in the park. The basic rule stays the same: first the nearest large lake, then a short stream and the waterfall, and the upper plateau if there's energy left.

Pushchair or baby carrier? Lakeshores and paths are earth, roots and stones, and in autumn they're covered in wet leaves. For ages 0–3, a back or front carrier is far more comfortable than a pushchair.

An hour-by-hour park day with children

From Nesilce Tatil Köyü it's 48 km to the park via Yazıcık; it's a forest road, so allow at least an hour. Every stay includes a Turkish village breakfast; if you want an early start, you can discuss breakfast times in advance.

Time	Plan	Tip
08:00	Breakfast, thermos and bags	The journey is easier when the children have eaten
09:00	Set off	On the winding road, an open window and short breaks help with car sickness
10:00	Park entry and car park	On autumn weekends the car park fills up early
10:15–12:00	Stages 1–3: Büyükgöl, Deringöl, Nazlıgöl	A 10–15-minute play break at every stop
12:00–13:00	Lunch	An early break before the crowds
13:00–14:30	Stages 4–5 or free time by the shore	May be nap time for small children
15:00	Head back	In October and November the light leaves the valley early

Don't try to fit somewhere else into the same day. Heading back to the property and letting the children play freely on the grass in the evening ends the day better than a tiring second programme.

Food, toilets and picnics: what is and isn't there?

According to the Bolu Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, a restaurant and a snack kiosk inside the park cover basic needs, and the 18-unit, 72-bed bungalow facility inside the park also offers restaurant service. The same source notes that there is no shop along the park road. We could not find official information on where the toilets are or how many there are; ask at the entrance and plan your first stop with the children accordingly.

Always bring: water, a thermos, sandwiches, fruit and your child's favourite snack. Out of season and on weekdays, kiosk hours may be shorter.
Picnics: Kültür Portalı lists picnicking and relaxing among the activities in the park. Fires and barbecues, however, are allowed only in permitted places and periods; in summer, check the governorate's decisions.
Rubbish: A small rubbish bag is one of the best "jobs" you can give a child.

The entry fee is charged per vehicle: under DKMP's 2026 tariff, car entry to Yedigöller is 225 TL and covers everyone in the vehicle; payment is made without stopping, via HGS (the electronic toll tag). Details such as discounts for children on foot are in our family bungalow guide, and information on the park road and car parks is in our Yedigöller transport guide.

Child safety at the lakeshore

The arm's-length rule. When a child under 7 is near the water, an adult should stay within arm's reach. Büyükgöl reaches a depth of 15 m and the water is cold for most of the year.
Wet roots and stones. Roots and mossy stones at the water's edge are slippery. Set a clear rule, such as "you can throw stones into the water, but don't step onto the very edge".
Don't go into the lake. Ask at the entrance about the current rule on swimming or entering the water; with children, the safest choice is to keep feet dry.
A meeting point. Choose a spot at the car park that everyone knows. Put a note with your phone number in your child's pocket, and explain the "if you get lost, stay where you are" rule before you set off.
Wildlife. According to the DKMP 9th Regional Directorate, the surrounding wildlife area is home to bears, wolves and lynx as well as red deer and roe deer. Encounters are rare; even so, don't leave food scraps, don't feed animals, and don't let children run too far ahead of the group on the path.
Ticks and cold. Check for ticks on your return; keep spare socks and an extra layer in the car.

Park games and nature lessons for children

Picking plants and mushrooms or collecting stones is not allowed in a national park. So games built around "finding without taking" keep to the rules and keep children busy:

Seven-lake hunt: Write the lake names on a piece of paper and let your child tick off each lake as they see it. Even writing down how many they found counts as a win.
Where does the water go? Watch where a leaf drifts in the stream between Deringöl and Büyükgöl. It's a good moment to explain that the lakes are also linked underground.
The sound of the waterfall: Closing your eyes at Nazlıgöl and just listening calms even small children for a few minutes.
The trout story: According to Kültür Portalı, Türkiye's first trout breeding station was founded here in 1969; the lakes are home to lake trout (göl alası) and rainbow trout.
Watching the anglers: According to the same source, paid recreational rod fishing is possible at Büyükgöl and Deringöl from May to September. Ask at the entrance about the conditions for children to take part.
The deer station: Kültür Portalı notes that the deer breeding station inside the park can be visited; check whether it's open on the day you go.
Footprint detectives: Look for animal tracks in damp earth, photograph them and, back at the bungalow in the evening, guess together which animal made them.

Which age enjoys what?

Age	What they enjoy most in the park	Length of day
0–3	The sound of water, birdwatching, a lakeside walk in a carrier	2 hours is enough; nap in the car or on the way back
4–7	The waterfall, flowing water, the seven-lake hunt, looking for footprints	3 hours; frequent breaks
8–12	The upper-plateau lakes, watching the anglers, taking photos	Half a day
13+	Kapankaya Viewpoint, a long lake circuit, a photography route	Can be a full day

If your teenagers are into photography, our Yedigöller photography route gives them a good list of missions.

A park day with children, season by season

Season	Upside	Watch out for
Spring (April–May)	Quiet, green; according to Kültür Portalı, the visiting season begins in April	Muddy paths, very cold water
Summer	Long days, cool forest, fishing season	Ticks; weekend crowds
Autumn	The colours	Very busy weekends in October–November; short days
Winter	Snow and silence	The Bolu-side road closes; a winter plan with children only works once the road is confirmed open

To spot the busy days in advance, see our guide Yedigöller on a weekday or at the weekend.

After the park: an evening at the bungalow

The best end to a park day with children is a short drive and an early evening. At Nesilce Tatil Köyü, the duplex bungalows for 4–6 guests have a living room and a large terrace, and there are safe outdoor areas for children. There is no pool and no jacuzzi. Room types are on our bungalows in Bolu page and seasonal planning is on our Yedigöller page.

To book, call +90 507 922 11 18 or message us via the WhatsApp button on our contact page. Official online listings: Airbnb · Hotels.com.

Sources

Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Kültür Portalı – Yedigöller Milli Parkı
Bolu Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism – Yedigöller Milli Parkı
DKMP 9th Regional Directorate – Bolu Yedigöller Wildlife Development Area
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, DKMP – Protected Areas Fee Tariff 2026

For a room that suits your children's ages and help planning your Yedigöller day, call us on +90 507 922 11 18 or send us a WhatsApp message.