Piste maps · Çankırı
The Ilgaz Mountains have three separate ski areas: Yıldıztepe on the Çankırı side, and Ilgaz Dağı Ski Resort (inside the National Park) and Yurduntepe on the Kastamonu side. This guide focuses on Yıldıztepe: it is about 20 km from the town of Ilgaz and 200 km from Ankara; the ski area lies between 1,500 and 1,877 m. It is served by one chairlift (~1,540 m) and one drag lift; the runs are a 4,500 m green, a 2,400 m black and a 900 m green-blue run. Yıldıztepe also has an FIS-registered cross-country skiing trail.
The Ilgaz Mountains have three separate ski areas: Yıldıztepe on the Çankırı side, and Ilgaz Dağı Ski Resort (inside the National Park) and Yurduntepe on the Kastamonu side. This guide focuses on Yıldıztepe: it is about 20 km from the town of Ilgaz and 200 km from Ankara; the ski area lies between 1,500 and 1,877 m. It is served by one chairlift (~1,540 m) and one drag lift; the runs are a 4,500 m green, a 2,400 m black and a 900 m green-blue run. Yıldıztepe also has an FIS-registered cross-country skiing trail.
Data note: The number of runs at Yıldıztepe varies by source: the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism gives 2 runs (4,700 m and 2,000 m), news reports 3 runs, and skiresort.info 7.2 km; the chairlift length is given as between 1,539 and 1,600 m. Information on the drag lift comes only from skiresort.info. Ilgaz Dağı Ski Resort and Yurduntepe on the Kastamonu side are separately operated; their figures are given separately. It could not be verified at which facility the photos were taken.
Last updated: · Sources at the end of the page
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Ilgaz, Yıldıztepe (Kastamonu sınırı), Çankırı, Türkiye
41.0344° N, 33.7916° E
“Skiing in the Ilgaz Mountains” can mean three different places; make sure you know which one you are going to when booking and planning your journey:
Tourism centre belonging to the Ilgaz district.
Lifts: Chairlift, drag lift
Suited to: Beginners and intermediates, cross-country skiers, families
Ski area run as part of a hotel inside the National Park.
Lifts: 4 lifts (skiresort.info)
Suited to: Beginners and intermediates
New resort operated by the Special Provincial Administration.
Lifts: 2 lifts
Suited to: Those looking for a long, easy run; families
| Lift | Type | Area | Bottom – top | Length | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yıldıztepe chairlift | Chairlift (2-seater) | Yıldıztepe | — | 1,539 m | 1,200 people/hour |
| Yıldıztepe drag lift | Drag lift (T-bar) | Yıldıztepe | — | 650 m | 1,100 people/hour · Source: skiresort.info |
Easy: 2Difficult: 1
| Run | Difficulty | Length | Start – finish | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Easy | 4,500 m | — | — |
| Green-blue | Easy | 900 m | — | — |
| Black | Difficult | 2,400 m | — | — |
Run names and lengths are taken from a 2021 news report (Milliyet); the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism gives two runs of 4,700 m and 2,000 m.
| Level | Run |
|---|---|
| Beginner | 900 m green-blue run |
| Beginner–intermediate | 4,500 m green run |
| Advanced | 2,400 m black run |
| Cross-country skiing | FIS-registered cross-country trail |
There are three ski areas in the Ilgaz Mountains: Yıldıztepe on the Çankırı side, and Ilgaz Dağı Ski Resort (National Park) and Yurduntepe on the Kastamonu side.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it is 20 km from the town of Ilgaz, 70 km from Çankırı and 200 km from Ankara.
Yes. According to the Çankırı Governor's Office, Yıldıztepe has an FIS-registered cross-country skiing trail.
BeginnerLearningSkiing · KIS-001
You start skiing with a beginner lesson with an instructor, rental equipment and easy (beginner) slopes. On day one you put on your skis, glide on flat ground, learn to stop with the snowplough and ride the magic carpet; on day two you come down an easy slope under control with snowplough turns. For an adult who has never skied, this stage usually takes 2 days.
Read the guide →GeneralSafetyWinter Sports · KIS-081
The FIS 10 rules for conduct are the rules of behaviour set by the International Ski Federation for skiers and snowboarders: respect for others, control of speed, choice of route, overtaking, entering the piste, stopping, climbing and descending on foot, respecting signs, assistance and identification. They are not law; however, around the world they are used as a benchmark when assessing liability in skiing accidents.
Read the guide →Doğadayız social adventure holiday
An activity holiday puts a sport at the heart of your trip: transport, accommodation and meals are planned, so you can focus on learning on the slopes. On Doğadayız winter activity holidays, accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in every package; course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation, while experience packages let you practise on the slopes at your own level.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
Doğadayız programmes run at these resorts: Erciyes, Sarıkamış, Bansko.
Karabük1,735 m
5 runs · chairlift + drag lift + baby lift
Keltepe Ski Resort lies about 23 km from Karabük city centre on Keltepe (1,999 m), which is regarded as the highest point of the Western Black Sea region. It was opened by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in January 2020. The ski area lies at roughly 1,485–1,735 m; there is a 4-seater chairlift (873 m), a drag lift and a baby lift. According to Anadolu Agency (AA), 5 runs descend through pine forests; the baby lift and training slopes are for beginners.
Piste guide →Ankara1,850 m
1 drag lift · ~17 km from Ankara
Elmadağ Ski Resort is about 17 km south-east of Ankara, at Yakupabdal within the Çankaya district; it is the nearest ski area to Ankara. The ski area extends from 1,500 to 1,850 m; there is a single drag lift (548 m) and short, treeless runs of about 650 m. However, it was reported that the lift broke down in 2022 and that the resort was lying idle in early 2026; be sure to check whether it is open before you go.
Piste guide →Bolu2,200 m
~38 km of runs · 17 lifts · 2 piste systems
Kartalkaya is a ski resort in the Köroğlu Mountains, about 38 km south-east of Bolu and close to Istanbul (~280 km) and Ankara (~170 km). The ski area lies between 1,850 and 2,200 m and is split into two separate piste systems: the Kartal side and the Dorukkaya side. The lifts and runs are operated by hotels; according to skiresort.info, the two sides have about 38 km of runs and 17 lifts in total. The Dorukkaya side, with its wide, easy runs, suits beginners; the Kartal side, with longer and steeper descents, suits intermediate to advanced skiers. Ski passes for one side may not be valid on the other.
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