Slot Canyon Atlas

AtlasAntalya

Saklikent

verified ACA 4C R Extreme flood risk Kas, Antalya

Limestone aven well above the photogenic public lower gorge near Kas, sustained 2280 foot descent that ropewiki rates 4C1 IV.

Two things to keep straight: the public Saklikent Lower Gorge near the park entrance is the tourist boardwalk and is not what this entry describes. The technical descent starts much higher in the watershed and is committing alpine-scale work. Beta is split between descente-canyon.com (French) and canyon.carto.net (German); read both. The lower tourist gorge has killed walkers in flash floods, treat the upper drainage forecast accordingly.

Logistics

ManagerSaklikent National Park (Saklikent Milli Parki)
PermitNo permit required for the technical descent. The public lower-gorge tourist trail at the canyon mouth charges a separate park entry fee.
Distance~1.4 (descent only)
Elevation~2280 ft loss
TimeMulti-day commitment commonly run as a long single push or a 2-day bivouac descent
TechnicalMajor limestone canyon above the well-known public lower gorge. Ropewiki rates 4C1 IV (v4a4 VI), longest rappel about 148 ft. Swift water hazard, big sustained vertical work in a deep limestone slot. Wetsuit mandatory, water is cold mountain runoff from the Taurus Range.
SeasonSummer and autumn
Flood riskExtreme. The canyon's lower gorge tourist trail closes annually after fatal flash floods. Watch the entire Karacay watershed forecast; the slot fills in minutes.
Vehicle access2WD to trailhead, 22 km shuttle required
CrowdLow on the technical descent above the tourist gorge
Coordinates36.4405, 29.4471

Sources