Riding the Kemaliye Tas Yolu, Turkey’s ‘Stone Road’, is a humbling experience. Running alongside the mighty Euphrates and through the dark canyon you are bound to feel a sense of awe. Perhaps rather small as well. This marvel of human engineering was over a century in the making and the road is more or less hewn from the sheer rock face. It’s a surreal experience as you negotiate 30km of dirt roads and almost five kilometers of separate tunnels. Beware of the unguarded sheer drops into the beautiful green river below and ensure you take a camera.
Planning your ride on the Kemaliye Tas Yolu
Linking the towns of Kemaliye and Divriği, this is a thrilling ride, but not one for the novice. The road surface is fairly poor quality with not a strip of tarmac to be seen :). As the name suggests, gravel and dirt make up the majority of the route. Experienced road bike riders should be able to manage, but off road bikes or hybrids are recommended.
Fortunately the Kemaliye Tas Yolu route isn’t a main road so there isn’t a constant flow of traffic along it. During peak seasons there may be a higher than normal number of road users, though the majority will be tourists and the occasional tour bus. Expect to see cyclists and other bikers. Early morning is a nice time to enjoy the road, as it is more likely to be clear.
Fuel is available in Kemaliye and Divriği. There are only 80km between the two towns so fuel should not be an issue.
Accommodation and food
When you ride the Kemaliye Tas Yolu it is worth stopping over in the charming, old town of Kemaliye. Located in the Munzur Mountains, and just a stone’s throw away from the road this is a great place for lovers of the great outdoors. There are many chances for hiking, climbing, kayaking and hang gliding. The few hotels in the town can soon become fully booked during peak seasons, in particular weekends. It is well worth booking in advance. While there are no campsites in the immediate vicinity, there are opportunities for wild camping once away from the towns.
There are no eateries along the actual route, however food can be found in the towns in the area. Look out for gozleme, a local specialty that words cannot describe. Along the side of the road you may occasionally encounter locals selling various foodstuffs.
Weather considerations
Due to the general surface of the road, in wet conditions the dirt can soon turn to mud. Slippery road surfaces quickly make the road inaccessible. While this is mostly a problem in winter, the road may be shut on a wet summer’s day. There are no official closure dates over winter, however considerable caution should be taken if you plan to use the road when the weather isn’t warm and dry.
Sights
The views along the route are naturally stunning. The beautiful green Euphrates calmly meanders alongside much of the road and one can sit for hours mesmerized by it’s majesty. The spectacular rocky mountains will draw the eye and camera time and time again. At the start of the route, there is also a memorial to the men who built the road, and those who died doing so.
Pictures
Unfortunately we don’t have any pics of this road that we are allowed to share on this site. You can check some out here though.
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