The Grass Canyon has become a favorite among nature lovers.

The Çimenli Canyon, formed as a result of the river eroding the main rock in the Kelkit district of Gümüşhane, has become one of the standout locations of this summer with its interesting figures, ice-cold waters, cool air, and natural beauty.

Located within the borders of Çimenli Village, which is the birthplace of the Kelkit River that gives the district its name, the area known as Yılanlı or Çimenli Canyon has particularly become a spot for nature lovers and adventure seekers this year.

This week, the canyon welcomed guests from almost all mountaineering clubs in Trabzon, including members of the Gümüşhane Mountaineering, Nature Sports, and Youth Association (GÜDAK), who introduced both the natural beauty of Gümüşhane and the canyon itself.

In an event attended by 19 athletes from the provincial center, participants started their hike in the lower canyon, which stretches approximately 4 kilometers, and experienced an exciting walking event in water that sometimes reached waist level, enjoying the unique views of the canyon and the refreshing cold water.

Athletes cooled off by swimming in the stone pools formed by the crystal-clear water flowing from the canyon in the hot weather, and they had the chance to observe the interesting figures and thousands of years of formations created by the water on the rocks.

Continuing their hike through the deep and steep canyon, the athletes finished the event in the plateau, completing a total distance of 9.5 kilometers.

Samet Çelik, one of the athletes who participated in the event and experienced adrenaline-filled moments, stated that the canyon in Çimenli Village is a hidden paradise for nature lovers, saying, “You feel excitement with every step. As a nature enthusiast, these challenging trails are a great passion for me. Every corner of the canyon offers a different beauty. I am happy to be here. While passing through the challenging paths, we also enjoyed this unique nature. This place is a true wonder of nature.”

Emphasizing that the canyon has great potential in terms of tourism, Çelik expressed that the region needs to be promoted more for nature sports and ecotourism, saying, “This place is ideal not only for nature sports but also for anyone looking for peace and wanting to be close to nature. We hope that with such events, the beauties of the region will reach more people.”

Ahmet Yıldız, the event coordinator, stated, “We started our hike from Çimenli Village with 19 participants. We cooled off in the lower canyon, which is approximately 4 kilometers long, with the water of the Kelkit River. After continuing our hike through the forest, we took a break at the spring in the plateau after enjoying the coolness of the yellow pine and oak forests. After the break, we continued our hike alongside the wheat field and completed a total of 9.75 kilometers in Çimenli Village after enjoying the beautiful and exquisite scenery of the plateau. Our hike, conducted with the views of the canyon, forest, and plateau, was one of the most beautiful activities in the region.”