Sıklık Nature Park
Sıklık Nature Park (known locally as Sıklık Mesire Yeri) is a large forest and recreation area on the Samsun-Ankara highway just north of central Çorum. Sources give its distance from the centre as anywhere from 5 to 9 km (Wikipedia says 5 km, while the Çorum Governorate and the Central Black Sea Development Agency give 7-9 km); either way it is a short trip from downtown, and lies about 30 km from Laçin and 37 km from Mecitözü.
From Picnic Ground to Nature Park
The site’s protection status grew in stages. In 1992, a 30-hectare portion of what is now the park was declared a recreation area; on 8 July 2009 it was expanded to 64 hectares and formally designated a nature park by the then Ministry of Environment and Forestry. A further expansion in 2014 brought the park to its current size of 318 hectares. It is managed by the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Wildlife-Viewing Areas
The park’s best-known feature is its fauna introduction area, established in 2012 as a first of its kind in Turkey (Anadolu Agency describes it as “Turkey’s first fauna introduction area”). Originally set on 50 dönüm (about 5 hectares), it grew into a breeding centre and, as animal numbers rose, a second section of roughly 400 dönüm was added; together the two sections now cover about 45 hectares. Visitors can observe red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, mountain gazelle and wild goats in near-natural conditions, with a 10-metre observation tower offering views over the enclosures. In the park’s wider forest, free-ranging wildlife includes hares, squirrels, foxes, wild boar, wolves, badgers, moles, long-legged buzzards, sparrowhawks, crows, nightingales and chukar partridges.
Botanical Garden and Facilities
A botanical area planted with 5,500 saplings across 165 species is another highlight. Visitor amenities include scenic viewing terraces, a visitor information centre, a wooden tea garden, a countryside restaurant, a fountain, a kiosk, restrooms, a rain shelter and sports facilities. The park reportedly drew 180,000 visitors in 2018.
Visiting
Sıklık is one of Çorum’s most practical nature breaks, popular with families and hikers alike, and busiest on weekends and public holidays. For other picnic and recreation options in the city, see our Picnic and Recreation Areas in Çorum page, and for another nature area near the centre, our Çatak Nature Park guide.