GOEZThe Maşukiye to Kartepe motorcycle route is a hard, 22 km mountain climb in Kocaeli, east of Istanbul. It rises through forest from the village of Maşukiye to about 1,600 m near the Kartepe summit, with around 45 corners. At a brisk pace it takes about 40 minutes.
Distance and corner count are approximate; use an up-to-date map for navigation.
Where is the Maşukiye to Kartepe route?
Maşukiye is a village in Kartepe district, Kocaeli province, in the green hills between İzmit and Lake Sapanca. It's known for its streams and trout restaurants. Kartepe, above it, is a mountain with a ski resort.
For a visitor, the area is an easy day trip east of Istanbul along the main highway. Ride out, climb Kartepe, come back down for lunch in Maşukiye and head home. If you have two days, combine it with the coast road from Şile to Ağva or continue east to Bolu and Lake Abant.
What's the road like?
This road is short but dense. About 45 corners in 22 km puts it among the twistiest roads in the GOEZ catalogue. The climb starts almost as soon as you leave the village, and the corners come one after another as the road works its way up through the trees.
Many corners are tight and blind, the gradient is steady, and the forest keeps parts of the road shaded and damp. That's why it's rated hard: not because it's long, but because it asks for focus the whole way. Ride it at a pace where you can stop within what you can see.
When to go
Late spring to autumn is the usual riding season. In winter, Kartepe is a ski area: expect snow and ice near the top, and don't plan a ride without checking road conditions first.
Even in summer, the top can be noticeably cooler than the coast, and cloud can sit on the mountain. Bring a warm layer. Weekends bring visitors heading up to the resort area and down to the restaurants, so a weekday morning is the quietest time.
Ride safe
- Treat every blind corner as if a car is coming the other way on your side of the road.
- Expect damp patches, leaves and moss under the trees, even on a dry day.
- Let faster traffic pass; there's no prize for leading on a road this tight.
- On the way down, use engine braking and keep speed low into corners.
Riding in Turkey for the first time? Read our practical tips for riding in Turkey and the motorcycle trip checklist.
Nearby routes
Make a longer trip of it with Şile → Ağva and Bolu → Lake Abant, or browse all motorcycle routes in Turkey.
Ride it with GOEZ
Maşukiye → Kartepe Summit is one of the suggested routes in the GOEZ Routes tab. Bookmark it to keep it in Saved routes, and tap Ride it to start recording with the route's line on your map — see how Routes works.
When you're done, your ride summary shows distance, moving time, speed and how many corners you actually rode. Recording works offline, so a weak signal on the mountain doesn't matter — more on ride tracking.