Killi Tepe - p600.org

We tackled another less-climbed ultra-prominent peak with an impressive 179 km of isolation. The rarity of climbs, based on Peakbagger reports, might suggest it’s not frequently visited—though locals could be the exception. Regardless, the hike is definitely worthwhile due to the stunning and diverse landscapes. The terrain offers a mix of different views and challenges.

A smooth road lined with scenic views meanders toward the Killi Tepe

We chose to approach the peak from the north. Unsure if we’d reach the trailhead, we relied on maps and satellite images that hinted at success—and we were right. We parked at the end of the valley, a few hundred meters before the road turned into a rocky stream. Walking the extra distance was a minor inconvenience; on the flip side, it added an unexpected bonus. After parking, we changed and started our hike.

A hint of green stubbornly clings to life in the middle of July.

Our drive ends at the valley’s edge, where the gravel gets way too ambitious for our mini SUV.

The first uphill slope rewards you with great views.

The first stretch was a relatively flat valley road along a dry stream, which eventually turned into a trail. We then climbed a gradual slope with a few switchbacks; the ascent was quite manageable. At the end of the valley, we had two options: cut straight through a large boulder saddle or add a few hundred meters to follow the trail to another saddle. We opted for the latter.

We reach the lake bowl, framed by an impressive wall.

From there, we entered a greener landscape and enjoyed a flat walk before descending about 80 meters to a bowl with a lake at the far end. We didn’t reach the lake, unsure if it existed beyond the map. A few hundred meters before the lake, we turned sharply right into a gorge. Initially, we were concerned as navigating gorge bottoms can be tricky. However, the trail was relatively easy; we scrambled up the right side to avoid a small snow patch.

Interestingly, the trail sneaks from the bowl straight into a gorge.

At the gorge’s end, a small strip of snow clings on, so we scramble around it.

After the gorge, we reached a plateau. Rob headed toward Killi Tepe Peak 3057 bump on the left, while I traversed directly to another saddle. The landscape was fascinating. The next saddle marked the start of a new scene as we reached the ridge, which included some sharp rocks. This made the hike more engaging, with a few exposed steps adding to the challenge.

With numerous paths and a bit of scrambling on the slopes, we choose one.

We’re not alone; some fauna stands boldly on the rocks.

The summit in the background, which we thought was our target, turns out to be another half kilometer behind.

At what we initially thought was the summit, we climbed another 150 meters, only to discover that the true summit was still another half kilometer away. Despite this unexpected extra distance, the terrain was relatively flat, making the additional journey manageable. We pushed on, and soon we reached the summit cairn.

A few more patches of snow appear, but we never step on it during the hike.

The other side of the summit also looks like a reasonable route.

We temporarily mark the summit with ourselves, alongside the permanent cairn.

The views from the summit are excellent, with clear visibility and no mist.

At the summit, we took in the breathtaking views and enjoyed some well-deserved snacks. Rob used his handheld device to scan the surrounding peaks and confirmed that we were indeed the highest in the area. The moment felt rewarding as the stunning panorama and our achievement sank in. After a short break, we retraced our steps, choosing a few shortcuts to bypass the ridge scrambling. Two hours later, we were back at the car. The hike proved to be both interesting and memorable, likely the highlight of our trip.

Rob traverses some rocks and heads down into the gorge.

The trail on the way down is close to the car.

We drive back through “Lonely Tree Valley,” a name we gave because we saw only one tree—evidence is in the cover photo.

Late afternoon colors are always mesmerizing.

Here, practicality meets nature with a cave converted into a garage.

We headed back to Gaziantep, where I have a flight home scheduled for tomorrow. Rob, meanwhile, will climb a few more peaks in Turkey. We’ll meet again soon in Mongolia to tackle the peaks we missed last year. Our next adventure will be the modest bump of Bayanzürkh Hairhan, near Ulaanbaatar, and I’m eagerly looking forward to it.

Killi Tepe	3075 m altitude	1547 m prominence 175.99 km isolation
Ranges	Anatolia - Central Anatolia
Countries/regions	Turkey - Kahraman Maras
Distance	7.50 km up	7.00 km down
Elevation	1152 m gain	1152 m loss
Time	3h20 up 0h20 other	2h20 down 6h00 total
Trailhead	2122 m altitude	38.0763760, 37.4890790
Route	We approach the peak from the north, driving on a reasonably good road up to an altitude of 2122 meters. The road continues for about half a kilometer but turns into loose gravel, making it challenging for our vehicle. We start walking from there. The hike begins along a dry, rocky stream, then ascends a steeper slope leading to a boulder notch. We navigate around the notch and veer right past a small peak. We traverse grassy fields with a gradual ascent, and just before reaching the lake, we turn right into the gorge. The trail alternates between the gorge’s sides and bottom, with a snow band on the upper side that we bypass by scrambling over rocks on the right. After crossing a few grassy fields, we enjoy a pleasant ridge walk, followed by a 40-meter descent and a steeper slope to the summit plateau. From the plateau edge, we trek another half kilometer to the unmarked summit. On the descent, we take a shortcut through grassy fields to avoid the ridge walk. The rest of the return follows the ascent route
Difficulties	The last kilometer to the trailhead requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. There is some exposed scrambling on the final ridge, but it can be avoided.
Links	GPX trail