Hitit Yolu Walking and Cycling Trails
The Hitit Yolu Walking and Cycling Trails Project is a culture-and-nature trail network through the Hittites’ historic heartland; two of the 14 long-distance routes supported nationwide by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are located in Çorum. The project mapped GPS coordinates for its trails based on ancient migration and trade routes, and marked them with signage and waymarkers to international standards. Thanks to this careful marking work, the route has earned the right to carry the UNESCO logo and draws both Turkish and international nature lovers.
The Route Network
According to official figures from the Çorum Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism:
- 17 walking routes (11 short and 6 long-distance), totalling 380 km with alternative paths.
- Cycling routes totalling 405 km.
Most of the routes connect Hittite sites such as Hattusa, Alacahöyük and Šapinuwa across Boğazkale and Alaca districts.
Recommended Cycling Routes
| Route | Length |
|---|---|
| Alacahöyük–Çelebibağ–Boğazkale | 32 km |
| Alacahöyük–Karamahmut–İncesu Canyon | 82 km |
| Boğazkale–Emirler–Şapinuva | 103 km |
Day-Hike Routes
| Route | Length |
|---|---|
| Alacahöyük–Kalehisar–Mahmudiye | 7 km |
| Çatak–Sultanköy–Kızılhamza Pond | 15 km |
| Ibıkçam–Boğazkale–Hattusa | 9 km |
| İncesu–Canyon–Castle | 8 km |
| Karakaya–Alacahöyük | 9 km |
| Şapinuva–İncesu Canyon | 13 km |
Long-Distance Routes
| Route | Length |
|---|---|
| Alacahöyük–Boğazkale | 32 km |
| Alacahöyük–Çatak–Kızılhamza–Şapinuva | 65 km |
| Boğazkale–Çatak–Kızılhamza–Ortaköy | 84 km |
| Yazılıkaya–Boğazkale Pond–Hattusa | 23 km |
Hitit Yolu Youth Walk
The trail is also kept alive by an annual walking event. Per an announcement from the Çorum Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the 2nd Hitit Yolu Youth Walk covered a total route of 46 kilometres along the Hattusa–Alacahöyük–Kalehisar course, held from 16 to 19 May 2026. Participants walked different stages over the course of the event, with registration handled through an online form. The “2nd” in the event’s name indicates it was the second edition of a youth walk first held the previous year.
Source and Further Information
GPS tracks and interactive map links for the routes are published on the official page of the Çorum Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism; hitityolu.net is cited as a further resource.
Related Pages
For the main stops along Hitit Yolu, see: Hattusa, Alacahöyük, Šapinuwa, İncesu Canyon and Boğazkale history. Those looking for more hiking in the same region can also see our Kızılırmak Basin Gastronomy and Walking Trail page.