Karkas mountain

Overview

Karkas mountain chain is located in Central Iran. It ranges from Kashan to Ardestan over more than 100 km and is mainly composed of igneous (plutonic and volcanic), pyroclastic and somewhat sedimentary Tertiary rocks. In the central part, this mountain chain consists of a Precambrian-Paleozoic basement.
The highest peak of the Karkas Mountains is 3895m which is close to Natanz.
Although in Persian Karkas means vulture, it is possible that the name of this mountain chain is derived from the settlement activity of ancient Kassites in the area, since in the ancient Assyrian language Kar-Kassi means “town or land of the Kassites” (modified interpretation after Roman Ghirshman, 1954).

Geographical location of Karkas Peak

Karks Peak is part of the central mountain ranges of Iran in Isfahan province and is the most important mountain in Natanz (Isfahan), which is located in the northwest of Kashan and in the southeast of Natanz, east of Borkhar and Meymeh and west of Ardestan.

Due to their high altitude, the peaks of the Karkas mountain range are covered with snow for almost half of the year due to their high altitude, and the main source is several springs, including Kamu spring, Gazerto spring and Chornaki spring, which flow on the slopes of this mountain.

 

The annual rainfall is between 200 to 300 mm, which makes this mountain an arid to semi-arid region. From the Karkas Mountains originate rivers that are often nothing more than dry rivers. The rivers of the region are mostly dried up by early July.

 

The Karkas Mountain is the result of lava flowing out of cracks in the earth’s surface. The area covered by Karks Mountain in Isfahan province is 300 thousand hectares, of which 98 thousand hectares have been selected and declared as a no-hunting area.

Vegetation and fauna of the Karkas mountain

The geographical location and living conditions of the Karkas mountain are such that it is possible to have a variety of wild animals including reptiles, birds and mammals such as goats, wild rams and sheep, deer, boars (wild boar), wolves, jackals, foxes, hyenas, cats. There are wild leopards, leopards, pheasants (a kind of rat that lives in the highlands) and so on.

A variety of snakes are found on the slopes of this mountain and adjacent plains, including poisonous parsley snakes and less dangerous double snakes.

 

Due to the existence of sufficient water resources as well as the temperate climate and the growth of various rangeland, ornamental and commercial plants, Karkas slopes are among the relatively good rangelands of the region and the country. The vegetation of Karkass mostly consists of shrubs (types of weeds, artichokes, astragalus, medicinal plants, etc.) and shrubs that are scattered.

The name of the Karkas peak

In Persian Karkas means vultures  .The reason for naming the Karkas peak is due to the presence of small black vulture that fly over its slope like a prey. Hamdollah Mostofi quotes about this mountain as saying that Karkas is a very high peak so that vultures can not fly over it.

Karkas peak weather forecast

Climbing Karkas Peak is possible in four seasons. Only in winter, there is very cold in this area and climbing this peak requires winter equipment.

https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Karkas/forecasts/3895

Paths to climb Karkas Peak

1. Southern route of Karks Peak (Keshe village): Natanz-Isfahan road, Torqorud village is 25 km from Natanz, Kesheh village is 5 km from Torqorud / The average climb time from this route is 5 hours.
2. East route of Karks Peak (Tameh village): Natanz, Tameh village 4 km west of Natanz, Drash Gardens in the west of the village, Pakdar Valley in the south of the gardens / The average climb time from this route is 6 to 7 hours.
3. Northeast route of Karkas peak (Ureh village): Natanz-Kashan road, Imamzadeh of Sultan Gorabad, Ureh village / average climb time from this route is 7 hours.
4. Northwest route of Karks Peak (Bidhand village): 18 km of old Natanz-Kashan road, Hanjan bridge, after Hanjan, Chimeh and Lujar villages, Bidhand village / The average climb time from this route is about 5 hours. The best and most complete view of Karkas Peak from Bidhand village is visible and the shortest time to climb the peak from the origin of Bidhand village is possible.

 

The most common way to climb Karkas Peak is the southern route from Keshe village.

Climb to the summit of Karkas

• South route: Keshe village, average climb time 5 hours
• East route: Tameh village, average climb time 6 hours
• Northeast route: Ureh village, average climb time 7 hours
• Northwest route: Bidhand village, average climb time 5 hours
• Line of the head: The path of Cheshmeh Laesha through the spring of Isfahanis
• Headline: The path of the herd from the path of Tameh

South route to climb Karkas Peak from Keshe village

This route starts from Torqorud, which is 25 km away from Natanz. Torqorud is also located on the Natanz-Isfahan road and is 5 km away from Keshe village, which is the last settlement on the route.

From Kasheh, we go to the spring of the Isfahanis, which is adjacent to a tourist center (formerly a poultry farm), and after the spring, we go north on the Malro road, to reach the Liasen spring, where the slope of the road is short.

One of the characteristics of this spring is walnut trees, from here on the path becomes steep. On the way, we pass a waterfall and after passing this waterfall, the shelter appears. Karkas Shelter was built in 2005 by the Mountaineering Board of Isfahan Province and is the only shelter in the Karkas area.

Karkas shelter

 

The Karkas Shelter consists of three rooms and a large hall that can accommodate 60 climbers. Clean rooms, a fountain next to the shelter and a toilet are other facilities of the Karkas Shelter. The big and beautiful Karkas shelter was opened in 2005.

The person in charge of the Karkas shelter is Mr. Mohammad Houzmahi, a physical education graduate of the University of Isfahan, who is present from Wednesday afternoon to Friday night.

You can customize your own trip to Karkas peak with us here: 

customize your trip to Karkas with Persiatrek

 

In order to climb on other days of the week and use the shelter, the necessary coordination must be done with the mountaineering delegation of Isfahan province. Of course, the old metal Karkas shelter, a little higher than the new shelter, is still usable.

East route to climb Karkas Peak from Tameh village

This route starts from Natanz and we have to go to Sara village in the west of Natanz next to Saraban Hotel. This road is about 4 km from Tameh to the gardens in the west of the village called Darash.

There are two valleys here, one is Papul which is located along the gardens of the village and at the end of which there is a beautiful waterfall and the other is called Pakdar which is in the south of the gardens and the path starts from this valley which we have to go to its neck and then from Move west to the west of the mountain.

The correct feature of this route is a single tall poplar tree that we pass by and then pass through the side valleys to reach long valleys that lead to the summit. This route is very beautiful. In this valley, water flows up to an hour before the peak, so there are several waterfalls along the way.

It should be noted that the waters of other valleys also join this valley, which also shows that the route is correct. The last parts of this valley become rocky, which must be bypassed to reach the summit. The time traveled on this route is 6 to 7 hours.

Northeast route to climb Karkas peak from Ureh village

After leaving Natanz, I will reach the square that has the sign of Ureh village. We must continue the route to Kashan to reach the new road that has the sign of Imamzadeh Sultan Gorabad, this road passes over the village of Ureh.

It is about 5 km to the village of Ureh, which we can go to the Imamzadeh of Sultan Gorabad by private cars, then we continue the route from the bottom of the Imamzadeh.

We continue the main valley, which always has more water flow. After entering the valley, about 30 minutes later, we pass the waterfall and at the end we will reach a steep sandy slope that leads to the peak. This route is also one of the beautiful routes to climb the peak of Karkas, which is about 6 hours on average.

Northwest route to climb the peak of Karks from Bidhand village

To reach Bidhand village, after 18 km from the old Natanz-Kashan road, we reach Hanjan bridge. Bidehand – Freeze arrives.

The road on the left leads to Bidhand. This road is asphalt to Chimeh village. There is a shrine in Bidhand that is suitable for spending the night. We go south from the village to reach the end of the forest.

The ascent starts from this place. Following the Malraux route along the water, we reach two crossings that have been built next to a stone cage, and by continuing the valley on the left and the Malraux route to the south, we will proceed to the source of the water.

Then, climbing from the eastern slope of the valley to the southeast, we continue our way to reach the rock, which must be crossed and move to the southeast again to reach the peak. The average climb time from this route is about 5 hours.