Stroll the 1.7-km wooden “Health Path,” picnic by crystalline springs and explore a 1,500-year-old site — Alangdareh is the Golestan escape you didn’t know you needed.
Alangdareh Forest Park in Golestan Province is one of Iran’s most pristine natural destinations, attracting many tourists and nature lovers each year. Located about 5 km southwest of Gorgan and near the Nahar Khoran Forest Park, Alangdareh covers roughly 185 hectares. With untouched green landscapes, towering trees, springs and streams of crystal water, and a pleasantly cool climate, it is an ideal destination for anyone who loves nature. If you want to learn more before visiting, travel magazine Alibaba has the details below.
Field | Information |
|---|---|
Location | Alangdareh Forest Park, ~5 km SW of Gorgan, Golestan Province, Iran |
Area | ~185 hectares |
Highlights | 1,700-m wooden “Health Path”, Qalashi stream and springs, historical site (~1,500 years) |
Activities | Walking, cycling, picnicking, camping, photography, river visits, light sports |
Facilities | Gazebos, food stalls, restrooms, parking, playgrounds, prayer room, electricity |
Best seasons | All year; autumn especially scenic for foliage colours |
The “Health Path” — a 1,700-metre wooden boardwalk that winds through dense trees — is one of the park’s most attractive features. The raised, ornamental wooden path sometimes gives the sensation of walking on a wooden bridge and creates a dreamy route perfect for walks, relaxed time outdoors, and photography. Besides the boardwalk, an asphalt, one-way road runs through the forest where you can walk or cycle; on even-numbered days vehicle traffic is prohibited from 06:00 to 18:00, allowing safe pedestrian and cycling use.
Visitors who arrive by private car on even days must leave vehicles in designated parking outside the forest area. Electric vehicles provided by the park are available for internal transit. The park also offers sports facilities for ball games (badminton, volleyball), children’s play areas and dedicated spaces for yoga. Benches, gazebos and resting spots are scattered throughout, so you can sit and relax whenever you wish.
Many visitors come primarily to picnic and spend a peaceful day with family or friends. The park provides numerous gazebos, rest areas, food stalls and restrooms, making it suitable for camping and day trips. You can barbecue, brew charcoal tea, and enjoy it beside streams while listening to the natural soundtrack of running water and birdsong.
The surrounding dense trees keep the park several degrees (sometimes up to around 10 °C) cooler than nearby areas, so if you visit in the cooler months bring warm clothing for afternoons and nights. The park includes amenities to support overnight stays: restrooms, drinking fountains, food kiosks, guard buildings, police posts, designated camping gazebos, a prayer room, playgrounds, mains electricity, sports pitches and a forestry station — making overnight plans feasible and comfortable.
After walking and exercise, head to the Qalashi river and nearby springs. The river runs from the park’s south to its north and, with three abundant springs, offers clear water ideal for sitting, listening to the flow and enjoying the scenery. While in Alangdareh, visit the small village inside the forest — a charming settlement that often delights visitors.
Alangdareh is not only natural beauty: the park includes a historic area reportedly over 1,500 years old, which appeals to visitors interested in ancient and archaeological sites.
Nature photographers will find sights to shoot in every season. Many visitors say autumn in Alangdareh is incomparable — the forest canopy turns red, orange and yellow and a misty, damp atmosphere enhances the scenery. Nevertheless, the park provides photogenic scenes year-round.
Beyond Alangdareh itself you can visit nearby attractions such as Nahar Khoran forest, the historic village of Ziarat in the highlands (with hot springs, waterfalls and handicrafts), and Toushan Lake, which is not far from Alangdareh.
We live in a time when nature is especially vulnerable. Camping and picnics can harm natural areas if visitors are careless. Simple precautions reduce damage: avoid single-use plastic and aluminum, favour reusable tableware, carry a trash bag to take your litter home, do not light fires near trees or shrubs (use fallen branches that need not be snapped), and never dispose of detergents, plastics or other waste in rivers or springs.
Tip |
|---|
Visit on even days to enjoy the asphalt forest road car-free (06:00–18:00) for safe walking and cycling. |
Bring warm clothing for afternoons and nights — the park can be several degrees cooler than surrounding areas. |
Use designated gazebos and cooking areas; avoid lighting fires near living trees and don’t break branches. |
Take a reusable bag for rubbish and avoid single-use plastics to protect the park’s ecosystem. |
Wear comfortable walking shoes for the 1,700-metre wooden Health Path and longer forest trails. |
Combine Alangdareh with nearby attractions (Nahar Khoran, Ziarat village, Toushan Lake) for a fuller trip. |
