Kahkadeh Valley

Kahkadeh Valley is one of the unspoiled natural attractions of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. It lies 15 kilometres from the Khersan Dam, 55 kilometres from the city of Lordegan and about 210 kilometres from Shahrekord, the provincial capital. The steep slopes and rugged terrain along the route have created numerous waterfalls along the valley, which greatly add to its natural beauty and appeal.

The vegetation of the area is rich and highly varied, with oak trees making up about 90 percent of it. Other species found here include mountain cypress, Montpellier maple (kikam), wild almond, wild fig, poplar, Persian yellowwood (zarrin-derakht), borage, karde, wild celery, dombelan, mountain tea, salep orchid, licorice and many other medicinal and edible plants. This diversity makes Kahkadeh Valley a paradise for botany enthusiasts and nature lovers. The wildlife of the area is also impressive. Animals such as hedgehogs, wildcats, wild boars, mouflon, wild goats (pazan), rams, and bears live here, along with birds such as see-see partridges, chukar partridges, nightingales, falcons, woodpeckers, crows, sparrows, hawks and hoopoes. The presence of these species shows how pristine the ecosystem of Kahkadeh Valley is. A trip to this valley is a unique opportunity to experience unspoiled nature and to see rare displays of the region's plant and animal life.

To get there, you usually drive along a dirt road as far as the Imamzadeh Seyyed Mahmoud shrine in an SUV or a Nissan pickup. From there you must continue on foot, and even do some canyoneering, to reach the heart of the valley. Covering the whole route takes about 4 to 8 hours. The best time to visit is spring and summer, when the forest is lush and the waterfalls have a good flow of water.