Jeldar Canyon

Jeldar Canyon is one of the natural, technical and little-touched routes in the forested highlands of Bandar-e Gaz County in Golestan Province, located in the area of Estevan village. The canyon has formed amid the dense, steep forests of northern Iran and is known as one of the region's adventurous, specialist nature-tourism routes. Its location in the forested highlands of Bandar-e Gaz gives the canyon a mix of thick forest, rock walls and seasonal streams, creating a completely natural and pristine environment. Because of its technical structure and difficult routes, Jeldar Canyon attracts mainly professional canyoning groups.

The canyon has about 10 natural, technical rappels, and getting through it requires canyoning skills and specialist equipment. The Jeldar Canyon route has three main sections: about an hour and a half of hiking before entering the canyon, 4 to 5 hours of travel inside the canyon, and about 45 minutes of exit trail after the canyon ends. Combining this long route with numerous rappels makes for a truly adventurous and challenging experience for experienced nature travellers. The rock walls, dense forest cover and streams inside the canyon make it one of the most distinctive natural routes in Bandar-e Gaz.

To reach Jeldar Canyon, head to Bandar-e Gaz County and then to Estevan village in the forested highlands of the area. The access route to the start of the canyon passes along village roads and then forest tracks, after which the main trek begins. The best time to visit is spring and early summer, when the water flow is more suitable and forest conditions are more stable. Because of its technical nature and potential hazards, a visit to Jeldar Canyon is recommended only for trained and well-equipped people. Full observance of safety principles, not damaging the canyon's natural bed and protecting the environment are essential requirements on this route.