Kaymakchal, Granite summit in the Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria

Kaymakchal is a granite peak in the northern part of the Pirin Mountains, on the Polezhan secondary ridge, reaching 2,753 m. Four cirques meet at the summit: Gazey to the south, Yulen to the north-west, Perlesh to the north-east and Desilish to the east. A long saddle links it to Golyamata Strazha, the first needle of the Ushitsite ridge to the south-east.

The name comes from Turkish, showing centuries of exchange between Bulgarian and Ottoman cultures in this mountain region. This connection appears in the names and local stories tied to the Pirin area.

The peak and its slopes lie inside the Yulen Reserve, a protected area of Pirin National Park. The reserve takes its name from the Yulen cirque on the summit's north-west side. The name Kaymakchal itself comes from Turkish, and the peak is also called Izvorets in Bulgarian.

You can reach the summit through several unmarked routes from the cirques of Gazeyski, Yulen, or Desilishki near Pleshivoto Lake. These paths demand hiking experience and good navigation skills to follow safely.

A rocky formation called Ushitsite extends from the south-southeast side of the summit. This formation creates an interesting geological connection between this peak and the first spire of neighboring Golyama Strazha mountain.