The canyon, dubbed Saklıkapı, or hidden door, is located in Elazığ's Baskil district. Stretching out over 2.5 kilometers (1.55 miles) long, the canyon is up to 200 meters (656 feet) deep, with rich flora and fauna.
Fethi Ak, the local who discovered the canyon, expressed his wonderment, saying: "We used to see such places in documentaries, but it turns out that we've had it near us all this time.
"I have never imagined that there would be such a great place in our region, I'm so delighted."
Taner Sengun, a geologist at Fırat University, said discovery of the canyon will boost tourism in Elazığ and Turkey overall.