Hiking in Pădurea Craiului mountains
Discover at your step, gorges and karst plateaus on marked trails and themed trails
Padurea Craiului is truly a hiking paradise. From trails for beginners and families with children, to trekking trails for those experienced and eager to reach tall cliffs, the marked trails will take you along spectacular landscapes. You don’t have to be trained or have good physical condition, because you can discover Pădurea Craiului slowly, on foot, enjoying the peace and fresh air!
If you are a fan of ecotourism, you can discover through the scattered hamlets on the hills, the local communities that still preserve ancient customs and traditions. For those who want to test both their mind and body for an extra adventure and challenge in Pădurea Craiului, there are marked trails that also require climbing. Discover Padurea Craiului on foot in all its uniqueness and beauty!
Hiking trails
Boiului Valley circuit
A 9 kilometer long trail, of medium difficulty, which can be covered in about 4 hours, which offers hikers the image of the beautiful Boiului Waterfall and also some viewpoints with wide panoramas over the Crişului Repede Valley.
The yellow circuit of the Crisului Repede Gorge
A very pleasant route, with a length of 7 kilometers, easy to travel in about 4 hours. Walking on the yellow dot marking, tourists can reach three viewpoints and visit three caves. The itinerary starts from the old Peştera Chalet. After crossing the concrete bridge that crosses the waters of Crişul Repede, we reach the Peştera strain station.
THE RIGHT BANK CIRCUIT OF THE CRISULUI REPEDE GORGE
Marked with a blue dot, this is a circuit-type route, 9 kilometers long, which can be covered in about 4.5 hours, accessible all year round, except during periods with icy snow. The route starts from the old Peştera chalet.
The Circuit Of The Left Bank Of Crisului Repede Gorge
An ideal route to live, short and intense, the contact with nature. The adventure starts from the old Peştera chalet, located in the heart of the Crisului Repede Gorge. Below the left bank, we travel downstream, through the forest, for a few hundred meters.
Şuncuiuş – Batranului cave
A “connecting” route, without difficult parts, but with enchanting landscapes. The 8 kilometers of this itinerary marked with a blue cross can be covered in about 4 hours. Tourists must also take into account that, once they reach their destination, they have to make a detour or they can ensure their “exit from the route” by descending to the former “Peştera” chalet, from Vadu Crişului.
“Vadu Crisului Cave” Chalet – Mişidului Valley – Moanei Cave
The route is one with a low degree of difficulty, accessible for families. As a particularity, the route can be approached from the Şuncuiuş railway station. In this way, the first part of the itinerary can be avoided. The total length of the route is 12 kilometers and it can be covered in about 4 hours.
“Vadu Crisului Cave” Cabin – Şuncuiuş
Marked with a red triangle, the route is 7 kilometers long and can be covered in less than four hours. Like most of the routes in the gorge, it starts next to the old “Peştera” chalet, more and more degraded with each passing year. Here tourists cannot miss the waterfall and the cave from Vadu Crişului.
“Vadu Crişului Cave” Cabin – Bătrânului Cave
A connecting route, measuring 8 kilometers which can be covered in about 3.5 hours, double if you do the return route. The route, marked with a blue stripe, should not pose any problems for tourists with a minimal hiking experience.
Cuților Gorge Circuit
The Cuţilor Gorge circuit is a hiking route no longer than 3 kilometers, accessible all year round and easy to walk. In no more than two hours, this route offers hikers the view of rocky cliffs and several caves.
Farcu cave – Roșiei spring
An easy hiking route, open all year round, which can be covered in about an hour. It starts from the parking lot of the Crystal Cave from the Farcu mine.
The Cave with Crystals from the Farcu Mine – Stanu Cârnului viewpoint
A beautiful hiking route, due to the spectacular panorama it offers over the Lazurilor Valley, short and accessible, but also educational, due to its thematic path character, focused on the description of wildlife and mining activities in the area.
Lazurilor Gorges circuit
The Lazurilor Gorges circuit is a hiking route marked with a blue dot that can be covered in about three hours. It is not recommended in the cold season because it crosses the Lazurilor valley.
Leşu Lake tail – Stana de Vale
A more novel alternative of the old hiking route that connected the “Baraj Leşu” motel and the resort of Stâna de Vale, with the same marking, blue stripe. The new trail of this mountain itinerary starts from the center of the Coada Lacului vacation village.
Bulz circuit
A route designed for a day spent in the saddle of a bicycle, which can also become a tourist attraction for hikers. The recommended hiking area of the route starts near the border between Bihor and Cluj counties, at almost 1,000 meters altitude, and offers tourists some of the most beautiful landscapes of Pădurea Craiului
Meziad cave – Stâna de Vale
The route of Meziad – Stâna de Vale, marked with a blue triangle, is quite difficult, taking into account the fact that it climbs over 1,000 meters difference in level, its highest point being in the vicinity of the Gaudeamus Chalet – Stâna de Vale.
Meziad Chalet – Leșu Dam
Marked with a blue triangle, the route of the Meziad chalet – Baraj Leşu motel, through the Coada Lacului holiday village, is 23 kilometers long. Of these, the last 11 km are on the road.
Meziad chalet – Poiana Remeţi village – over the Stangului ridge
Marked with a red triangle, the trail of the Meziad chalet – Baraj Leşu motel is not exactly within everyone’s reach. It has 19 kilometers in lenght. If the weather is favorable, the whole route can be covered in 6-7 hours.