Summer mountain trails in Retezat National Park. Tips for tourists who are going on the road VIDEO

Tourists who want to explore the Retezat National Park have at their disposal several mountain trails, accessible during the summer. The rangers offer some recommendations to those who set off on the mountain trails.

Most of the mountain trails in Retezat are accessible during the summer, but the mountain rescuers and rangers of the Retezat National Park recommend that tourists be properly equipped for mountain trips and inform themselves about the route they choose and the weather conditions.

Hiking tips

On the Facebook page of the national park, representatives of the reserve offered some advice to tourists who plan to venture on the trails of the Retezat Mountains.

Seasonality: Check the seasonality of the routes before you hit the road. You can discover more details about the routes in Retezat on the page retezat.ro or salvamonthd.ro.

Duration: Will the proposed route take a few hours or a few days? Is it a little colder than you thought? Always check the weather beforehand! Choose the necessary equipment, materials and food, depending on the season and weather conditions, anticipating special situations; Also take a map of the area.

Degree of difficulty: Will you be walking a short distance at a slow pace or a long distance at a faster pace on difficult terrain? when will you get back Don't forget to inform the lodger, the mountain rescuers or the neighbors about the route you want to follow and the approximate time of return.

Experience: Do you have a special skill set? Skills you've acquired over a very long career? For example, ask yourself if you need any special skills (eg rock climbing, bird spotting, walking on a spider web, etc.) to enjoy the view safely on the trail? Choose the routes according to the training of the least experienced member of the group.

Rules: Do not leave the path. Follow the markings and signs on the route. Respect the restrictions imposed by the protected areas you are in, informs Retezat National Park.

Mountain trails in Retezat

Four roads go up to the Retezat mountains in the Hațeg area, separated from the Hațeg – Petroșani and Haţeg – Caransebeş roads, and two others from the west of the Jiului Valley, crossed by the National Road 66A (video).

From here, tourists can climb the mountains on several marked routes. On the retezat.ro page, some details about their course are provided:

1. Cârnic – Galeș Lake – Saua Zănoagelor

Starting from the Carnic parking lot (video – the road to Carnic), the route follows the access road to Cabana Pietrele to the place called Curba Soacrei.

Before reaching the Pietrele complex, travelers pass the Lolaia Waterfall in Retezat (video).

From the cabin, leave the blue lane marking that goes up to Cabana Pietrele, crossing Valea Stânișoarai on the blue triangle marking for a few hundred meters, then cross Valea Pietrele, following the red triangle marking.

Traveling the route requires attention when crossing the four bridges on the route and can cause orientation problems in case of fog in the Tăurilor area of ​​Valea Rea at the entrance to Valea Rea.

2. Cârnic – Cabana Pietrele – Lake Stânișoara – Vf. Retezat – return

The route follows the access road to Cabana Pietrele (video – Pietrele Valley and Lolaia Waterfall from Retezat) marked with blue tape, then from here to the top follow the blue triangle marking.

It is a route of medium difficulty, up to about 2000 meters altitude, where Lake Stânișoara is located. From here, however, the slope increases considerably, the last climb up to Saua Retezatut, requiring attention.

Until the final climb to Vârful Retezat, the main ridge is followed, with views of the Gemenele Scientific Reserve on the western side, a strictly protected area, forbidden to tourists.

There are enough drinking water sources along the route, the last water source is above Lake Stânișoara. Cabana Pietrele offers meal and accommodation services in season.

3. Cârnic – Cabana Gențiana – Lacul Pietrele – Curmătura Bucurii

One of the most popular routes in the northern part of the park, due to its relatively average difficulty for tourists used to mountain hiking.

Starting from the Cârnic parking lot, the route follows the access road to Cabana Pietrele up to the place called Curba Soacrei. From here, leave the blue lane marker that goes up to Cabana Pietrele, crossing Valea Stânișoarai on the blue triangular marker to Cabana Gențiana.

The route requires attention when crossing the two bridges over Valea Stânișoara (under construction) and Valea Pietrele, upstream of Cabana Gențiana, as well as the steep ascent towards Curmătura Bucurii.

4. Râușor – Lake Ștevia – Saua Lolaia – Vf. Retezat

From the base of the Râușor slope (video), the route goes up the Șteviai Valley, red tape marking alternating steep areas with smoother areas to the edge of the spruce forest where the Condor Refuge is located, a shelter open all year round.

After exiting the alpine gap, at about 2000 meters altitude. you can deviate from the route for about 15 minutes to reach Lake Ștevia, located under the steep walls of Vârful Retezat.

5. Raușor – Ciurila Saddle – Lolaia Peak – Lolaia Saddle – Lake Ștevia – Răușor

From the base of the Râușor slope, the route climbs on a forest road to the upper part of the slope, then crosses the spruce forest, a small portion of granite slabs and reaches the Ciurila saddle through the juniper.

From here, leave the blue cross marking that descends to Cabana Pietrele through Valea Stânișoarai and follow Culmea Lolaia to the south, with the yellow band marking.

6. Gura Zlata Cabin – Lake Zănoaga

The route starts from DJ 685 on Valea Râu Mare (video), passes by the cabin of the Romanian Academy, crosses the Zlătuia stream on a fixed bridge and then goes up along the Turcului pa stream which crosses it on three bridges.

The path is in the immediate vicinity of the Gemenele Scientific Reserve and goes through the beech forest, then as the altitude increases, the mixed forest to finally be dominated by the spruce.

7. Lake Gura Apelor – Lake Zănoaga – return

It is the second ascent option to Lake Zănoaga and although it is shorter than the option starting from Gura Zlata and the altitude from which it starts is higher, the travel times are relatively equal due to the steep first part of the route.

It starts from the Gura Apelor entrance gate (video) of the Retezat National Park, follows the access road to Gura Bucurii only a few hundred meters and climbs in steep serpentines to the east, through the spruce forest, to its upper limit, gaining about 600m in altitude.

8. Lăpușnicul Mic – Gugu Refuge – Gugu Peak

The approved route starts from the Gura Apelor entrance of the Retezat National Park and can be traveled with a preferred vehicle with a high guard following for about four kilometers the access road to Gura Bucurii, then to the right for another four kilometers, the contour road of the Gura lake Waters, up to the confluence of the Lăpușnicul Mic valley (video).

Crossing Lăpusnicul Mic cannot be done by car, as the tube bridge is damaged.

From here it is crossed either by water or in dry periods over concrete tubes, this requiring great care. It continues on the contour road of the lake for about two kilometers, then the path goes up, for the first part a bit steeper, then easier, through the spruce forest on the Branu summit.

9. Gura Bucurii – Bucura Lake

Access is on the Gura Apelor – Gura Bucurii forest road of about 20 kilometers, recommended for vehicles with high clearance and accessible, depending on the weather, from mid-May to mid-November.

From Gura Bucurii cross the Pelegii Valley on the bridge to the Poiana Pelegii campsite and climb along the Bucuria Valley following the blue lane marked with a red cross.

You reach the alpine gap relatively quickly and after a few slope breaks specific to glacial valleys you reach Lake Bucura near the Salvamont refuge.

10. The lake circuit of the Bucura glacier complex

Access is via the Gura Apelor – Gura Bucurii forest road of about 20 kilometers, recommended for vehicles with high clearance and accessible, depending on the weather, from mid-May to mid-November.

From Gura Bucurii cross the Pelegii Valley on the bridge to the Poiana Pelegii campsite and climb along the Bucuria Valley following the blue lane marked with a red cross.

After exiting the alpine gap, continue towards Lake Lia following the red dot marking, then the trail climbs past Lakes Ana, Viorica and Florica, in the largest glacial complex in the Retezat National Park.

11. Gura Bucurii – Saua Plaiu Mic – Vf. Custura – Saua Custurii – Valea Pelegii

From Gura Bucurii follow the path marked with a blue band and a red cross that goes up to Plaiu Mic Saddle.

From here it climbs to the northeast following the red band ridge marking through juniper areas, then granite slabs, to the highest point of the route, Custura Peak, 2457 meters.

It descends on the northern ridge, following the yellow cross marking, passing over Fereastra Custurii, the intersection with the path that descends to Stâna de Râu and then to Saua Custurii. There are no water sources in the ridge areas, only in the first and last part of the ridge, in the Pelegii Valley.

12. Cheile Scorotei – Stâna Scorota – Saua Drăcșanu – Vf. Piatra Iorgovanului

The route starts from National Road 66A (video), crosses the Western Jiul, enters through the Scorotei Gorge, crosses the beech and mixed forest and reaches the exit from the forest at Stâna Scorota.

From here, leave the yellow dot marking and climb to the northwest on a pastoral path in the alpine hollow through Saua Drăcșanu, until the intersection with the main ridge route of the calcareous Retezat, marked with a red band.

Being a route located in a calcareous area, there are few water sources, the most important being at Stâna Scorota.

13. Cheile Butia – Buta Cabin – Piule Peak – Pleșa Peak – Butia Gorge

Starting from Cheile Butia (video), the path marked with the blue band and red cross climbs through the forest and several clearings and intersects the access road Câmpu lui Neag – Cabana Buta.

Follow this road to the cabin, then after a few hundred meters you reach the Salvamont refuge and the Buta campsite.

From here, continue towards Stâna Scorota on the yellow lane marking, cross the Buta Mică stream, after which the path climbs gently until the exit from the forest towards the steep Gurgan. The route climbs on grohotiş and among juniper trees in Saua Iepii (Scorota) and then to the highest point of the route, Piule Peak 2081 meters.

Trail travel requires care when crossing the ridge area, especially in rainy conditions when the limestone can be slippery. Water sources can be found at Buta Mică, Buta Hut, in the forest below Pleșa Peak.

14. Stâna de Râu – Tăul Tăpului – Closed Gates

The route starts from the end of the forest road Rău Bărbat. The section of forest road Hobita – Stâna de Râu can be covered in about an hour with vehicles with high clearance.

From the parking lot, you pass the stables and reach the clearing where camping is allowed, near the Salvamont refuge without permanent teams, but open to tourists. Cross the bridge and follow the blue dot marking to reach Tăul Țapului after about 2 hours, then cross sections of gravel in the ridge area at the south-western extremity of the Closed Gates.

The route requires caution when crossing the Closed Gates, the Doll's Wash, an area where steel cables are also installed, and the Doll's Rift.