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Cârțișoara – Bâlea Cascadă Hut

Start: Cârțișoara
Range: Făgăraș Mountains
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12 kmLength
749 mAscent
3 mDescent
1 242 mMax. altitude
495 mMin. altitude

Trail map

Route, springs and shelters: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · elevation: Copernicus DEM © DLR e.V., © Airbus DS · Data & licences

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About the trail

Route Cârțișoara – Bâlea Cascadă Hut. Has blue marking (local route). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Marked local tourist route. The marking is blue, the sign is a triangle on a white background. The length of the route is 12 km. Location: mountain massif – Făgăraș, Romania. The Făgăraș Ridge is not a national park, but a Natura 2000 protected area "Munții Făgăraș" (ROSCI0122) with its own regulations: walk only on marked paths and take your trash with you.

At a glance

A one-day route of 12 km with 749 m of ascent from Cârțișoara to Bâlea Cascadă Hut. Estimated walking time: about 4 h, not counting stops. Difficulty: moderate. Waymarking: blue.

Route stages

  1. 0–7 kmGentle ups and downs at 490–650 m
  2. 7–12 kmClimb of 590 m (up to 1,238 m)

Steepest kilometre: km 7–8, a climb of 300 m (≈30%).

Water and overnight stays

A spring near the trail: at km 9. There are no springs between km 0 and 9 — carry at least 2 l of water.

When to go

Best time: May to October. In winter deep snow is possible, so experience and winter gear are needed.

Getting there

Start: Cârțișoara. This is a one-way route: the finish is 10 km from the start in a straight line, so plan your way back in advance.

Directions to the start in Google Maps

FAQ

How long does the route take?
Estimated walking time: about 4 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
A spring near the trail: at km 9. There are no springs between km 0 and 9 — carry at least 2 l of water.

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Drinking water (Cârțișoara), 1 067 mkm 8.9 from the start · 70 m off the path · Not verified · 1 067 m
  2. Drinking water (Cârțișoara), 1 096 mkm 9.4 from the start · Not verified · 1 096 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

Walk this route in 3DReal terrain, satellite map, Carpathian forests Play

Wildlife along the route

All
Silver firSilver firAbies albaThe third main tree of the Carpathian forests alongside beech and spruce. The needles are flat with white stripes, and the cones stand upright on the branches.
Common ravenCommon ravenCorvus coraxThe largest passerine bird, whose deep 'caw-caw' echoes over the polonynas and peaks of the Carpathians.
Common buzzardCommon buzzardButeo buteoThe most numerous bird of prey in Ukraine. It circles over the polonynas and meadows with a mournful 'ki-ya' and hunts for voles.
Green alderGreen alderAlnus alnobetulaCreeping shrub of the subalpine zone. Together with juniper, it forms krivolissya above the tree line, but prefers wetter and shadier slopes.
Viviparous lizardViviparous lizardZootoca viviparaA small lizard that gives birth to live young and therefore lives even on the cold polonynas of the Carpathians.
Beautiful demoiselleRed Data Book of UkraineBeautiful demoiselleCalopteryx virgoA dragonfly with dark blue shiny wings that lives only near clean flowing waters. Red Data Book of Ukraine: vulnerable species.

Based on naturalists’ records nearby (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude, habitat and season. Sightings are not guaranteed.

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