Evantai Waterfall (Cascada Evantai)

Evantai Waterfall (Cascada Evantai, «the Fan») lies in the Galbena Gorge (Cheile Galbenei) in the Bihor Mountains, inside Apuseni Natural Park in Bihor County. According to the Romanian Wikipedia it is halfway between the entrance to the gorge and the karst spring Izbucul Galbenei.

Above the waterfall the Galbena river flows underground, and the water comes to the surface straight from a cave mouth and then spreads over the rock like a fan — hence the name. Sources differ on the height: the Romanian Wikipedia gives about 7 m, the Munții Noștri guide about 10 m.

What to see

The water cut the gorge in limestone; the stream disappears into the rock and reappears. On the same route are the ice cave Ghețarul Focul Viu, where ice formations are seen from a wooden balcony, the protected meadow Poiana Florilor, the Borțig pothole and the karst complex Cetățile Ponorului.

The spring Izbucul Galbenei itself is the place where the water that went underground at Cetățile Ponorului comes out again and gives rise to the Galbena river with its blue-green water.

How to get there

The waterfall is reached on the «yellow dot» circuit from the Padiș tourist complex (route 17MN05 in the Munții Noștri guide): 17.8 km, 9.5–10 hours, more than 1,300 m of ascent, difficult. The trail crosses the Glăvoi meadow, passes the Focul Viu ice cave and Poiana Florilor and descends to the forest road in the Galbena valley.

The gorge is passed at low water — either wading or holding the cables and staples fixed in the rock; beyond the waterfall there is one more section with cables. Those who prefer to avoid the gorge can bypass it from Poiana Florilor on the branch marked PGD straight to the Izbucul Galbenei spring.

Season and safety

Munții Noștri notes that the route is impassable in winter and not recommended in rain, because the rock is slippery and the cables can be demanding. You need shoes with a good sole, a supply of water and a full day of light. At high water take the bypass.

Bears live in the Romanian Carpathians: stay on the marked path, talk as you walk and leave no food or litter; near sheepfolds do not run from the shepherd dogs — stop and calmly walk around the flock. Mountain rescue (Salvamont): national dispatch 0SALVAMONT — 0725 826 668 or 112; the service's advice for hikers is at salvamontromania.ro.

Photos: Raluca Paută, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Mihai.cosmin.pascariu, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; xulescu_g, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.