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Lake Bucura  — Retezat Peak, via Bucura Peak

Start: Râușor · 6.7 km
Range: Retezat Mountains
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3.8 kmLength
586 mAscent
177 mDescent
2 482 mMax. altitude
2 073 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 Lake Bucura – Bucura Peak – Retezat Peak. Has yellow marking (local route). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Marked local tourist route. The marking is yellow, the sign is a vertical stripe on a white background. The length of the route is 3.8 km. Location: mountain range – Retezat, Romania. The route passes through Retezat National Park. Entrance to the park is paid: according to the administration, the ticket costs 10 lei and is valid for 7 days (it can be purchased at bilete.retezat.ro). Walking is allowed only on marked trails, open fires are prohibited, and dogs must be kept on a leash.

At a glance

A short route of 3.8 km with 586 m of ascent from Lake Bucura to Retezat Peak. Estimated walking time: about 2 h, not counting stops. Difficulty: hard. Waymarking: yellow.

How we estimate walking time

By Naismith's rule, used by mountain clubs and guidebooks: an average hiker walks 4 km an hour on the flat and needs one more hour for every 600 m of ascent. For this trail: 3.8 km ÷ 4 = 1 h + 586 m ÷ 600 = 1 h, about 2 h of walking in total.

  • Breaks, snacks and photos: add 20–30 %.
  • A heavy pack, children, snow, a wet path or windfall add more; a long steep descent also takes time, especially for the knees.
  • The height of the Carpathians (up to 2,655 m) hardly changes the pace — on the ridges wind, fog and weather slow you down.
  • Limits: up to 9 h is one day; 9–13 h is a very long day or two; over 13 h means several days with overnight stays.

Route stages

  1. 0–4 kmAlong the ridge at 2,090–2,470 m, past Bucura

Steepest kilometre: km 0.5–1.5, a climb of 230 m (≈23%), near Umărul Porții.

Water and overnight stays

A spring near the trail: at km 0.5.

When to go

Best time: June to September. In winter only for experienced hikers with proper gear: avalanche danger is possible. About 4 km of the route runs above 1,500 m, where the weather changes quickly — check the forecast.

Getting there

Start: Lake Bucura. This is a one-way route: the finish is 3 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 2 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
A spring near the trail: at km 0.5.

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Spring below Bucura Ikm 0.6 from the start · 240 m off the path · Not verified · 2 094 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

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