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Lisa  — Făgăraș main ridge, via Cațaveiu Refuge

Start: Lisa
Range: Făgăraș Mountains
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19.7 kmLength
1 803 mAscent
29 mDescent
2 343 mMax. altitude
546 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 Lisa – Cațaveiu Refuge – Făgăraș main ridge. Has blue marking (local route). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Marked local tourist route. The marking is blue, the sign is a circle on a white background. The length of the route is 19.7 km. Location: mountain massif – Făgăraș, Romania. 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 19.7 km with 1,803 m of ascent from Lisa to Făgăraș main ridge. Estimated walking time: about 8 h, not counting stops. Difficulty: hard. Waymarking: blue.

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: 19.7 km ÷ 4 = 4.9 h + 1,803 m ÷ 600 = 3 h, about 8 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. 0–17 kmClimb of 1,670 m (up to 2,222 m)
  2. 17–20 kmAlong the ridge at 2,220–2,330 m

Steepest kilometre: km 9–10, a climb of 220 m (≈22%).

Water and overnight stays

A spring near the trail: at km 14. There are no springs between km 0 and 14 — carry at least 3 l of water.

When to go

Best time: June to September. In winter only for experienced hikers with proper gear: avalanche danger is possible. About 7 km of the route runs above 1,500 m, where the weather changes quickly — check the forecast.

Getting there

Start: Lisa. This is a one-way route: the finish is 13 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 8 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
A spring near the trail: at km 14. There are no springs between km 0 and 14 — carry at least 3 l of water.

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Spring (Stațiunea Climaterică Sâmbăta)km 14.2 from the start · Not verified · 1 777 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

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

Wildlife along the route

All
Yarrowin seasonIn season nowYarrowAchillea millefoliumWhite clusters of small flower heads and feathery leaves on every meadow — from the village to the polonyna. Blooms from June to September.
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.
Alpine marmotAlpine marmotMarmota marmotaThe Alpine marmot is an endemic species of the Tatra Mountains that warns of danger with its whistle. There is no natural population in the Ukrainian Carpathians.
Fire salamanderRed Data Book of UkraineFire salamanderSalamandra salamandraThe black salamander with yellow spots emerges in the beech forests of the Carpathians after rain. It is a vulnerable species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.
Small tortoiseshellSmall tortoiseshellAglais urticaeA reddish butterfly with black and yellow spots and blue dots along the edges of its wings. It flies from villages to polonynas and hibernates in attics.

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

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