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Lunca Berhina – Lake Bucura

Range: Retezat Mountains
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9.7 kmLength
1 099 mAscent
271 mDescent
2 230 mMax. altitude
1 237 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 Lunca Berhina – Lake Bucura. Has yellow marking (local route). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Marked local tourist route. The marking is yellow, the sign is a circle on a white background. The length of the route is 9.7 km. Location: mountain massif – Retezat, Romania. The route passes through Retezat National Park. Visiting 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 one-day route of 9.7 km with 1,099 m of ascent from Lunca Berhina to Lake Bucura. Estimated walking time: about 4 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: 9.7 km ÷ 4 = 2.4 h + 1,099 m ÷ 600 = 1.8 h, about 4 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. 0–7.5 kmClimb of 960 m (up to 2,226 m)
  2. 7.5–9 kmDescent of 260 m (down to 1,962 m)
  3. 9–9.5 kmAlong the ridge at 1,950–2,050 m

Steepest kilometre: km 0–1, a climb of 280 m (≈28%).

Water and overnight stays

Springs near the trail: at km 1.5, 6 and 8.5.

When to go

Best time: June to September. In winter only for experienced hikers with proper gear: avalanche danger is possible. About 9 km of the route runs above 1,500 m, where the weather changes quickly — check the forecast.

Getting there

Start: Lunca Berhina. This is a one-way route: the finish is 8 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?
Springs near the trail: at km 1.5, 6 and 8.5.

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Spring, 1 656 mkm 1.7 from the start · Not verified · 1 656 m
  2. Spring below La Clincekm 6.2 from the start · 40 m off the path · Not verified · 2 044 m
  3. Spring below Vârful lui Stirb (north slope)km 8.7 from the start · Not verified · 1 997 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

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

Wildlife along the route

All
Mountain pineMountain pinePinus mugoMountain pine is a sprawling pine that forms impenetrable krummholz above the tree line. It is impossible to pass through it off the trail.
Spotted nutcrackerIn season nowSpotted nutcrackerNucifraga caryocatactesA brown bird with white spots of the spruce forests that hides thousands of nuts and seeds of the cedar pine — and thus plants the forest.
White-throated dipperIn season nowWhite-throated dipperCinclus cinclusA bird of mountain streams with a white 'bib' that dives and runs along the bottom against the current. It can be seen all year round.
Norway spruceNorway sprucePicea abiesNorway spruce is the main coniferous tree of the Carpathians: a dark sharp crown, prickly needles, and long cones that hang downwards. It grows up to the forest boundary.
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.
Common frogCommon frogRana temporariaThe highest-altitude frog of the Carpathians: found from valleys to polonynas and the first to wake up in spring.

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

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