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Mărgineni  — below Comisu Peak, via Văcarea Mare

Start: Mărgineni
Range: Făgăraș Mountains
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19.5 kmLength
1 372 mAscent
235 mDescent
1 730 mMax. altitude
568 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 Mărgineni – Văcarea Mare – below Comisu Peak. Has yellow marking (local route). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Marked local tourist route. The marking is yellow, the sign is a triangle on a white background. The length of the route is 19.5 km. Location: mountain range – 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 19.5 km with 1,372 m of ascent from Mărgineni to below Comisu Peak. Estimated walking time: about 7 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: 19.5 km ÷ 4 = 4.9 h + 1,372 m ÷ 600 = 2.3 h, about 7 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 kmGentle ups and downs at 560–660 m
  2. 4–10 kmClimb of 790 m (up to 1,438 m)
  3. 10–13 kmGentle ups and downs at 1,350–1,470 m
  4. 13–20 kmClimb of 350 m (up to 1,726 m)

Steepest kilometre: km 7–8, a climb of 220 m (≈22%).

Water and overnight stays

Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 3 l).

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: Mărgineni. This is a one-way route: the finish is 15 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 7 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 3 l).
Walk this route in 3DReal terrain, satellite map, Carpathian forests Play

Wildlife along the route

All
European moleEuropean moleTalpa europaeaA subterranean hunter of earthworms, indicated by mounds of soil — molehills. It does not hibernate and digs tunnels all year round.
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.
Coal titCoal titPeriparus aterThe smallest tit of our forests: a black cap with a white spot on the nape. A resident of spruce and fir forests.

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

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