Lolaia Waterfall (Cascada Lolaia)

Lolaia Waterfall (Cascada Lolaia) lies in the northern part of Retezat National Park, in Hunedoara County, on one of the park's busiest routes — the road from the Cârnic car park to the Pietrele and Gențiana huts. The park administration calls it one of the best-known waterfalls of Retezat and gives the altitude of the site as about 1,050 m.

According to the newspaper Adevărul (2023), the water drops over a step 15 m high and splits into two streams that flow around a protruding rock. The falls are fed by streams from the former glacial valleys Stânișoara, Pietrele, Valea Rea and Galeș; 200–300 m further down they meet the Chiagul stream and form the Nucșoara river.

What to see

The waterfall is viewed from two places: from below, reached by a path with wooden steps, and from above, from a footbridge over the stream. Conifer forest grows all around, and the bed below the step is filled with large boulders.

A local legend retold by Adevărul explains the name: the shepherdess Lolaia, frightened by a giant creature, threw herself into the valley, and the two white streams recall her braids.

How to get there

The road runs from the town of Hațeg through Ohaba de sub Piatră, Sălașu de Jos, Sălașu de Sus, Mălăiești and Nucșoara to the Cârnic car park; according to Adevărul it is paved almost all the way to Cârnic. Cars are left in the car park at the park entrance.

From there you walk along a forest road towards the Pietrele and Gențiana huts — 15–20 minutes to the waterfall. Entry to the park is paid: according to the administration a ticket costs 10 lei per person and is valid for 7 days; it is sold at the visitor centre in Nucșoara, at the main entrances and by park staff. Check the current fee on retezat.ro before you go.

Season and safety

The path is short and easy, but the steps and the stones by the water are slippery. In the park you may walk only on marked trails, dogs are kept on a lead, open fires are forbidden and tents are pitched only in designated places. In winter the road to Cârnic and the path itself may be under snow — ask the park administration about conditions (tel. 0733 888 586).

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.

Official website: retezat.ro

Photos: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.