Pișoaia Waterfall (Cascada Pișoaia)

Pișoaia Waterfall (Cascada Pișoaia; the name Cascada Miresii is also used) is a landscape reserve in the north-west of Alba County, in the Apuseni Mountains, not far from the Găina massif. It lies in the valley of the Arieșul Mic river, on the slope of Muntele Stutu (1,299 m), in Vidra commune; the reserve is entered from the village of Nemeși. The protected area covers 5 ha.

The water falls about 18 m over a rock step of Palaeozoic crystalline limestone and spreads across the cliff in a front about 25 m wide. The rock is covered with moss and travertine crusts laid down by the water itself.

What to see

At the bottom the threads break on a large boulder and raise a mist of spray — according to the Polish Wikipedia this is the waterfall's most characteristic feature. Beech forest with scattered conifers grows around it. In winter the step ices over: Wikimedia Commons has a photograph of the frozen waterfall taken in 2021.

How to get there

You drive to the waterfall on the paved road DJ762, which follows the Arieșul Mic valley through Vidra commune. A short path leads from the road: about 0.6 km and 15 minutes one way, graded easy, according to the Munții Noștri guide; the Polish Wikipedia mentions red waymarks. Munții Noștri notes that the marking of this path was being renewed in spring 2018, so follow the signposts on the spot as well.

For a longer walk Munții Noștri describes a loop around the reserve: 13.6 km, about 5.5 hours, about 700 m of ascent, medium difficulty; it passes the sparsely inhabited hamlets near Nemeși.

Season and safety

The place is accessible all year. The stones at the foot are always wet and slippery and travertine is fragile — do not climb the step. This is a reserve: do not pick the moss and leave no litter.

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.

Photos: Țetcu Mircea Rareș, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Țetcu Mircea Rareș, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.