Vârciorog Waterfall (Cascada Vârciorog)

Vârciorog Waterfall (Cascada Vârciorog) is a nature reserve of geological and landscape type in the south-east of the Bihor Mountains, in Arieșeni commune in the far north-west of Alba County, near the border with Bihor County. It lies on the upper course of the Vârciorog stream, a tributary of the Arieșul Mare river, below the peak Piatra Grăitoare.

According to the Romanian Wikipedia the water falls from a height of more than 15 m. The area was given protected status by Law no. 5 of 6 March 2000; the reserve covers 5 ha.

What to see

The stream leaps from a rock wall in several threads and breaks on ledges, so in spring a cloud of spray hangs at the foot. Spruce forest and scree surround it. The waterfall is seen from a distance, from the forest road that approaches it along the valley.

Arieșeni is a mountain commune with hamlets scattered over the slopes; routes to other places in the Bihor Mountains start here too, so Vârciorog is easily combined with a walk in the area.

How to get there

National road DN75 (Câmpeni – Ștei) takes you to a point 2 km from Arieșeni where a forest road turns into the Vârciorog valley. It is about 3.5 km along it to the waterfall; the route is marked with a yellow dot (Romanian Wikipedia).

The Munții Noștri guide describes the same way from the Arieșul Mare valley in the hamlet of Vanvucești: 3.3 km, 1–1.5 hours one way, about 250 m of ascent, easy.

Season and safety

The best time is May to October; there is most water during the snow melt. The stones at the foot are wet and the scree is loose — do not climb along the wall. This is a reserve: leave no litter and light no fires.

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: Kovika, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; mihai moise, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.