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Pietrele Hut  — Vârful Mare, via Lake Galeș

Start: Nucșoara · 9.1 km
Range: Retezat Mountains
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6.9 kmLength
1 024 mAscent
84 mDescent
2 429 mMax. altitude
1 414 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 Pietrele Hut – Lake Galeș – Vârful Mare. Has red marking (local route). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Marked local tourist route. The marking is red, the sign is a triangle on a white background. The length of the route is 6.9 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 6.9 km with 1,024 m of ascent from Pietrele Hut to Vârful Mare. Estimated walking time: about 3.5 h, not counting stops. Difficulty: hard. Waymarking: red.

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: 6.9 km ÷ 4 = 1.7 h + 1,024 m ÷ 600 = 1.7 h, about 3.5 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. 0–2 kmGentle ups and downs at 1,430–1,520 m
  2. 2–7 kmClimb of 900 m to Vârful Mare

Steepest kilometre: km 6–7, a climb of 320 m (≈33%), near Vârful Mare Saddle.

Water and overnight stays

Springs near the trail: at km 0 and 5.

Huts and shelters near the trail: Pietrele Hut (km 0).

When to go

Best time: June to September. In winter only for experienced hikers with proper gear: avalanche danger is possible. About 5 km of the route runs above 1,500 m, where the weather changes quickly — check the forecast.

Getting there

Start: Pietrele Hut. This is a one-way route: the finish is 4 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 3.5 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
Springs near the trail: at km 0 and 5.
Where can I stay overnight?
Huts and shelters near the trail: Pietrele Hut (km 0).

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Spring below Ciurilă (south-east slope)km 0 from the start · Not verified · 1 493 m
  2. Pietrele Hutkm 0 from the start · Standing · 1 480 m
  3. Spring below Valea Rea (north-east slope), 1 978 mkm 5.1 from the start · 200 m off the path · Not verified · 1 978 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

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

Wildlife along the route

All
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.
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.
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.
Viviparous lizardViviparous lizardZootoca viviparaA small lizard that gives birth to live young and therefore lives even on the cold polonynas of the Carpathians.
Small tortoiseshellSmall tortoiseshellAglais urticaeA reddish butterfly with black and yellow spots and blue dots along the edges of its wings. It flies from villages to polonynas and hibernates in attics.
Water pipitWater pipitAnthus spinolettaA modest bird of the alpine meadows and polonynas that sings during its display flight. In Ukraine, it nests only in the Carpathians.

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

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Trails nearby

All trails
Pietrele Hut – Retezat PeakHardOne-dayMarkedPietrele Hut Retezat PeakElevation profile1 489–2 482 m5.9 kmascent 993 m≈ 3 h walkingPietrele Hut – Pelegii SaddleHardOne-dayMarkedPietrele Hut Pelegii SaddleElevation profile1 489–2 277 m5.5 kmascent 819 m≈ 2.5 h walkingRâușor – Pietrele HutModerateOne-dayMarkedRâușor Pietrele HutElevation profile1 178–1 825 m6.4 kmascent 647 m≈ 2.5 h walking