Poiana Maicilor

Izvoru Muntelui, Romania

Poiana Maicilor (literally "the nuns' meadow") is a mountain meadow at about 1,300 m on the south-eastern side of the Ceahlău massif, in Neamț County, Romania. It lies below the rock wall that carries the Ocolașul Mic plateau, and the path from the Izvorul Muntelui hut to the summit Ceahlău Plateau crosses it.

On the saddle beside the meadow stands an old stână — a sheepfold. The route description on the national park website advises stepping back to it for the view of the wall: grassy ledges with clumps of larch cross it, and it is crowned by towers and pinnacles with names of their own — Turnul lui Butu și Ana, Turnul Crucii, Căciula lui Ciupercă, Vânturișul, Vârful Ascuțit and Turnul Ocolașului Mic.

What to see and do

The wall of Ocolașul Mic — best seen from the saddle by the old sheepfold.
Clăile lui Miron — two conglomerate crags shaped like haystacks higher up the path; the larger one reaches 1,650 m.
The Ocolașul Mic plateau and, beyond it, the Dochia hut on the summit plateau.

How to get there

National park route no. 3, marked with a red stripe, starts at the Izvorul Muntelui hut. The path passes the park visitor centre, follows the Maicilor stream, crosses it after about an hour and climbs more steeply through the forest; the meadow is about 4 km from the start, by a signpost. The whole route to the Dochia hut is 6.9 km with 1,220 m of ascent, 4.5–5 h up and 3 h down. From the village of Neagra route no. 6, marked with a blue cross, arrives here (14.6 km to Dochia, 6–7 h).

Season, rules and safety

The meadow lies in Ceahlău National Park: entry is subject to a fee and only on marked trails, fires are forbidden, dogs are kept on a leash and tents may be pitched only in designated places. In winter the park does not recommend going above Poiana Maicilor to the Dochia hut — the path there is steep. The best time is June to September. Check conditions and the fee on ceahlaupark.ro.

Bears live in the Romanian Carpathians: stay on the marked paths, never leave food by a tent or a car, and near flocks do not run from the sheepdogs — stop and walk calmly around the herd. Salvamont mountain rescue: national dispatch 0SALVAMONT — 0725 826 668 or 112; advice for hikers is on salvamontromania.ro.

Nearby

The Ceahlău Plateau with the Dochia hut, and the peaks Ocolașul Mare and Toaca.

Photos: Just In AR, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; anagh, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Getting there from Ukraine

Border crossings

Porubne – Siret — road and pedestrian, 24/7
Diakivtsi – Racovăț — road and pedestrian, 24/7 No freight traffic.
Krasnoilsk – Vicovu de Sus — road and pedestrian, 08:00–20:00 Cars up to 3.5 t and pedestrians only; not 24/7.
Solotvyno – Sighetu Marmației — road and pedestrian, 24/7 Passenger traffic only: vehicles up to 3.5 t with up to 9 seats, pedestrians.
Diakove – Halmeu — road, 24/7 No pedestrian crossing.

By car

Chernivtsi – Durău ≈204 km, ≈3 h 54 min (via Diakivtsi – Racovăț); Ivano-Frankivsk – Durău ≈342 km, ≈6 h 11 min (via Diakivtsi – Racovăț); Rakhiv – Durău ≈313 km, ≈6 h 18 min (via Solotvyno – Sighetu Marmației). Times without border queues, our road routing (GraphHopper, OSM).

Checked 03.11.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.

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