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Pui – Porțile Închise

Start: Pui
Range: Retezat Mountains
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31.4 kmLength
1 898 mAscent
62 mDescent
2 263 mMax. altitude
427 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 Pui – Porțile Închise. Has red marking (local route). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Marked local tourist route. The marking is red, the sign is a circle on a white background. The length of the route is 31.4 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 route of 31.4 km with 1,898 m of ascent from Pui to Porțile Închise. Estimated walking time: about 11 h, not counting stops — a very long day, so it is easier split into 2 days. Difficulty: hard. Waymarking: red.

Route stages

  1. 0–23 kmGentle ups and downs at 420–1,200 m
  2. 23–31 kmClimb of 1,050 m to Porțile Închise

Steepest kilometre: km 30–31, a climb of 290 m (≈29%), near Porțile Închise.

Water and overnight stays

Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 3 l).

Huts and shelters near the trail: Alpin Stâna de Râu Hut (km 29).

A possible split into days:

  1. Day 1: km 0–18, ≈5.5 h — overnight: no shelter nearby on the map, bring a tent
  2. Day 2: km 18–31, ≈5.5 h — finish

When to go

Best time: June to September. In winter only for experienced hikers with proper gear: avalanche danger is possible. About 4 km of the route runs above 1,500 m, where the weather changes quickly — check the forecast.

Getting there

Start: Pui. This is a one-way route: the finish is 20 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 11 h, not counting stops — a very long day, so it is easier split into 2 days.
Is there water on the route?
Our map shows no springs near the trail — bring your own water (at least 3 l).
Where can I stay overnight?
Huts and shelters near the trail: Alpin Stâna de Râu Hut (km 29).

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Alpin Stâna de Râu Hutkm 28.9 from the start · Not verified · 1 628 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

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

Wildlife along the route

All
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.
Tree mossin seasonIn season nowTree mossPseudevernia furfuraceaA gray bushy lichen that hangs from the branches of spruce trees in the Carpathian forests. It is neither a moss nor a parasite: it does not dry out the trees.
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.
White-throated dipperIn season nowWhite-throated dipperCinclus cinclusA bird of mountain streams with a white 'bib' that dives and runs along the bottom against the current. It can be seen all year round.
Viviparous lizardViviparous lizardZootoca viviparaA small lizard that gives birth to live young and therefore lives even on the cold polonynas of the Carpathians.
Yellow-bellied toadRed Data Book of UkraineYellow-bellied toadBombina variegataA small gray toad with a bright yellow belly lives in the puddles of forest roads in the Carpathians. It is a vulnerable species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

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

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