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Telciu – Bătrânei Saddle

Start: Telciu
Range: Rodna Mountains
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25.6 kmLength
1 489 mAscent
174 mDescent
1 707 mMax. altitude
391 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 Telciu – Bătrânei Saddle. Has red marking (regional route). Waymarking data: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Marked regional tourist route. Marking is red, sign — circle on a white background. Length of the route — 25.6 km. Location: mountain range — Rodna, Romania.

At a glance

A one-day route of 25.6 km with 1,489 m of ascent from Telciu to Bătrânei Saddle. Estimated walking time: about 9 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: 25.6 km ÷ 4 = 6.4 h + 1,489 m ÷ 600 = 2.5 h, about 9 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. 0–10 kmGentle ups and downs at 390–550 m
  2. 10–18 kmClimb of 790 m (up to 1,334 m)
  3. 18–20 kmGentle ups and downs at 1,280–1,350 m, past Tomnatic
  4. 20–24 kmClimb of 410 m (up to 1,691 m)
  5. 24–26 kmAlong the ridge at 1,630–1,700 m

Steepest kilometre: km 16–17, a climb of 240 m (≈24%).

Water and overnight stays

A spring near the trail: at km 22. There are no springs between km 0 and 22 — carry at least 4 l of water.

When to go

Best time: June to September. In winter only for experienced hikers with proper gear: avalanche danger is possible. About 3 km of the route runs above 1,500 m, where the weather changes quickly — check the forecast.

Getting there

Start: Telciu. 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 9 h, not counting stops.
Is there water on the route?
A spring near the trail: at km 22. There are no springs between km 0 and 22 — carry at least 4 l of water.

Water and shelter on the route

  1. Drinking water, 1 438 mkm 22.3 from the start · Not verified · 1 438 m

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

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

Wildlife along the route

All
European beechEuropean beechFagus sylvaticaA tree with light gray smooth bark that forms the Carpathian primeval forests — a UNESCO World Heritage site. It grows up to a height of about 1400 m.
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.
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.

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

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