IDEA FOR AN EASY HIKE IN THE FAGARAŞ MOUNTAINS, STARTING FROM TRANSFAGARAŞAN ROAD
Transfăgărășan is one of the most famous mountain roads in Europe, dividing the Fagaras Mountains, the highest mountains in Romania, into two parts. It also became internationally known thanks to the British show Top Gear, which presented it as the ideal place to drive sports cars and experience adrenaline and gorgeous landscapes alike.
However, leaving aside the adrenaline rush that each sharp curve and each steep slope of the famous Transfăgărășan offers, in this article I challenge you to get out of the car for a moment and discover this spectacular road from another perspective, a slower one, but much more captivating. In addition to the charm of driving on the road that crosses the Fagărăș Mountains, the authentic beauty of the place can be fully experienced only by taking a walk, surrounded by the silence of the mountain, the fresh air and the impressive landscapes that reveal themselves at every step. And how could we better explore this fairytale area, if not by following the hiking trails that lead us to glacial lakes, spectacular waterfalls and breathtaking viewpoints? Let's discover the magic of the mountain together, beyond the windshield and the noise of the engine, and enjoy an authentic experience in the heart of nature.
Don't be scared, I'm not suggesting a hard, long or dangerous hike. I'm suggesting an easy hike, which takes less than 2 hours round trip and which will delight your eyes with a waterfall of over 60 meters. That waterfall I'm referring to is none other than the Bâlea Waterfall, one of the largest waterfalls in Romania, in terms of waterfall (not flow rate).
Balea Waterfall was formed from a spring coming from Balea Lake and is located at an altitude of 1200 meters. It can also be admired from the cable car that goes up from Balea Waterfall Cabin to Balea Lake.
WHERE TO STAY ON TRANSFAGARASAN?
Among the accommodation options listed on Booking that caught my attention are:
Hotel Paraul Capra - 3-star accommodation unit, which has double or triple rooms. The location has its own bar and restaurant;
Hanul Patrisiei - accommodation unit located near Cartisoara, which has double or triple rooms. The location is equipped with an indoor swimming pool, bar and restaurant;
Liniștea Muntilor Cartioasra - is an A Frame glamping accommodation unit. A single cabin can accommodate up to 4 people, maybe even 5, in the case of families, as it has a sofa bed in the common area.
HOW TO REACH THE ENTRANCE OF THE BALEA WATERFALL TRAIL
The road that facilitates access to the Balea area is DN7C, the so-called Transfagarasan. On this road, in the direction of Sibiu, after Balea Lac, there are signs to the cable car. As a landmark, you will see on the left side various venders that sell pancakes, kurtos etc., and most likely the area will be very crowded.
In this area, if you head towards the chalet and the starting point of the cable car, you will see a sign to Balea Cascada, which estimates a walking time of 30 minutes, which is not exactly realistic, being longer than that, especially if it is crowded, as the path is very narrow in some parts and you will have to wait for other tourists to pass.
The hike is marked with a red dot and is approximately 3 km long, with a difference in elevation of 300 meters.
Also from Balea Cascada Chalet, starts the trails to Paltinu Chalet. There are 3 different trails to the same chalet: on the blue triangle marking or the blue stripe marking (with options to walk either through Valea Doamnei or through Muchia Buteanu).
ABOUT THE ROUTE TO BALEA WATERFALL
The trail to Balea Waterfall starts with an easy climb on a forest road, along the Bâlea stream. After a few dozen meters, a somewhat steeper climb begins, and towards the end of the trail it becomes increasingly demanding. The entire trail is through the forest, and most of it is on a narrow, very uneven path, with huge stones. The trail climbs steadily, without any sections without differences in level, so it will train your muscles a little.
In July, when I've done this hike, I had to take frequent breaks because the trail was very crowded and we had to wait in order to move forward. There are very few areas where there is room for two people to pass at the same time.
The effort does not go unrewarded, and once you reach the waterfall, it's like stepping into another world. Its beauty surprised me, especially since I hadn't read anything about it, I expected it to be much smaller and somewhat similar, at least in terms of the waterfall, to the Capra Waterfall, which can be admired without doing a hike, being right on the edge of the Transfagarasan.
Since the trail was crowded, it was obviously very crowded at the waterfall as well. Everyone was taking pictures. I found the best place to take a picture a little further from the waterfall, hiding the crowd that was taking pictures right next to the waterfall. If you are passionate about photography and want to learn tricks to take good photos in tourist areas, I leave a little guide with tricks used by great photographers.
I know you're going to scold me for not being properly equipped for a hike and I agree. My excuse is that I wasn't planning on hiking and I set off on this trail very spontaneously, without any prior information. But don't be like me, if you came across this article before doing this trail, put on your shoes hiking boots and wear comfortable clothes.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROUTE TO BALEA CASCADA:
- although it is a short hike, the terrain is very rugged and I recommend wearing appropriate hiking shoes. I have met people with minor injuries on the trail, so be cautious and tread carefully among the high boulders. Under no circumstances should you set off on the trail in sandals. I have seen quite elderly ladies who set off on this trail wearing orthopedic sandals, and one of them had an injured hand because she lost her balance;
- the best time to do this route is also the time when the Transfagarasan is open to the public. In any case, I don't think it's worth the risk of coming here in winter. Besides the fact that you're putting yourself in danger, the waterfall might be frozen;
- there are warnings about bears in the area, I even saw a few in the forested areas of Transfagarasan, so try to do this route after 10:00 AM, when more tourists start to gather. Wild animals will get scared if there is noise and will not come closer;
WHAT OTHER PLACES CAN YOU VISIT IN THE TRANSFAGARASAN AREA?
- Poienari Fortress, located near the town of Arefu, on the top of a mountain. It was built during the time of Negru Voda and was the refuge of Vlad Tepes in the fight against the Turks. To reach this fortress you have to climb no more, no less than 1480 steps. Certainly, the view over the valley is worth all the effort.
- Lake Vidraru, one of the most famous dams in Romania. Here you can enjoy a boat or kayak ride, or climb up to the Statue of Prometheus. For a spectacular view of the lake, you can take a walk on the unpaved road, where you will find several impressive viewpoints;
- The hike through the Valea lui Stan Canyon. It is a circuit type route, with a duration of approximately 6 hours. It is one of the most spectacular routes in Romania. I wrote an entire article about this route, which you can find on the blog, in the "Romania" section.
- Capra Waterfall, located right on the edge of the Transfagarasan. It is an absolutely gorgeous waterfall, very easily accessible.
- Lake Capra, which can be reached after a short hike of about an hour from Balea Lake. The route is marked with a blue triangle.
- Hike to Negoiu Peak. There are several routes you can follow to reach the second highest peak in Romania. Some routes are more difficult and cannot be done by everyone, but if you dare, the landscapes will surely delight your eyes.
- The Ice Hotel, open only during the winter. It is the only hotel of its kind in Eastern Europe and is worth putting on your list if you arrive on the Transfagarasan in winter.
- Lake Balea (in case I needed to mention it), one of the largest and most spectacular glacial lakes in Romania. Regardless of the season, Lake Bâlea offers a special view, being accessible both in summer, on the Transfăgărășan, and in winter, by cable car, when the entire area is transformed into a snow-covered fairyland.
If you would like to visit the Transfagarasan, but you don't have a car, you can take an organized trip, details here.
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE ROUTE TO BALEA WATERFALL
If you arrive on the spectacular Transfăgărășan Road, you can dare to walk the mountain route that leads to the Bâlea Waterfall. As I mentioned above, this route requires a bit of attention, especially in certain sections where the path can become slightly slippery or steep, but it is not a difficult path at all. The effort will be rewarded tenfold by the beauty of the landscapes, the fresh air and the feeling of freedom that this corner of wild nature offers.
Balea Waterfall is, at the time of writing this article, the most beautiful waterfall in Romania that I have seen. If you have seen this waterfall, I am curious to know your opinion. Is it the most beautiful? And if not, what is your favorite waterfall in Romania? You can leave your answer in the comments section.
Read about a route to another waterfall, Devil's Mill Waterfall, in the Bucegi Mountains, a medium difficulty route. Read other travel articles: the city of Calais, Kavarna, the seaside of Romania, or the route to Malaiesti Cabin.
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