Natural Park Apuseni Mountains
always the same and always different
Natural Park Apuseni is the biggest karsts complex of Romania. Maybe you heard about Transylvanian medieval fortresses… Well… here, in Natural Park Apuseni is an extraordinary, huge stone fortress. But it's nature's masterpiece.
Wild canyons, enormous sinkholes, tones of caves (some of them with glaciers), lost rivers, surfaces and undergroung waterfalls, lakes hidden from the day light, mysterious tunnels!
Always the same? Off course! Nature needs millions of years to work this kind of place. If you come back year after year you don't give it much time for big transformations.
Always different? How? Let me explain. The underground of Apuseni it's a network of tunnels. Speologysts say that almost every cave is connected with other caves by this network.
When it's raining tunnels fulfil with water. Then, the water rises to the sunshine light through every little hole. Do you imagine what happens? Lakes, waterfalls, rivulets, a water world. But it's difficult to see the underground world without appropriate equipment.
When weather is dry all waters drain into neighbour rivers. Lakes and waterfalls disappear uncovering a world of stones and underground galleries ready to be explored.
Natural Park Apuseni access points
Access points in Natural Park Apuseni are:
- Pietroasa, a west side village
- Arieseni, a south side village
- Belis, east side village
Natural Park Apuseni arrival
By air
From Bucharest it's a long way. About 490 km. Nearest airports are:
- Oradea - Pietroasa, 84 km
- Oradea - Arieseni, 115 km
- Oradea - Belis, 126 km
- Cluj-Napoca - Pietroasa, 105 km
- Cluj-Napoca - Arieseni, 107 km
- Cluj-Napoca - Belis, 64 km
- Timisoara - Pietroasa, 84 km
- Timisoara - Arieseni, 115 km
- Timisoara - Belis, 126 km
- Budapest - Oradea, 262 km
Nearest train stations:
- Huedin - 23 km from Belis and about 40 km from Padis Plateau
- Beius for express trains - 29 km from Pietroasa
- Sudrigiu for slow trains - 18 km from Pietroasa
There are several roads around Natural Park Apuseni:
- in north and north-east E 60 road Oradea - Cluj-Napoca - Turda
- in west DN E 79 road Oradea - Vascau
- in south and south-east DN 75 road Vascau - Turda
- DJ 108 road from Huedin (E 60) to Garda de Jos (DN 75)
- DJ 108c road from Calata (DJ 108) to Padis Plateau (the heart of Apuseni Mountains) - is the most used road together with
- DJ 763 road from Sudrigiu (DN 79) to Padis Plateau
- DJ 764 road from Beius (DN 79) - Stana de Vale - to Bucea (E 60)
- from Huedin DJ108 road till Calata, then DJ108c through Rachitele - Padis Plateau - Pietroasa
Best time to visit Natural Park Apuseni
This park is definitely for any season. Why?
In spring
Natural Park Apuseni Mountains come back to life. Flora and fauna are so abundant then you can live a real fairy scene dreaming on a flowers bed, rocking by the Nature songs.
It's right! When it's raining can be a lot of mud. But this is also nature, isn't it? And remember what I've told you about "always different". You have a lot to see.
In summer
The most beautiful trails are open to you. All outdoor activities you want to try… except winter sports, off course. Flora and fauna still delight you and the smell of hay puts only sweet dreams in your sleep.
The bad news, it is a very crowded season. More trash, more noice, less clean water, less wood for your fire. It's also difficult to find a good place for your tent. And if you like a bed in a cottage you need reservation.
In autumn
Landscapes are astonishing. Nature play paintball with forests. And results can be envy by any painter. But besides all, this season you have best chances to meet a brown bear or a wolf. Which I really don't recommend if you're not very well prepared for this meeting.
Bad points? Beside the mud and large carnivores is the cold. You'll find cold autumn here. Sometimes even frizzy. Don't be afraid. My fist adventure here was around 15 of October. With little breaks, it was raining all the time and a cold wind blown. It still was fantastic. So, just be prepared.
In winter
Ski resorts are Arieseni, in south and Stana de Vale, in north. They are trails you easy can follow even in snowy times. Or better, a horse open sleigh ride.
For Romanian people this is time to stay home, to tell stories near fire, eat beaked apples and to make traditional crafts.
Crowded? Yes. But only ski resorts.
What you can see in Natural Park Apuseni
Wow! So many places then I could write a month and don't finish. So be patient, please. Here are some of them.
- Avenul Bortig (Bortig Hole)
- Cetatile Ponorului (Ponor Fortresses)
- Cetatile Radesei (Radesei Fortresses)
- Cheile Galbenei (Yellow River Gorges)
- Cheile Somesului Cald (Warm Somes Gorges)
- Culmea Carligatele (Carligatele Peak)
- Groapa de la Barsa (Pit from Basrsa)
- Groapa Ruginoasa (Ruginoasa Pit)
- Lumea Pierduta (Lost World)
- Magura Vanata
- Pestera Batranului (Old Man's Cave)
- Pestera Ciur (Ciur Cave)
- Pestera Ferice (Happy Cave
- Pestera Micula (Micula Cave)
- Pestera Focul Viu (Live Fire Glacier)
- Pestera Meziad (Meziad Cave)
- Pestera Scarisoara (Scarisoara Cave)
- Pestera Ursilor (Bears Cave)
- Pestera Vadu Crisului (Vadu Crisului Cave)
- Pestera Vantului (Wind Cave)
- Pestera Vartop (Vartop Cave)
- Pestera Zapoaie (Zapoaie Cave)
- Piatra Galbenei (Yellow River Stone)
- Pietrele Boghii (Boga Stones)
- Poiana Baileasa (Baileasa Glade)
- Poiana Florilor (Flowers Glade)
- Poiana Ponor (Ponor Glade)
- Poiana Varasoaia (Varasoaia Glade)
- Saritoarea Bohodei (Bohodei Waterfall)
- Sesul Padis (Padis Plateau)
- Valea Boghii (Boga Valley
- Valea Izbucelor (Izbuce Valley)
- Valea Sighistelului (Sighistel Valley)
What you can do in Natural Park Apuseni
The answer is simple: anything you want. Well, not really anything. You have to respect some basic rules for civilized people. Anything else?
Hiking and caving are natural activities on this lands. There are several areas with arranged trails for climbing. Or, if you're tuff and well equipped, you can create your own trail.
- If you don't think you handle by yourself choose an organized horse-riding trip.
- Rent a horse from surrounding villages and go your way on mountain trails.
- If you know horse behaviour, how to ride without a saddle and with a rope in rein stead… well, from June to September lots of peasants leave their horses free to run in mountains. They form large herds in glades of mountains. Take a free ride!
Do you like a period trekking? Buy some folk costumes from local people, rent a carriage and go to visit monasteries and fortresses around. Or learn local customs and handcrafts works.
Maybe 2 wheels sports or even 4x4W is more appropriated for your temper. You can test your abilities here. I think forest roads are difficult enough for an amateur.
For those who want more the beauty is you can take it straight to top. Choose your own way as difficult as you like. Nobody will tell you to stay away from his/her property.
You still need more adrenaline? Paragliding? Ballooning? Canyoning? Yes, can be done. Oh! I know there are many more but I don' know their English names yet.
Hey! Adrenaline addicted people! No offence, but this is a page for average people who need an escape from his/her day by day routine. But there is enough room for you, too.
How about water sports? Yes, yes, yes! Paddling can be done on Somesul Cald, Somesul Rece, and Aries rivers as well as the neighbouring lakes: Fantanele, Lesu and Dragan. Many people come to those lakes for diving. Especially to Fantanele Lake what was build over a village.
