Hiking trails in Bihor Mountains
Vadu Crişului waterfall
Vadu Crişului waterfall is located in a very beautiful natural landscape in the Pădurea Craiului Mountains, on the left bank of Crişul Repede river, near the entrance to the Vadu Crisului Cave.
The water coming out of the Vadu Crisului Cave, realizes the last natural wonder, the Vadu Crisului Falls, a 9 m drop, which reaches a spectacular water-pouring limestone and then reaches Crisul Repede.
Galbena emergence – a calm water eye
At the foot of a vertical limestone wall a few meters high is a small quiet lake of 6-8 m in diameter, is the Galbena emergence. At first glance, we would say it is a lake if the right water would not fall into a waterfall in a high waterfall, it is the only indication that there is a real river flowing underground with considerable flow.
The bluish-green, slightly milky and very cold water, betrays us along the underground trail through unknown ways. In fact, it is the water that entered the Fortresses of Ponor and drains underground the entire closed basin of Padis-Fortresses of Ponor.
Galbena emergence is a true oasis of relaxation in the middle of the forest, a place where you can contemplate.
The outbreak of Galbena and its surroundings have been declared a monument of nature, and the entire gorges sector has been set up as a mixed natural reserve, being in custody of the Apuseni Natural Park (Bleahu, 1976).
Accessible from the trail: Circuit trail: Galbena valley
We’re left with the duty to respect these parts at our every step, keep them clean and pristine for generations to come, and for us as well, because in Nature, “the tourist comes to gladden his eyes, the thinker encounters a grand book where every rock is a letter, where every lake is a phrase, where every village is an accent and from whence a smoke of ancient memories emerges”. (Victor Hugo)
Galbena gorges – the beautiful gorges of the Apuseni Mountains
Galbena gorges are among the most beautiful and spectacular gorges in Romania.
Galbena gorges start suddenly at the foot of a vertical wall of limestone of several hundred meters high.
Here is Galbena emergence, a small lake 4-5 diameter is fed underneath the water drains underground entire basin Padis-Fortress of Ponor closed and returns to date through a cave tunnel, where the river enters noisy.
It is the beginning of the underground tunnel in Galbei gorges, over 100 m long and very difficult to practice. It ends with the exceptionally beautiful and spectacular Evantai waterfall, 7 m high, at the base of which is a lake.
The Galbena gorges were formed due to the heavy flow of water that cut deep into the limestone massif, giving birth to one of the most grandiose gorges in our mountains.
The hundreds of meters high, natural arches, caves with open mouths in the middle of the walls, and the tumultuous course of water with waterfalls, huge marmites, and several underground tunnels along the way give this region a seamless wilderness.
Accessible from the trail:


We’re left with the duty to respect these parts at our every step, keep them clean and pristine for generations to come, and for us as well, because in Nature, “the tourist comes to gladden his eyes, the thinker encounters a grand book where every rock is a letter, where every lake is a phrase, where every village is an accent and from whence a smoke of ancient memories emerges”. (Victor Hugo)
Sighiştelului Valley – a wild paradise of caves
Sighiştelului Valley is a valley wild and spectacular because karst landscape, which is represented by numerous caves and wild gorges with tall and tall walls.
Sighiştelului Valley offers the tourist, wild landscapes, rich vegetation, small waterfalls, caves, a wild gorge and a diverse range of flora and fauna specific to the Apuseni Mountains.
The Sighistel basin is one of the most endocarticulated areas in our country, with approximately 160 caves spread over only 15 km2 (over 10 caves / km2 when the density of the entire carst of our country reaches only 2.3 cavities / km2).
The numerous caves that appear on the verses are hardly accessible because the access road (s) are unmarked and the most important of the caves are declared monuments of nature, and some unfortunately are closed with metallic gates.
Valea Sighiştelului is located in the western part of the Bihor Mountains, near the locality Cîmpani, the village of Sighiştel.
The most spectacular part of the Sighistea valley is upstream, because it has the appearance of gorges, with vertical and tall slopes, and in some areas the gorges become very narrow and wild. Access by gorges is stopped by a jumper of about 7m high, which in large waters form a beautiful waterfall.
Valea Sighiştelului was declared a protected area of national interest corresponding to IUCN category IV (mixed nature reserve).
Accessible from the trail:

We’re left with the duty to respect these parts at our every step, keep them clean and pristine for generations to come, and for us as well, because in Nature, “the tourist comes to gladden his eyes, the thinker encounters a grand book where every rock is a letter, where every lake is a phrase, where every village is an accent and from whence a smoke of ancient memories emerges”. (Victor Hugo)
Molhașurile de la Izbuce – the Apuseni peat bogs
Molhașurile de la Izbuce (active peat bogs) are located in the special conservation area of the Apuseni Natural Park, which contains the most valuable elements of the natural heritage of the Apuseni Natural Park. These areas were established by Order of the Minister No 552/2003. Due to the special fragility of these turf habitats, the touristic activities carried out here are restricted to viewing them from this observation tower, without entering the turf, which would be impossible due to the excessive humidity of these habitats.
Molhașurile de la Izbuce are active peat forming in damp areas on siliceous soil.
Besides the sphagnum (peat moss), which has a thickness of over 1 m, there are many plants in the molaths, such as the Roua Cerului carnivorous plant (drosera rotundifolia), is the only terrestrial carnivorous plant in Romania, which is protected by law, Polytrichum moss, Carex grass, Deschampsia and Nardus, a rare Balkan spiny species (Pedicularis limogena), the usual plants of moisture (lizard, bumblebee and puff), many blueberries and cranberries.
Molhașurile de la Izbuce have a particularly picturesque appearance due to rust color and the black water, “lakes without bottom”, the landscape is of great beauty and wildlife.
The black lakes in the active peat bogs are considered “The Black Eyes of Nature”.
We’re left with the duty to respect these parts at our every step, keep them clean and pristine for generations to come, and for us as well, because in Nature, “the tourist comes to gladden his eyes, the thinker encounters a grand book where every rock is a letter, where every lake is a phrase, where every village is an accent and from whence a smoke of ancient memories emerges”. (Victor Hugo)
Bulbuci Waterfall
Bulbuci waterfall is located into a beautiful natural surroundings, on the valley of the same name, left tributary of Boga Valley. Water falls in two stages, forming waterfalls of various sizes, their overall length is 30 meters, but the last step is the most beautiful and highest. Waterfall Bulbuci can be visited following route .
After about 10 minutes steepest descent through the forest to the base of a 20m high wall, located on the left, suddenly a powerful sound can be heard from far away … what a beautiful and cheerful view opens up to us a spectacular water falls from a height of about 20 m.
This last step is the most spectacular, because it can enter behind the curtain of water.
Accessible from the trail: Trail Boga village – Bulbuci waterfall
We’re left with the duty to respect these parts at our every step, keep them clean and pristine for generations to come, and for us as well, because in Nature, “the tourist comes to gladden his eyes, the thinker encounters a grand book where every rock is a letter, where every lake is a phrase, where every village is an accent and from whence a smoke of ancient memories emerges”. (Victor Hugo)
Bohodei waterfall – the highest in the Apuseni Mountains
Bohodei waterfall is located in Bihor Mountains, the valley Aleului. Waterfall has a height of 80 m, the largest in the Apuseni Mountains. The fall of water is not vertical, but the water runs down the rock slope in several steps. Waterfall is located in the beautiful natural setting and wild.
Bohodei waterfall is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Romania.
Activites in Apuseni Natural Park Canyoning | Caving | Trekking | Mountain-bike | Tandem paragliding | Rafting – Kayaking
Accessible from the trail: Bohodei Trail
We’re left with the duty to respect these parts at our every step, keep them clean and pristine for generations to come, and for us as well, because in Nature, “the tourist comes to gladden his eyes, the thinker encounters a grand book where every rock is a letter, where every lake is a phrase, where every village is an accent and from whence a smoke of ancient memories emerges”. (Victor Hugo)
Săritoarea Ieduţului Waterfall: a thunderous roar among the ferns
Kid’s Pass Waterfall is set against a picturesque, wild background, home to a lush vegetation of enormously beautiful ferns. To get there, from the road that ties Stâna de Vale to Coada Lacului Leșu, you need to climb through the woods on a beautiful footway, parallel to the Ieduțu (Kid) river.
After some 1520 minutes of free and easy walking through the forest, we can hear a thunderous roar, coming from a great distance… what a beautiful and happy view we encounter, a magnificent fall of water, from approximately 15 m high. It produces a deafening sound, almost claiming to be heard and admired.
We heartily recommend a visit to this waterfall during the rainy season, when the debit is greater and the sky is cloudy, to make sure you capture truly magnificent imagery.
Accessible from the trail: The Săritoarea Ieduţului trail
Activites in Apuseni Natural Park Canyoning | Caving | Trekking | Mountain-bike | Tandem paragliding | Rafting – Kayaking
We’re left with the duty to respect these parts at our every step, keep them clean and pristine for generations to come, and for us as well, because in Nature, “the tourist comes to gladden his eyes, the thinker encounters a grand book where every rock is a letter, where every lake is a phrase, where every village is an accent and from whence a smoke of ancient memories emerges”. (Victor Hugo)
Fortress of Ponor the largest karst complex in Romania
The Fortress of Ponor are the largest karst complex in Romania, also known as the Everest of Romanian speology, are located within the Apuseni National Park, downstream of the Fortress Valley, making them the lowest point of the entire closed Padiș basin Ponor Fortress (950 metres). The cave consists of a unique gallery, over 2000 metres in length, of considerable dimensions and traversed by a river with a large debit (one of the strongest subterranean rivers in the country).
The Fortress of Ponor possess two attractive resources, such as the unmatched grandeur of the caverns and the subterranean river that flows through the cave until its very end. The size of the hollow is previewed by the greatness of the portal (about 70 m tall), sculpted in the shape of a giant window within a vertical, 100 m wall. The way to the entrance splits into several access gates, two lateral circles (sinkholes 2 and 3) and of course, the light of day, which keeps trying to pry its way into the dense darkness of the subterranean world. The cavern goes on with a singular, slightly meandered gallery, 15 – 25 m in width and hard to estimate heightwise, where the most resilient light beams rarely touch the ceiling, approximately 70-100 m above the waterbed. On its own, the 110 m wall is an amazing landmark to escalade, if only for its extraordinary size.
The subterranean river, one of the most overflowing ones in the Romanian karst, adds a priceless charm to the cavern, thanks to the 14 lakes and numerous waterfalls and streams it creates. The same river becomes a main risk factor, because of its reservoir and sudden increase in water levels. The structure of the cavern is dominated by erosioncorrosion processes (subterranean lapis, ledges, septums, crevices). With rare nodules, we can still find sandy stalagmites, detached from the carbon deposits within the funnels dug up by the waterbed. The “reverse” stalagmites in the Ponor Gorges are amongst the most beautiful in the country.
Visiting criteria: Although it has been declared a Monument of Nature, The Fortress of Ponor Cavern can be visited. The surface and subterranean gallery are accessible to any tourist who has rubber boots and illumination equipment, up until Taberei Hall. For visiting the cavern in its entirety, it’s recommended to form a wellorganized expedition.
Activites in Apuseni Natural Park Canyoning | Caving | Trekking | Mountain-bike | Tandem paragliding | Rafting – Kayaking
Accessible from the trail: Circuit trail: Cetățile Ponorului
We’re left with the duty to respect these parts at our every step, keep them clean and pristine for generations to come, and for us as well, because in Nature, “the tourist comes to gladden his eyes, the thinker encounters a grand book where every rock is a letter, where every lake is a phrase, where every village is an accent and from whence a smoke of ancient memories emerges”. (Victor Hugo)
The Valul Miresei Waterfall, on Iadului Valley
We can find the Bride’s Veil Falls on the right bank of Hell’s Valley, but glimpses of it can be seen from the main road between Stâna de Vale and Coada Lacului Leşu, towards Remeţi. The waterfall is actually a threestep fall, high of approximately 35 m. The name stems from the shape of the falls, which resembles a veil.
The more adventurous ones can climb all the way to the top of the falls, where they’re guaranteed an amazing view. The bottom of the falls sees the small river unite with Hell’s Valley.
We heartily recommend a visit to this waterfall during the rainy season, when the debit is greater and the sky is cloudy, to make sure you capture truly magnificent imagery.
Accessible from the trail: The Săritoarea Ieduţului trail
Activites in Apuseni Natural Park Canyoning | Caving | Trekking | Mountain-bike | Tandem paragliding | Rafting – Kayaking
We’re left with the duty to respect these parts at our every step, keep them clean and pristine for generations to come, and for us as well, because in Nature, “the tourist comes to gladden his eyes, the thinker encounters a grand book where every rock is a letter, where every lake is a phrase, where every village is an accent and from whence a smoke of ancient memories emerges”. (Victor Hugo)