Mountain trails · Budacu Peak 1,859 m · Pietrosul Bistriței 1,791 m

Mountain trails in the Bistrița Mountains

The Bistrița Mountains are the wild part of the story: steep slopes, a winding ridge that's hard to follow, many sheepfolds, vipers on the crags and no hut at all. You start at the Zugreni Gorge, the narrowest point on the Bistrița, 55 minutes from the house, and climb a lot, fast. Camping is allowed; the waymarking, especially in the south, is poor. For experienced hikers, or for a day at the gorge and on the Bistrița.

Cabana Zugreni – Bogolin Peak – Pietrosul Peak – Poiana Prislopului – Poiana Șandru – Busuiocului Peak – Piatra Tăieturii Monastery – Dealu Vânăt Peak – Păltiniș14–16 hours · +1.052 m · very high effort · technically moderate · traverse · 55 min from the house

Rusca – Izvorul Rău5–6 hours · +820 m · high effort · technically easy · traverse · 54 min from the house

Ortoaia – Bârnărel (Crucea village)5–6 hours · +750 m · high effort · technically moderate · traverse · 53 min from the house

Cozănești – Bârnărel (Crucea village)5–6 hours · +570 m · high effort · technically moderate · traverse · 50 min from the house

Where the data comes from

Sources: route, waymarks, duration and elevation gain from the Suceava County Council guide “Mountain tourist trails”; trailhead coordinates and driving times from Google Maps (from 38 Sirenei Street); the curiosities from official sources (Suceava Forestry Directorate, Câmpulung Town Hall, local press). If you spot a mistake, write to us: we'll fix it.

What to pack for this range

tent, sleeping bag, mat: there are no huts on the way
2–3 l of water per person and a way to purify more
food for every day, a stove
worn-in boots, trekking poles, two pairs of socks
a warm layer, wind and rain jacket, gloves even in summer
map, compass/GPS, power bank, headtorch
a full first-aid kit, survival blanket, whistle
2 l of water per person; no spring at the top
boots above the ankle, worn in; trekking poles, your knees will write you a thank-you letter
warm layer + wind and rain jacket: at 1,800 m July is optional
plenty of snacks, offline map, power bank, headtorch
small first-aid kit, whistle, survival blanket (50 g, saves lives)

Tent, fire, mushrooms: what is allowed

Camping · With conditions
The Zugreni Gorge reserve runs up to Pietrosul summit: no tents there. Beyond the summit, towards Prislop and Șandru, the meadows are free.
Fire · No
Forbidden: reserve, forest and steep slopes. Stove on rock, no wind.
Mushrooms and berries · With conditions
Not in the reserve; beyond the summit, in the ridge forests, yes, for your own use.

Sources: Salvamont Suceava, “Mountain tourist trails” (Suceava County Council); Zugreni Gorge reserve (Suceava County); Forestry Code, art. 54.

Worth knowing about the range

1
The Zugreni Gorge and the Pietrosul massif are nature reserves and part of the “Pietrosul Broștenilor – Cheile Zugrenilor” Natura 2000 site, with bear, wolf, lynx, capercaillie and golden eagle among the protected species.
2
The Zugreni Gorge is a geological reserve: walls over 200 m, with the road and the river squeezed between them.
3
There is no hut on the ridge; camping is allowed, and the Piatra Tăieturii hermitage, in the south, has road access from Panaci and Bârnar.
4
Pietrosa levitomentosa grows here, a plant found nowhere else in the world, and edelweiss at its lowest altitude in Moldavia.

What grows and what moves in the range

Flora

lime, birch, aspen, rowan and sycamore in the Zugreni Gorge
Pietrosa levitomentosa, a plant unique in the world, endemic to Zugreni
edelweiss at its lowest altitude in Moldavia; rock hawkweed
spruce and fir on the slopes, blueberry meadows on the ridge

Fauna

common viper on the crags: high boots, watch where you put your hands
bear, wolf and lynx, red deer, pine marten (protected species in the Natura 2000 site)
capercaillie in the spruce stands; golden eagle and greater spotted eagle, rarely, above the ridge
Danube salmon and trout in the Bistrița; Carpathian newt in the forest pools
sheepdogs, many of them: sheepfolds along the whole ridge

The other ranges

If this isn't today's mountain

Rarău–Giumalău Mountains24 trasee · Giumalău 1,857 m · Rarău 1,651 m Călimani Mountains9 trasee · Pietrosul Călimani 2,100 m · National Park Suhard Mountains4 trasee · Omu peak · gentle ridge · no huts Ceahlău Mountains8 trasee · Ocolașul Mare 1,907 m · Toaca 1,904 m · National Park Rodna Mountains19 trasee · Pietrosu 2,303 m · National Park · 2 counties The Obcini of Bucovina6 trasee · Lucina 1,588 m · Obcina Mestecăniș

Before you set off

Three things we tell every guest

Mountain hiking gear: what you need, what you don'tThe realistic list for Rarău, Giumalău and the Obcini, by season.What to do if you meet a bear on the trailSimple rules, no panic, for the forests of Rarău–Giumalău.Day hikes with children, from CâmpulungFive trails real children have done, with real times.

Information verified on September 8, 2026. Opening times and prices change, check before you set off.

Once you're back down

Sleep twenty minutes from the trail.

The whole house is yours: wet boots by the door, packs in the hall, a late dinner. Parking in the yard and an early start, without waking anyone.

799 lei a night on Booking 599 lei / night See available dates