Sat Neagra – Piciorul Negrei – Poiana Văratec – Poiana Maicilor – Ocolașul Mic – Cabana Dochia

What the walking is like

The longest climb from the south-west: 14.6 km and 1,250 m of ascent, six to seven hours. The first step is by the school in the village of Neagra, on DN 12C, where a signpost stands. The path crosses the village along the Neagra stream, reaches the confluence of Neagra Mare and Neagra Mică, then follows two kilometres of forest road along Neagra Mare. At the junction with the Urda stream it leaves the road and heads north-east through Poiana Neagra, then north below Vârful Negrii. In under an hour it reaches Poiana Văratec at 1,250 m, skirts Vârful Văratec on the left and comes out at Curmătura Văratec, at 1,335 m.

What we'd tell you at the gate

• Trail 6 in the official list of the Ceahlău National Park.
• Waymarking: blue cross.
• Official time: 6 h – 7 h up.
• Elevation gain 1250 m, length 14.6 km, difficulty mediu, figures published by the park authority.
• It meets trail 3 at Poiana Maicilor.
• In winter the park authority advises against the stretch from Poiana Maicilor to the Dochia hut.
• In winter it is not recommended on the stretch from Poiana Maicilor to the Dochia hut.
• The waymarking, times, elevation gain and length are those published by the Ceahlău National Park authority. The driving distance from La Cuib is calculated on the OpenStreetMap road network.

Not to miss on the way

• 1

  From Curmătura Văratec you see Turnul lui Butu, one of the finest views in the range.

• 2

  At Curmătura Văratec the route crosses the link between Poiana Maicilor and Curmătura Stănile.

• 3

  From Poiana Maicilor to the hut it climbs together with trail 3, on blue cross and red stripe.

What else you can do on the trail

• 🏔 Toaca peak, 1,904 m, with its metal steps and the weather station.
• The Duruitoarea waterfall, a protected natural monument, on trail 5.
• The scientific reserves of Polița cu Crini and Ocolașul Mare, and the botanical ones at Toaca and Gardul Stănilelor.
• 🏛 The Ceahlău National Park visitor centre, in Durău.

What grows and what moves along the trail

The species above are those documented in the area by the protected-area administration; what you see depends on season, hour and luck.

How long it takes, honestly

The times, waymarking, elevation gain and length are published by the Ceahlău National Park authority.

• 6 h – 7 hone way, to the top, at your usual pace
• back the same way (estimate)
• 6 h – 7 hout and back, with short breaks
• 6 h – 7 hone way, if you stop for photos and eat on the grass
• one way, with children, grandparents or a pack full of “just in case”