Hiking Viștea Mare Valley
Shortcut of tour:
Victoria - barrier at forest road - forest trail in Vistea Mare valley - Viștei spring mountain cabin - alpine upper Viștea valley (- Moldoveanu peak)
Description and guidance:
Most people who want to climb the highest mountain in Romania - Moldoveanu - hike through the wild Viștea Mare valley. However, the trail not only leads to the coveted summit, but also offers unforgettable experiences in very wild and pristine mountain forests.
The hike begins at a barrier approx. 1.5 km from the road junction near Victoria. The first section of the trail leads along a forest road and shows some unpleasant traces of logging in old beech forest stands. After a clearing - a former timber yard - you enter a fascinating forest wilderness with huge beech, fir and plane trees.
Gradually, a moss-rich spruce forest begins to dominate the forest landscape. The path always leads close to the rushing mountain stream with its crystal-clear water. As you continue, you cross small bridges, look out over waterfalls and cross wild forests with mighty, old, moss-covered mountain spruces.
Some of these forests have never been extensively used for forestry and are among the last European primary forests or forests with a primary forest-like structure and biodiversity. The forests in the upper part of the Vistea Mare valley have been included in Romania's "National Catalog of Virgin Forests". Unfortunately, the wild forests in the lower parts of the valley have not yet been put under adequate protection.
Shortly before the tree line, you will come across a plastic bivouac cabin with a fireplace. The cabin is mainly used by mountaineers climbing Romania's highest mountain - Moldoveanu. If you follow the path further uphill, you will leave the forest and reach the high alpine landscape. At the far end of the valley, the northern pre-top of Moldoveanu towers above the action. Now you can either turn around and descend again or continue further into the arctic high mountain landscape.
Of course, you can also combine the hike through the Viștea Mare valley with an ascent of Moldoveanu - but this is a serious and very long mountain tour. The descent is via the ascent route.
Tour description and map on Outdoor Active:
