Parang Mountains – The Stone Giant of the Carpathians

Seemingly floating above the clouds and gently sloping into the wooded hills beneath, Parang Mountains are the epitome of adventure! According to old legends, the mythical hero Prometheus himself was chained in Parang Mountains, and after the giants that are believed to have inhabited its peaks, the Dacian god Zalmoxis was supposed to have ruled from this mountain!

The Parang Mountains are revealed in all their majesty and wilderness without any secrets. The barren ridges that are visible from afar actually guard a natural heaven with crystal clear glacial lakes, deep evergreen forests and enchanting river valleys that are teeming with wildlife. The main ridge of Parang connects its highest peaks from east to west, along the border of Vâlcea, Gorj and Hunedoara counties, in southwestern Romania.

One of the unique wild destinations of Romania, the stone giant of Parang holds many old stories and legends. Although impressive through its massive size and wilderness, it has been conquered long ago, with pathways and roads that reach into its heart. The best way to visit and explore these mountains is along the Transalpina Mountain Road (the highest in Romania) or the road the goes along the northern edge of these mountains (from Petroșani to Brezoi).

There are also plenty of hiking trails in the mountains of Parang, most of them being fairly accessible and without any technical difficulties. Along with a wealth of diverse plant species, there are also habitats for wild bears, wolves, mountain goats among others. With the arrival of spring, herds of sheep start their ascension towards the mountain sheepfolds, descending again before winter sets in.

Best Sights of ParÂng Mountains

Parang Ridge Trail

The ridge trail of Parang Mountains (red band) connects the highest peaks by following the main ridge on an east-west direction and for a total length of over 40 kilometers. It can be hiked in about 18-20 hours (2-3 days) starting from the Curmătura Oltețului Pass in the east to the town of Petroșani (Parâng Resort) in the west. This spectacular adventure offers travelers the opportunity to admire some of the most impressive landscapes of the Carpathians, with splendid glacial lakes lonely sheepfolds, rocky peaks and green pastures. It is not an easy trek, with a lot of elevation gain, but it is quite safe, as there are no extremely difficult or technical portions.

Glacial Lakes

The Parang Mountains feature 22 amazing glacial lakes that greatly enhance the alpine landscape. From east to west, the most important lakes are Mija, Cârja, Verde, Slivei, Zănoaga Stânii, Zănoaga Gemănării, Mândra, Lung, Roșiile (deepest – 17 meters), Ghereșul, Zănoaga Mare, Câlcescu (largest – 3 ha), Păsări, Pencu, Vidal și Iezer, each with its own particular charm. Most of them can be admired from the maine ridge trail, usually located in deep glacial valley on the northern side. Many of these spectacular lakes are also close to other hiking trails. One of their main traits is the changing colors according to the light from turqoise to emerald and indigo.

Other Hiking Trails

Apart from the main ridge trail, the Parang Mountains offers other fascinating hiking paths. Most of them climb towards the main ridge from the surrounding valleys, the best known starting in the northern Jieț and Lotru valleys. One of the best starts at the Groapa Seacă Lodge, climbing along the Jieț Valley (red dot) towards the lakes of Roșiile and then towards the Parângul Mare Peak.

This trail also has a few side variants that go towards the Mija Ridge, the Slivei Lake or the Piatra Tăiată Pass. Another hiking trail (red cross) starts along the Transalpina Road along the Lotru Valley towards the glacial cauldron of Câlcescu and further to Piatra Tăiată. There are also a few trails that start in the villages on the southern edge of the mountains, climbing towards the Parângul Mare peak or the Rânca resort. Usually, the most popular and transited trails are very well maintained and signaled.

OlteȚ Valley

The incredibly wild Olteț Gorges can be found north of the Polovragi village and while quite short at just over 1 kilometer, it is actually one of the narrowest canyons in Europe. The walls of the two mountains are just a few meters apart, while the river can only be heard beneath the road. The idyllic valley continues all the way up into the mountains, revealing splendid scenery along the way and finally reaching the small Petrimanu Lake hidden between the ridges.

A short way into the gorges, the fascinating Polovragi Cave opens up on the right and invites us to discover its treasures. The cave is a spectacular 10 km long labyrinth of tunnels and galleries created by the river over millions of years, only a short part of them included in the tourist experience. Inside, we can discover its marvelous geological formations, including domes, stalactites, stalagmites, columns and basins, but also traces of its previous inhabitants. Both the gorges and the cave are natural reservations, protecting the unique landscapes, as well as the great diversity of vegetal and animal species.

Muierii Cave

The nearby valley of Galbenu also features a small gorge area, where the impressive Muierii Cave can be explored. It was the first cave in Romania with artificial lighting and is also famous for the prehistoric human skull that was discovered within. It was dated to about 35.000 years ago and proved to have nord-African origins, completely changing entire migration theories. It was also inhabited by cave bears and their skeletons can still be seen today, while medieval people used it as a shelter and refuge during perilous times. The 1 km long tourist itinerary also reveals its geological marvels, including unbelievable formations that were given suggestive surnames.

Jieț and Lotru Valleys

The wild Jieț Gorges can be reached from the town of Petroșani and all along its 5 kilometers, we can discover narrow canyons, small waterfalls and sometimes even wildlife. During some cold winter days, the valley becomes an almost ethereal destination, with the rock walls being covered in glistening waterfalls of ice. Further along, this road intersects Transalpina at Obârșia Lotrului and continues along the lush valley of the Lotru River.

After a few kilometers, it reaches the large Vidra Lake, created through a dam in the middle of the mountains. Surrounded by the evergreen woods, the lake has a length of about 9 km and the road follows its bends for most of it. There is also a new ski domain on the right ridge, offering an exciting ski slope and amazing panoramas of the lake. 

Accommodation in ParAng Mountains