Bâlea – Călțun – Negoiu – Strunga Ciobanului

Roundtrip – 18 km, 1700 m ascent (2,031 m to 2,535 m)

Negoiu is the second highest mountain Peak in Romania.

Why go here:

• • long, technical, rocky hike to the second highest peak in Romania.
  • climbs over multiple peaks.
  • all the route is above 2000m.
  • stunning views all around.
  • starts from Transfăgărășan, one of the highest roads in Romania – 2000m.

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Starting point:

Bâlea Lake (2000m), accessible by car on good asphalt – only in the summer. There are multiple paid parking lots here.

There is also a cable car that comes here from the Balea Waterfall in the North.

Route details

The route starts with a steep climb to the Capra Saddle (Șaua Capra 2300m) on Blue Triangle Markings.

We continue south on the Red Stripe Markings, climbing Iezerul Caprei Peak 2418m. The route goes up and down over Paltinul, Lăița and Lăițel Peaks.

We reach Lake Calțun (2150m) after 6 km of ups and downs over peaks. The water from the lake is not safe to drink but sometimes there is a spring on the trail – don’t count on it since most of the year is dry.

At Calțun there is a refuge and there are places where you can set up a tent if you wish to make the route in two days.

From here there is the final climb to Strunga Doamnei (narrow rocky crossing with chains).  The Red Stripe markings go through Strunga Dracului but because of rock falls this trail is forbidden and the safety chains have been cut off. So be careful that you don’t miss the Yellow Stripe markings and arrows that guide you to Strunga Doamnei that is a safe route.

After Strunga Doamnei we continue on Yellow Stripe and the Red Stripe until we reach the Negoiu Peak (2535m).

From here you can go back the way you came or if the time and weather allow it you can make a detour through Strunga Ciobanului. This adds considerable time since it adds around 3 km distance and 300m of extra climbing on rocks.

From Călțun we go back the same way as we came until we reach Paltinul. Here we can go directly north to Balea Lake on the Blue Stripe markings.

Trail Markings: the route is 100% on marked trails, there are no orientation problems.

Water Sources:

• a spring on the trail in between Paltinul and Lăița Peaks.
• a spring near Călțun (most of the time is dry).

Surface

Most of the trail is rock, sometimes loose and it can cause problems.

There are some sections that can be dangerous. Wear good hiking shoes.

There are multiple passings secured with chains but they can all be passed safely.

Alternative routes:

• You can end or start this from the Salvamont Argeș (mountain rescuers) in the south, following the Blue Cross Markings.
• A shorter and easier route is to go through Saua Paltinul and Struga Doamnei in both directions.

Citește și: fagaras main ridge • balea vanatarea lui buteanu