Voina – Cuca – Gradisteanu – Gainatul Mare

Roundtrip – 15 km, 1020 m ascent (931 m to 1,953 m).

Why go here: 

• high elevation but non-technical terrain;
• beautiful views, especially the Piatra Craiului to the North-East;
• it a good winter route but specific gear is recommended (crampons, trekking poles).

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Starting point:

Cabana Voina, accessible by car on good asphalt all year long.

Route details

From the parking lot, we go north on the gravel road to Cabana Cuca (lodge) for about 4 km. We follow the Blue Stripe markings.

If you are coming from far away you can sleep the night at Cabana Cuca and do the rest of the route in the next day. The lodge is not always open so it’s better to make a reservation in advance.

From Cuca, we follow the Blue Stripe markings until we reach the Gradisteanu pass. From there we go South to Gainatul Mare and back down to Voina following the Red Stripe Markings.

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

Water Sources:

• a spring at Cabana Cuca.

Surface

Up to the Cuca Lodge, we will walk on a gravel road that can also be travelled by a 4×4 car. From there on, most of the trail is dirt and tall grass.

There are no exposed parts with the risk of falling.

Alternative routes:

• You can go further to Papusa and back.
• You can continue to Papusa and go down at the Batrana Peak