Roundtrip – 15 km, 1400 m ascent (333 m to 1,602 m).
Depending on the fitness level of the group and of the length of the day it can be hiked in one day or you can sleep at Cabana Cozia on the top.
Why go here:
- safe forest trail with some beautiful views;
- low altitude mountain suitable for all seasons;
- the top is accessible by car or mountain bike on the other side of the mountain so it can be a meeting point for friends with different hobbies.
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Starting point:
Turnu Monastery (Mănăstirea Turnu) accessible by car or by train – Turnu Railway station (gara Turnu).
Route details
The hiking route goes on the Red Stripe on Muchia Turneanu up to the Ciuha Mare peak.
Under the peak you can rest, eat or even stay overnight at the Cozia Mountain Lodge (Cabana Cozia) – we recommend that you call the owners of the lodge to make sure you will find what you need there.
The way down follows the Blue Stripe and takes us back to the starting point by passing near another monastery, Stanisoara. After the monastery, we will follow the red stripe again back to the starting point.
Trail Markings: the route is 100% on marked trails, there are no orientation problems.
Water Sources:
- down in the parking lot at Turnu Monastery;
- a spring near the Stanisoara Monastery;
- at the top of the mountain, at the Cozia Mountain Lodge (sometimes the spring dries but you can still buy bottled water from the lodge).
Surface
Most of the trail is dirt, covered by the forest. On the upper part of the Blue Stripe, there are big rocks and some chains to help you pass over them.
There are no exposed parts with the risk of falling but there are some sections that can be dangerous when frozen on the upper part of the Blue Stripe.
Alternative routes:
- The route can go in reverse with no problems.
- If you have the time you can make a detour from Manastirea Stanisoara to a Waterfall – Cascada Gardului. It takes around an hour but it involves scrambling.
- If you want to avoid the chains you can go uphill and downhill on the Red Stripe (but you will miss the views from the Blue Stripe).
- You can start from Pausa village (Blue Stripe) but it makes the route longer with no benefits.
- We do not recommend the Red Triangle that connects Turnu Monastery with the Red Stripe as it is more difficult (steeper, more technical and with a more sandy surface) and it doesn’t have better views.
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