Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park

Chelie Nerei-Beusnita National Park is one of the most stunning places in Romania and the ideal destination if you ‘re looking for handy hikes in the wilderness. Further away from Bucharest than many other famous Carpathian itineraries, this countrywide park uses its remoteness to its advantage, higher conserving its biodiversity and natural wonders, such as its unique blue lakes and waterfalls.

Located in the southern phase of Aninei Mountains, this included area covers 36,758 hectares from Caras-Severin, the solely country in Romania with three included area of this rank: Cheile Nerei-Beusnita, Domogled-Valea Cernei and Semenic-Chelie Carasului.

When it comes to its plant and animal species, Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park is a rare presence in the arpathian chain. Unlike most Romanian country wide parks the place high-altitude habitats and extensive coniferous forests provide lots of roaming house for giant carnivores, here the most common animals are the amphibians, the birds, the bats and the viper. Feared by means of many, the toxic viper species from the park are, however, blanketed and elusive, and the chances of an assault are low. As lengthy as you pay attention to the trails and avoid sunny cliffs and rocks, you’ll circumvent any unwanted encounter. The geomorphology of the region created a magnificent panorama with gorges, hills, valley, caves, ravines, waterfalls and rare lakes. They’re all key natural points of interest of this national park where swamps, wetlands, forests and cliffs are the predominant habitats. The most famous of its herbal points of interest are Ochiul Beiului and the Devil’s Lakes, Beusnita Waterfalls and its over 20 km long gorges.

From Sasca Romana to Sopotu Nou, the gorges the Nera River creates are some of the wildest in the country. While trekking their whole path takes nearly two days, the scenery is extra than well worth your time. A shorter, however even extra adventurous option to see the gorges is to spend a full day kayaking on the river, solely viable in late springs or early summers.

Either way, trekking or kayaking, you’;ll see the 12 meters deep Devil’s Lake, the only lake in Romania formed after the fall down of cave ceiling. Rather challenging to reach, this turquoise lake was once named after the legend of a devil who drowned in the dark waters of the lake. Another lake is, however, the most famous attraction. Ochiul Beiului, a lake so blue that for a moment you’ll feel you’re half the world away. Only 3 meters deep, this lake is simply a 30 minutes stroll from Podu Beiului, and is an all yr spherical attraction. Supplied via a karst spring, Ochiul Beiului never adjustment its trophical blur color and never freezes. Like the Devil’s Lake, Ochiul Beiului additionally receives its identify from a local legend, this time from a tragic love story.

Less than half of an hour away from the lake, you’ll reach the waterfalls of two Beusnita, a succession of small waterfalls that lead to the most astonishing one, 5 meters tall, included in moss and lichens. The waterfalls Susara and Vaioga are also easily reached from Sasca Montana and Ochiul Bei.

Hiking trails

Cheile Nerei Beusnita National Park has many hiking trails to select from. You can hike the whole itinerary of the gorges, from Sopotu Nou to Sasca Romana that additionaly includes the Devil’s Lake and the rock tunnels between Podu Bei and Sasca Romana. Or you can depart from Sasca Romana on the suspended bridge, via the rock tunnels to Podu Bei, Ochiul Beiului Lake and the waterfalls of Beusnita.

You’ll want at least 4 days to discover on foot the natural attraction from Cheile-Nerei Beusnita National park, one of the most faraway wasteland areas in Romania. The first class time is from late spring to late autumn, and you can without problems combine it with a visit to the nearby Iron Gates Nature Park and the Watermills park from Eftimie Murgu.

Travel tips

Accommodation is scarce in the area. The best choice stays Sasca Romana, but the reserving must br carried out in time. You can also camp close to a small trout restaurant close to Podu Bei. Reserve half a day to take the educate from Oravita to Anina, one of the oldest mountain educate routes in Romania, with many viaducts, tunnels and wooded area views.