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Area/Range |
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45.52200°N / 25.92500°E |
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Hiking, Trad Climbing, Sport Climbing, Bouldering, Scrambling, Skiing |
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
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6410 ft / 1954 m |
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East from the Bucegi Mountains, in the Carpathian Bend, part of the Eastern Carpathians, extends a series of lower mountain ranges, none of which rises over 2,000m. Their ridgelines are rather monotonous, wavy or undulating, covered with either woods or pastures. The borders between particular ranges, some of which are known under more than one name, are far from obvious. The Ciucaş Mountains stand out from their surroundings in that they are a few hundred metres higher and boast spectacular, peculiar rock formations, thus resembling a medieval fortress. These mountains sit between the Grohotiş Mountains in the southwest and the Siriu Mountains in the east. From the north they are bounded by the Întorsurii Mountains. The Ciucaş Mountains embrace the Tesla and Dungu massifs, situated west and northwest, respectively, of Vf. Ciucaş, i.e. Ciucaş Peak.
The highpoint of the Ciucaş Mountains has the same name as the mountain range. At 1954m, it stands near the north end of the Bratocea Ridge, which runs from the southwest, from the pass named Bratocea (the national road Braşov-Cheia). The Bratocea Ridge forms the western part of the main ridge of the Ciucaş Mountains. At Ciucaş Peak what is thought to be the main ridge takes a sharp turn right, drops a couple of hundred metres and runs ESE to connect to the other, eastern part of the main ridge, which is called Zăganu.
The Zăganu Ridge, whose highest summit is Gropşoare at 1883m, runs from NNW to SSE. From its north stretch it sends a remarkable lateral ridge to the southwest, known as Muntele Roşu (1765m), whose extension reaches the resort of Cheia.
The bizarre, unique shapes of the groups of rock formations are the hallmark of the Ciucaş Mountains. The association of towers, needles, sugar loaves, mushrooms, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic rocks, etc. is a result of differential weathering of the rock material they are formed of, namely Zăganu-Ceahlău conglomerate, which is a type of sedimentary rock that consists of plethora of boulders and pebbles embedded in sandstone or calcareous matrix. The rock formations carved in the conglomerate tend to have characteristic, rounded tops, whereas the sharper spires and cliff edges can indicate limestone rather than conglomerate. All landforms are undergoing a relatively rapid evolution due to the harsh mountain climate.
The table below lists the highest summits and the most spectacular rock formations.
Summit | A few words about | ||
Vf.Ciucaş |
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The highest summit, in the central part of the mountains, at the western end of the part of the main ridge which is oriented NW-SE. On a trail marked with red stripes. | |
Gropşoare |
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The highest summit of the Zăganu Ridge with a historic border post dating back to 1938. On a red cross trail. | |
Babele la Sfat | ![]() |
Matchmakers - a fascinating nature's sculpture, half a kilometre SE off Ciucaş Peak. Red stripes. | |
Ţigăile Mari |
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Great Ţigăile, to Hungarian people known as Sziklavár, in the central part about 1 km SE from Ciucaş Peak. An exceptionally beautiful association of conglomerate landforms, traversed by a trail marked with red stripes/red crosses. | |
Ţigăile Mici |
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To Hungarians known as Királytető, in the central part, next to the saddle of Ţigăile. Red stripes. | |
Zăganu | ![]() |
In the south part of the eastern ridge, with the spectacular Copper Tower. On a red cross trail. | |
Turnul Goliat | ![]() |
An anthropomorphic rock formation, in the central part of the mountains, half a kilometre from the saddle of Ţigăile. A red cross traverse. | |
Bratocea | ![]() |
In the southernmost part of the western ridge with an anthropomorphic Sfinxul Bratocei, about 2 km away from Bratocea Pass. Red stripes. And yellow triangles from Babarunca hut. |
The Ciucaş Mountains, covering an area of just 200 square km, present an extraordinarily rich relief. This wonder of nature is a paradise for trekkers, also for those who prefer winter adventures, day hikers, photographers, for anyone inclined to marvel at pretty wild, fairy scenery.
Online maps
Paper maps
Trailhead At | Marks | Hours of Hiking | Destinations |
dorucalinciobanu - May 19, 2014 12:09 pm - Voted 10/10
Corrections1. The German name is Krähenstein (DE): http://www.ebay.de/itm/AK-Siebenbuergische-Karpathen-Kraehenstein-Jaenner-1917-/310896367621?clk_rvr_id=635837796177&nma=true&si=WMNnl5YqfHF50U67mPp8vVnIl50%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 2. Best online free downloadable resources (Guidebook - Romanian - 2 vols. & Map): https://sites.google.com/site/romanianatura7/home/carpatii-meridionali/ciucas/ghid-muntii-ciucas 3. Latest (2009) paper 1:30 000 map: http://www.himalaya.ro/en/produs/harta-muntii-ciucas-belalpin--1292/ 4. The distance from Cheia to Muntele Rosu hut is 7.7 km: 4.4 km on DN 1A and 3.3 km on a road that WAS asphalted (this 3.3 km road is VERY bad now!): http://www.jeka.ro/Distanta-Cheia_Muntele%20rosu.aspx 5. There are buses from Brașov (Poienelor) to Săcele (Garaj): http://autobuze.blogspot.ro/p/sacele.html You should add 30 min. to the departure hours given in the table, to find out the departure hours from Brașov (Poienelor). 6. The closest railway stations are in Dârste, Măneciu and Întorsura Buzăului. 7. Best weather forecast for Ciucaș: http://freemeteo.ro/weather/ciucas/7-days/list/?gid=681487&language=english&country=romania 8. Babarunca on the national road 1A Braşov-Cheia, at 908 m.
LukZem - May 21, 2014 5:35 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Correctionsad1. Are you sure? http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krähenstein Please have a look here:http://www.mountex.sk/produkt/80101-065-0/_konigstein_-_bucegi_-_schuller_grossstein_-_tschukasch But your contribution is very precious. I´ve submitted it as an External link... ad2. Thanks a lot for these extremely interesting links. Are you able to translate the most important infos? It would be great:D BTW: I didn't know about Capatini de Zahar - a peculiar needle, part of Tigaile Mari... ad3. Now have a look at Chapter 2 (also very precious contribution) ad4. Added. ad5. Link to this timetable submitted. ad6. Done. ad7. Added. ad8. Repaired Thanks a million for your great effort in improving this page. Please, check it again... Salut!
dorucalinciobanu - May 21, 2014 8:36 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Corrections1. Look here, official newspaper of german minority in RO: http://www.adz.ro/artikel/artikel/wandern-der-kraehenstein/ 2. It's huge information to transate from here: https://sites.google.com/site/romanianatura7/home/carpatii-meridionali/ciucas/ghid-muntii-ciucas (By the way - The link provided by You in the article has an error!) My english is quite poor. If You really need some information to be translated, please try to be more specific. Thanx! 3. More information about 1:30 000 BEL ALPIN map: http://www.karpatia.ro/ (search: ciucas)
LukZem - May 21, 2014 9:53 am - Hasn't voted
Re: CorrectionsHopefully, now it is OK...