Parângu Mare
2,519 m
Romania
Also known as Parângul Mare, Vârful Parângul Mare, +2Also known as
Parângul Mare · Vârful Parângul Mare · პარინგულ-მარე · Vârful Parângul Mare, Munții Parâng
- Elevation
- 2,519 m
- Prominence
- 2,103 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: medium to hard (mediu spre greu) (traseunemarcat.ro)
The shortest one-day ascent: chairlift (or summer road) from Petroșani to Parâng resort at about 1,685 m, then the red-stripe main ridge over Scurtu, Cârja, Stoienița and Gemănarea to the summit. About 17–20 km return and 1,300–1,600 m of total ascent, all above the treeline with no water on the ridge.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 9.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,047 m
- −208 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,519 m
- Time Up
- 5h 07m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 59m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the top station of the old Parâng chairlift (about 1,685 m), climb the stony track past the chalets and the ANEFS sports base to the start of the red-stripe ridge path. The path climbs to the shoulder of Parângul Mic (2,074 m) — the marked line contours below its summit, which can be included with a short detour — and continues south-east along the broad ridge to Scurtu (2,203 m), where a yellow-dot path branches left to Lake Mija. Beyond the old stone Cârja storm shelter (2,231 m) comes the steepest section of the day, a rocky climb to Vârful Cârja (2,405 m), marked by a post with a bent top. The ridge then stays around 2,400 m over Stoienița (2,421 m) and Gemănarea (2,437 m), with views down into the glacial cirques and lakes on the north side, before the final rise to Parângu Mare (2,519 m), which carries a concrete survey marker. Signposts give about 4 hours from the resort to the summit; walkers' accounts give 8–8½ hours for the round trip with breaks and 10–12 hours at a relaxed pace. Descend the same way. There is no water on the ridge itself (one spring below Parângul Mic), little shelter and no escape from afternoon thunderstorms, so start early. The summer route is not the winter route: in winter the ridge is avalanche-prone and corniced, and the marked summer line is described as closed in winter.
Start
Stațiunea Parâng1,677 m
- Old Parâng chairlift from the valley (about 1,073 m) to the resort (about 1,685 m); a newer chairlift (TS3) runs from the Hotel Rusu area but stops lower, at about 1,700 m near pylon 17.
- Train or bus to Petroșani, then taxi (about 8 km) to the lower station of the Parâng chairlift; the chairlift (or, in summer, the road) leads to the resort.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stațiunea Parâng → Parângul Mare | 9.7 | 1,047 | 208 | 5h 07m |
Waypoints
- Lift: Stațiunea Parâng1,677 m
Upper station of the old chairlift; in summer the resort can also be reached by road
- Feature: Parângul Mic2,069 m
Red-stripe path contours below the summit
- Shoulder: Scurtu2,198 m
Junction with the yellow-dot path to Lake Mija
- Shoulder: Cârja2,398 m
- Shoulder: Stoienița2,395 m
- Shoulder: Gemănarea2,431 m
- Summit: Parângul Mare2,519 m
Key Passages
- Steep rocky climb from the Cârja shelter to Vârful Cârja
- Exposed ridge around 2,400 m over Stoienița and Gemănarea
- Final rise to Parângu Mare
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
At 2,519 m the highest summit of the Parâng Mountains and the fourth-highest in Romania, the top of a broad grassy-and-rocky ridge above more than 20 glacial lakes. A long but non-technical day walk from Parâng resort above Petroșani.
Parângu Mare is the culminating point of the Parâng Mountains in the Southern Carpathians, between the Jiu valley and Petroșani to the west, the Lotru valley to the north-east and the Transalpina road (DN67C) to the east. It is Romania's fourth-highest peak after Moldoveanu, Negoiu and Viștea Mare, and the highest outside the Făgăraș range. Around it some 40 summits exceed 2,000 m, and the north side of the main ridge is cut by glacial cirques holding the Roșiile, Lung, Mândra, Mija and Gâlcescu lake groups.
The main ridge is broad and mostly free of real difficulty, but long: the classic ascent from Parâng resort is around 17–20 km and 1,300–1,600 m of total ascent for the round trip, almost all of it above the treeline with no water and little shelter. The alternative from the north climbs through the Jieț and Roșiile valleys past a chain of lakes. The full red-stripe ridge from Curmătura Oltețului to the Parâng chairlift is about 40 km and usually takes 2–3 days.
The summit carries a concrete survey marker. Bears, wolves and lynx live in the range, and shepherds graze sheep on the ridge in summer, with the working dogs that go with them.
Climbing Notes
In summer this is a fitness test rather than a technical climb: plan 8–10 hours for the round trip from Parâng resort and carry all your water. Start early to be off the exposed ridge before afternoon thunderstorms, and check the chairlift timetable (last ride down mid-afternoon) or arrange transport for the road. Snow patches linger on the north side into July.
In winter the summer ridge path is avalanche-prone and corniced and is described as closed in winter; ascents then follow different lines and need winter mountaineering skills, crampons and an ice axe, or ski-touring experience. Romanian mountain rescue (Salvamont) is reached via 112.
History
The Siebenbürgischer Karpatenverein (SKV, Transylvanian Carpathian Society) built a stone refuge below Vârful Cârja on the main ridge in 1889; it was rebuilt in 1932–1938, fell into ruin and was restored by the PRO-PARANG ski-touring association in 2004–2007 as a storm shelter. Parâng resort above Petroșani developed as a ski area, reached by the old chairlift from the valley.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter mountaineering or ski-touring only; summer ridge path closed in winter
- Feb
- Winter conditions, avalanche risk
- Mar
- Winter conditions; ski-touring for experienced parties
- Apr
- Deep spring snow on the ridge
- May
- Snow above about 1,900 m
- Jun
- Snow patches on the north side; possible in a dry year from late June
- Jul
- Main season; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Main season
- Sep
- Often stable weather; shorter days
- Oct
- First snow likely; short days
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Old Parâng chairlift: 25 lei up and 37 lei return for adults (2024–2025 season prices)
- Rules
- The summer ridge path from Parâng resort is described as closed in winter (traseu interzis iarna); winter ascents follow different lines
- Getting There
Petroșani
Sibiu (SBZ) or Craiova (CRA)
- Train or bus to Petroșani; taxi about 8 km to the lower station of the old Parâng chairlift, which runs to the resort at about 1,685 m
- In summer a road leads from the Hotel Rusu area up to Parâng resort; in winter access to the resort is by chairlift only
- Groapa Seacă trailhead: about 20 km from Petroșani on the DN7A towards Obârșia Lotrului; car or taxi recommended
- From the Transalpina (DN67C), marked paths lead from the Urdele pass along the ridge and from Obârșia Lotrului via the Lotru valley and Gâlcescu lakes (longer)
Hazards
- Weather
- Avalanche
- Remoteness
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,676 m
Refugiul AgățatRefugeUnstaffed
6 beds · Year-round, unstaffed; condition described as quite good