Pietrosu Peak
2,100 m
Romania
Also known as Pietrosul Călimanilor, Pietrosul Călimani, +1Also known as
Pietrosul Călimanilor · Pietrosul Călimani · Vârful Pietrosul Călimanilor, Munții Călimani
- Elevation
- 2,100 m
- Prominence
- 1,194 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: Medium (muntii-nostri.ro, to Coada Pietrosului) (muntii-nostri.ro) · Medium to hard (vatra-dornei.info) (vatra-dornei.info)
The standard ascent from the north: from the village of Gura Haitii (about 975 m) up the Haita valley on a long forest road, then a steep forest path and cleared strip to Poiana Izvoarele, and a steep, loose climb through dwarf pine to the main ridge at Coada Pietrosului (about 1,900 m), which leads in an hour to the summit (2,100 m). About 13 km and 1,100 m of ascent; 5½–6 hours up.
About <1% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 3 check notes
- ascent 1698 m is 1.6× the net gain 1057 m: the line probably detours down and back up (not a traverse)
- DIN time up 9.83 h vs published 5.5 h (+79%)
- unresolved waypoints: Poiana Izvoarele, Coada Pietrosului
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 23.2 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,698 m
- −640 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,100 m
- Time Up
- 9h 50m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 8h 33m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at Gura Haitii, 27 km from Vatra Dornei towards Șaru Dornei, at the information board and signpost (red cross, blue cross, blue triangle) where the route turns right off the concrete road towards the former Negoiul Românesc sulphur mine. After about 1 km the 12 Apostoli themed path branches off. The red cross follows the Haita forest road for about 8 km to the national park boundary; vehicles are banned on this road (a barrier was reported, open 08:00–17:00), so expect to walk it. At the end of the road cross the Tarnița brook and climb a forest path through dense spruce, then a cleared strip for 1.5–2 km to Poiana Izvoarele, a meadow with a spring. Turn right on the crossing trail, follow the blue band left after about 400 m (a 40-minute detour leads to the Grui heroes' monument), and after about 600 m turn sharp left for a steep 500 m climb through dwarf pine, rhododendron and blueberry on loose scree to Coada Pietrosului (about 1,900 m) on the main ridge. The cleared strip and the scree are poorly marked and easy to lose in fog. Follow the red-band main-ridge trail west for about an hour to Pietrosul Călimani (2,100 m), the highest point of the Călimani and of Romania's volcanic mountains. Return the same way, or continue along the ridge towards Negoiu Unguresc and the old sulphur quarry. Allow 5½–6 hours up from Gura Haitii; a ticket for Călimani National Park is required.
Start
Gura Haitii1,043 m
- Buses from Vatra Dornei towards Șaru Dornei; check whether they continue to Gura Haitii.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gura Haitii → Pietrosul Călimani | 23.2 | 1,698 | 640 | 9h 50m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Gura Haitii1,043 m
- Summit: Pietrosul Călimani2,100 m
Key Passages
- 8 km forest road up the Haita valley
- Cleared strip to Poiana Izvoarele (poorly marked)
- Steep loose climb through dwarf pine to Coada Pietrosului
- Main ridge from Coada Pietrosului to the summit
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 60%Overview
The highest summit of the Călimani Mountains (2,100 m) and of Romania's volcanic Carpathians, on the rim of the range's great eroded caldera in Călimani National Park. A long, quiet day from Gura Haitii up forest roads and a steep dwarf-pine slope to the open ridge.
The Călimani are the largest volcanic complex in the Carpathians, a ring of ridges around an extinct crater about 10 km across in northern Romania, on the borders of Suceava, Mureș and Bistrița-Năsăud counties. Pietrosul Călimani is the highest point of the rim and of the whole volcanic chain of the Eastern Carpathians. Nearby are the rock formations of the 12 Apostoli reserve and the scars of the former Negoiul Românesc sulphur mine, worked until 1997 inside the crater and now an enclave within the national park.
The mountains are protected as Călimani National Park, and an access ticket is required. They are much less visited than the Bucegi or Făgăraș: there are no staffed huts on the ridge, waymarking is patchy in places, and forest roads make up much of the approach. Above the spruce forest, the upper slopes are covered in dwarf pine, juniper, rhododendron and blueberry, and the summit ridge is open grass and andesite blocks.
The usual approach is from the north-east, from Gura Haitii near Vatra Dornei; another follows the red-band main ridge past the sulphur quarry and Negoiu Unguresc. Brown bears are common in the area.
Climbing Notes
Expect a long day: 5½–6 hours up and 10–11 hours return from Gura Haitii, with about 1,100 m of ascent, much of it on forest road. The upper section is steep and loose and poorly marked, so carry a map or GPS track and avoid it in fog. There are no huts; carry food and enough water (the last spring is at Poiana Izvoarele). Buy a park ticket (10 lei per adult per day in 2026) at the visitor centre in Șaru Dornei or from rangers in the field.
Vehicle access on the Haita forest road is restricted; plan to walk it. The route is not recommended in winter, when snow and avalanche risk make the steep upper slopes dangerous. Brown bears are common: make noise in the forest and keep food secure. For current conditions contact Salvamont Vatra Dornei.
History
The Călimani volcanoes were active roughly 1.8–5 million years ago. Sulphur was mined in the Negoiul Românesc secondary crater until 1997. Călimani National Park was founded in 1990 and covers about 24,000 ha, including the 12 Apostoli reserve and a Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra) reserve.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Not recommended in winter; deep snow, avalanche risk on the steep slopes
- Apr
- Snow on the upper slopes
- May
- Snow patches; wet forest roads
- Jun
- Rhododendrons in flower; thunderstorms
- Sep
- Often the most settled month
- Oct
- Short days, early snow; forest road barrier may be closed
Access & Permits
- Permits
- Călimani National Park access ticketRequired
Required by law for everyone entering the park: 10 lei per adult per day, 5 lei for pupils and students (2026). Included in guided packages.
calimani.ro
- Fees
- Park ticket 10 lei per adult per day (2026)
- Rules
- Călimani National Park: keep to marked trails; camping only in designated places
- Motor vehicles are banned on the Haita forest road above Gura Haitii (barrier reported)
- Getting There
Vatra Dornei
Suceava (SCV); Târgu Mureș (TGM)
- Car: from Vatra Dornei 27 km south towards Șaru Dornei to Gura Haitii
- Train or bus to Vatra Dornei, then local bus or taxi towards Șaru Dornei and Gura Haitii
- Călimani National Park visitor centre: Șaru Dornei no. 54C (tel. 0230 371 104)
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness
- Avalanche