Poiana Pelegii - Bucura Lake (08/2023)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 1.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,450 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 0 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,704 ft
- TrailRank
- 36
- Min elevation
- 5,204 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- one hour 20 minutes
- Time
- 2 hours 9 minutes
- Coordinates
- 569
- Uploaded
- August 4, 2023
- Recorded
- August 2023
near Râuşor, Județul Hunedoara (România)
Viewed 177 times, downloaded 4 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Physical difficulty: 2/5
Note #1: The problem with getting to Bucura Lake (rom. Lacul Bucura) is driving on the shitty road to Poiana Pelegii. The road is very rough. It is passable with "normal" cars (i.e. non-SUV/non off-road vehicles) but you have to drive very carefully and slowly. There are many major potholes that you absolutely need to avoid if you care about your car. It will take you about an hour and a half to traverse the whole 18 km of it.
Note #2: Entrance to the Retezat National Park is paid to the ranger, a few minutes drive after you cross the Gura Apelor Dam. Entry fee is 10 lei (2€) per person, and 15 lei (3€) for the car, cash only.
Note #3: The parking lot on Poiana Pelegii was packed on the weekend. On workdays, there should be plenty of available space.
Note #4: The trail crosses several shallow streams which cannot be avoided, really. For this reason it's advisable to bring waterproof shoes.
Note #5: There is no mobile reception anywhere on the trail, you'll be going completely offline. Mobile signal is completely lost pretty early, right after passing the last of the larger populated villages on road DJ685. Prepare your maps in advance.
Note #6: Because of no signal, bring a map app with OpenStreetMaps overview that works offline, like OsmAnd or Muntii Nostri. The basic version of OsmAnd is completely free with more than enough features for hikers. Muntii Nostri is the official Romanian hiking app (has English option also). The free version doesn't work online, but they give you the premium features (including online functionality) for 30 days upon first registration.
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The trail starts at the parking lot a few minutes away from the Poiana Pelegii and the mountain rescue service hut located there. It's a straightforward ascent to Bucura Lake, which is the usual "basecamp" for pitching tents and hiking in the area.
At Intersection #3 you can choose to go straight and directly towards Bucura Lake, or to go left and choose the scenic route passing along a few additional lakes (Lia & Ana).
Waypoints
Car park
5,389 ft
Car parking (near Poiana Pelegii)
The unpaved car park just before Poiana Pelegii. It holds plenty of space, but it gets busy quickly on the weekends. On workdays it should be fine.
Bridge
5,205 ft
Bridge across the Peleaga river
This is the only "difficult" part of the trail, no more trunk-walking will be required for the rest of the hike.
Intersection
5,283 ft
Intersection #2 / Poiana Pelegii
This is Poiana Pelegii, another popular camping place. If you want to buy a magnet-souvenir or herbal tea, you can visit the mountain rescue service hut. Each item costs about 10-15 lei (2-3€).
Waypoint
Intersection
6,381 ft
Intersection #3 / continue straight
If you wish to go on a slight detour and see 2 more lakes along your hike, take a left here and do the "Lake tour" which will see you passing by the lakes Lia & Ana before reaching Bucura.
Lake
6,698 ft
Bucura Lake
Bucura Lake, the most popular camping place for hikers in the area. There are two makeshift toilets (squatting only), a mountain rescue hut (Salvamont) with several on-duty servicemen. A minute further from the hut there's a spring of potable water. Swimming and/or fishing in the lake is prohibited. The lake is surrounded by several prominent peaks - Judele, Bucura I, Custura Bucueri and Peleaga being the most imposing.
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