08 Jun Cerna Valley Hikes – Beautiful Fall in Prisacinei Gorge
If the sun is shining and the weather is hot and if you just happen to be close to Cerna Valley, Romania, then I warmly recommend going on a hike. And what better destination for half a day of relaxation than Prisacinei Gorge? Even though this track is not that known it has a lot to offer to the wandering tourist that chooses to step on its footpath. You will start the hike on “Patraula”, name of the old borderline between the Habsburgic Empire and the Ottoman Empire, followed by an easy walk through Prisacina Gorge, then climb the steep slope towards Prisacina Peak and finally you’ll discover one of the amazing hamlets from Cerna Valley, Prisacina. And yes, it’s all about Prisacina today! From here, even though the altitude isn’t that high, about 1000 meters, you will have a great opening of the whole Cerna Valley in all its might.
Distance
15 Km
Total Time
6h 00 min
Active Time
5 h 42 min
Vertical Relief
+880 / -880 m
Min/Max Altitude
250 – 914 m
Average Speed
3.1 km/h
Hike to Prisacinei Gorge
The hike starts at Dumbrava Motel, located at 13 kilometers from Baile Herculane in the direction of Baia de Arama, where you can sleep either in the pension or by tent in the glave close by. From Dumbrava you will walk approximately 1 kilometer on the main road towards Baia de Arama until you will find the 
Do note that this is a circuit track and on your way back you will come on the left side of the bridge on the same markings. The first part of the track is done on a footpath called “Patraula” that represents the old border between the Habsburgic Empire and the Ottoman Empire and later in time between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Romania (in case you didn’t know Transylvania was under Austrian occupation for a long time, since 1711 and until 1914).
The path will next take you on Prisacina Gorge (Cheile Prisacinei) where the landscape changes to an ever-green moss, ivy and fern filled river valley, kingdom of the salamanders. The footpath will start on the right side of the river and later, close to the end of the gorge, it will switch to the left, where you will start a steep ascent on a slope in the direction of Prisacina Peak. Pay close attention in this region as the markings get more scarce.
After a sustained climb through the forest and on an ever turning path you will reach one of the first great view points, with a stunning opening on the surrounding cliffs. Continue on the
At some point you will reach a final hilltop from where the path will continue on a constant descent back to the bridge that marked the start of the hike. Here I suggest you to stop and enjoy the peace and quiet this place has to offer and also to take delight in the view over the whole Cerna Valley. Follow the
There are a lot of other destinations you can go to in the close vicinity, but for more info consult this map of the hiking routes in Domogled – Cerna Valley National Park.
GPS track to Prisacinei Gorge
How to get to Prisacinei Gorge
Getting to Baile Herculane is pretty easy and the road is really good no matter where you are coming from. To reach Herculane from Timisoara you need to go on road E70 in the direction of Lugoj and Caransebes; note that both towns have ring-roads so no need to go through them. After passing by Mehadia, a small town, you will have to do a left turn in about 5 kilometers in order to enter Baile Herculane over a narrow concrete bridge. The road has good markings and the entrance is hard to miss as the railway station is also there.
Where to sleep?
There are plenty accommodation options in Herculane, depending on personal budget and preferences, you can choose from. Our favorite spot is the small camping glave next to Dumbrava Motel, roughly 14 kilometers from Baile Herculane. We like this place because it is remote and far away from the busy life of the resort and also it is close to most hiking routes in the area. If you wish for even more intimacy you can cross the footbridge over Cerna River that is located in front of the motel and camp in that glave. Both glaves are owned by a local farmer that sometimes comes to collect approximately 1 euro (5 lei) per person/night for your stay there but he accepts any currency as we found out at some point (we had only euro with us). There are no toilets or bathrooms available in the glaves but for such things you are welcomed to use the facilities at Motel Dumbrava as the owners are really nice.
We usually eat at the motel as the prices are really decent, a breakfast would be 2-3 euro and a lunch about 4-5 euro but if you have packed food you are welcome to eat it on their outdoor terrace free of charge. If the outdoor sleeping isn’t your thing you can rent a cozy double room at Dumbrava that will cost you 18 euro per night (80 lei) and you will also have access to their indoor swimming pool. From the motel, you have many close destinations and hikes that don’t require a car to get to.
Good to know
Besides hiking and thermal baths, there are many other activities available in the area like rafting, canoeing, gliding, bouldering and mainly rock climbing. For climbing enthusiasts, Herculane is simply a paradise (because of the limestone rock composition of the mountains) with a lot of tracks scaling from easy to a professional level of difficulty. Most, if not all tracks are in great condition as the guys from Alternative, are constantly taking care of them. There is also a big annual international competition going on here for all levels of climbers that will take place somewhere in September 2015 (current year), the Herculane Climbing Open.
In the glaves close to Motel Dumbrava, you can build a campfire and there is a freshwater spring in the vicinity of the footbridge.
In terms of food, it really depends on what you have planned to do and where you are sleeping, but you will find many restaurants in Baile Herculane. If you are sleeping close to or at Dumbrava Motel they are serving food from 8 AM until around 10 PM but if you are hiking in the mountain you will have to pack your own food as there are no chalets in the area.
There is no entrance fee for the Domogled – Cerna Valley National Park but if you wish to enter the thermal baths at some resorts you might need to either book a room there or pay the admission to the pool.
Hope you found the information helpful and accurate, but remember, if you have any questions drop them in a comment below!
Other great adventures
-
Transylvania MTB Ride: Sirnea
If you’re planning to visit Transylvania, particularly Brasov area and you’re also looking forward to some beautiful mountain biking routes, we totally recommend this one. A nice 50 km ride will enter...
-
Cycling around Dracula’s Castle – Piatra Craiului National Park
Dracula's Castle, an international landmark, is probably one of the most visited places in Romania but we are not going to talk about that. Nevertheless, we are going to talk about the cycling opport...
-
Italian Dolomites: Via Ferrata Giovanni Lipella (4C)
Via ferrata Giovanni Lipella is one of the most emblematic routes in the Dolomites. Not only are the views breathtaking but also the ferrata is a bit more challenging due to its length, altitude and e...
PinkBubblesGoApe1982
Posted at 13:14h, 08 Juneprea putine poze
Karina
Posted at 13:30h, 08 JuneSunt de acord, dar dacă am reuşit cel puţin să stârnim interesul pentru această tură, eu spun că este win-win! 🙂 Restul rămâne să îl descoperiţi voi!