A truly spectacular route is the one that starts in the asphalted road that goes through Bicaz Gorge at the point called “Podul Ungurilor” (Hungarians Bridge), located between “Gatul Iadului” (Hell’s Neck) and “Pridvorul Iadului” (Hell’s Porch). The route is marked with a yellow line on a white background. The trail goes on the right side of Bicajel creek.

The environment from Bicajel Gorge is wild and beautiful with swirling waters hidden under the ice. Once you’ll reach the south east side of “Piatra Surducului” Stone you’ll have the chance of admiring the entire beauty of Bicajel Gorges from a specially designed panoramic spot.

Cheile Bicajelului during winter, Neamt County

Soon the trail will exit the forest and will continue through Surduc Plane until it reaches the old Surduc Road that will guide your footsteps to Bicajel village. Once you reach this place a whole different world will lay before your eyes. A world with small wood house of over 100 years old and mountain roads carved into the forest.

The trail then crosses Bicajel Creek and reaches the plane called Saua Tifra from where you’ll follow the marking yellow triangle. The trail will go near a massive stone wall called “Piatra Maria” (Maria Stone).

So if you love nature walks and snow come visit Bicaz Gorge and enjoy the spectacular environments that hide beyond the massive stone walls that guard the asphalted road.

The route starts in Durau Resort from where the trail goes into the forest. the first stopping point is Fantenele Chalet from where you can admire the rocky look of Ceahlau Mountain, with Toaca Peak and Panaghia stone guarding the top.

From Fantanele Chalet the trail becomes steeper and from time to time the forest will open with some great panoramas toward Durau Resort. During winter the scenery is great and the tall pine trees are covered in snow.

Ceahlau Fantanele winter 2011, Neamt County

The trail will take you to the places called “La morminte”, “Curmatura Arsitei” and “Caciula Dorobantului” from where you’ll have the chance of some beautiful panoramas over Izvorul Muntelui Lake and the surrounding mountains. From “Caciula Dorobantului” Stone the trail goes into the forest and soon you’ll have a great view toward Panaghia Stone.

After that the trail will go around Toaca Peak,, will reach the Weather Station and in the end will stop to Dochia Chalet. The scenery during wither is incredible. The climbing is more difficult than in other moments of the year but once you reached the top the reward is worth the effort.

Walking on this route will guide your footsteps on Bistra creek valley. From here the road goes to the right into the forest until it reaches the place called “Curmatura la Scaune”. The dirt road continues through the forest until it reaches Stanile Plane where you’ll have the chance to admire the south-west side of Ceahlau Mountain, Butu’s Tower Stone and the stone wall of Ocolasul Mare Peak.

Ceahlau Stanile winter 2011, Neamt County

From Stanile Plane, where there is also “Sf Antonie” Hermitage the route continues on the dirt road until the touristic marking directs you into the forest. This is the final part of the trail that will take you to the top of Ceahlau Mountain.

On top of the mountain, the winter images will overwhelm you. You’ll see the peaks of Hasmas, “Pietrele Rosii” Stones and “Magura Grintiesului”. The trail will take you Dochia Chalet and will pass near a stone called “Piatra Lacrimata” (The Weeping Stone – named like this because it looks like a crying man) and near “Stefan cel Mare” Monastery.

After this point the route is marked with a blue triangle placed on orientation pillars. You’ll have to walk on the asphalted road for about 2 km, until you’ll reach an intersection from which the route goes on the dirt road from your left. This is also the point where many tourists prefer to leave their cars.

Izvorul Muntelui chalet (797 m) – Dochia stone (1185 m) – Dochia chalet
Markings: blue dot (from Izvorul Muntelui chalet until the intersection with the asphalted road) and then blue triangle
Difficulty: medium (during hard winters or in heavy fog conditions the upper part of the route can be dangerous)

The trail goes through a valley guarded by Rachitis’s Foot on its left and along Izvorul Alb creek. The scenery is spectacular and soon the valley becomes narrow. At some point you’ll have to cross a small water stream so waterproof boots are required.

You continue to follow the trail that goes through numerous limestone formations until you’ll reach Dochia Stone. Under this stone there is a fresh creek that will help you cool off in hot summer days. You cross Poiana Izvoarelor plane and then you enter the forest on a steep trail.

At some point the trail will exit the forest and you’ll see Toaca peak on your right. The trail twists itself through small pine trees. As you climb, a spectacular view opens behind you with Izvorul Muntelui Lake in the background.

This is the last portion of the route and soon you’ll reach Dochia chalet. A word of caution regarding hiking during winter on this route: the upper part can be dangerous after a heavy snowfall or on thick fog.

The beautiful image of this place is formed by mountain sceneries, traditional wood houses, traditional hay barns that lay scattered on the planes and wonderful landscapes. Here everything is well preserved. Nature has been protected by the people that live in these parts and that carried on their traditions until these days.

After a short hike on a dirt road you start a steeper trail that twist through rocks until enters the pine tree forest. While you hike on this trail on your left you’ll see beautiful images of the massive stone walls from Cheile Bicazului that represents a unique touristic attraction from Neamt area.

The route on Google Maps

It will not take you too long and you’ll reach Barnadu village. Right at the entrance in the village, on the hill from your right, you’ll see the Larch Reservation – larch is the only conifer tree that loses its leaves during winter. The beauty of this small mountain village with its wooden houses and the beautiful surrounding landscape makes this image into a perfect picture.

The route goes through the village until it reaches the only small shop from the area. From here you exit the village on a trail used by shepherds. On your left you’ll have Ciurgau Peak. You follow the trail until you reach Lapos Gate (locally called “Poarta Laposului”). In the plane that lies in front of you, called Izvoarelor Plane you’ll see the sheepfolds of the people from Barnadu. Although the route is not marked the trail is easy to follow.

Route in Cheile Bicazului

The trail continues through a plane called Poiana Jidanului, goes through the place called Capu Jidanului and by following a narrow old dirt road reaches the pine tree forest and the area of Criminisul Peak. The narrow dirt road that goes through the forest in a twisted shape goes near tall trees that form a tunnel with their branches. The white of the snow is untouched. From time to time the songs of a bird disturb the silence that surrounds us.

You go near stone walls from the top of which wild goats look down to you with wonder. You look back at them and the animal disappears behind a rock. After a while the small black eyes of the goat appear behind us, still looking and wondering what are we doing in those places. This is one of the moments when you realize that you are only a guest in these places and that all the beauty of nature belongs to the animals that live here.

Once you exit the forest, on your right you’ll see Criminisul Peak. From the top of it the view is absolutely magnificent: Ceahlau Mountain, Highes Peak, Danciu and even Magura Peak from Bistrita Mountain. From Criminisul Peak the route goes towards Sugau Rock and then descents through Cheile Sugaului Reservation.

When you enter the reservation the trail is guarded on both sides by stone walls. On our left at some point you’ll see the entrance in The Tunnel Cave. Right near the end of the route you’ll hear the bark of the dog from the Ecolog Chalet. From here you’ll see the road and the ending point of the route.

Our path starts in front of Agapia Monastery and goes through Agapia village until it reaches the forest where you’ll also see a touristic indicator with Agapia Veche Hermitage. From here follow the trail through the forest on a red dot with white background marking: this trail will take you to Secu Monastery. At first the path goes through the pine tree forest. The earth is marked by thousands of footsteps made by pilgrims that come to this small hermitage. It doesn’t take long and you reach Agapia Veche Hermitage.

The route on Google Maps

This religious settlement from the second half of the XIV century has its name from the monk Agapie that was the builder of this hermitage. The touristic trail goes through the hermitage: one thing that you must take into account when planning this hike is that the access is forbidden into the hermitage after sunset. You’ll exit the hermitage in a plane called “Livada Parintilor” (“The Orchard of the Fathers”) from where the trail goes through the forest. Soon you’ll reach a small hill ridge where the trail splits. To the right it continues on red dot marking towards Secu Monastery and to the left on a red cross marking you’ll reach Sihla Monastery (a shorter version of this route).

We follow the trail that descents to Secu Monastery. The autumn forced the leaves to fell on the ground forming a thick natural carpet. The beauty of the forest, the birds singing in the trees make you forget about time: soon we see the towers of Secu Monastery. After a short visit of this old monastery we continue our trail towards Sihastria Monastery.

Path of the Monasteries in Vanatori Natural Park, Neamt County

We’re now walking on a 3 km asphalted road to Sihastria Monastery. From time to time we stop to read the touristic signs near the road. After about 30 minutes we see the towers of Sihastria Monastery. This monastery is well known to pilgrims that come here to see the tombs of fathers Cleopa Ilie and Paisie Olaru.

After this point the path enters the forest and continues on blue cross marking towards Sihla Hermitage. The path is not difficult to make. Before you reach the hermitage you’ll pass near the cave of St Teodora: this is the place where she prayed and lived for almost 40 years. Continue to walk the path that will take you near a small church made of the wood of a single tree, before finally reaching Sihla Hermitage where the monks will invite you to a hot meal.

After a final stop you’ll start the final section of this route that will take you to Agapia Monastery on an 8 km dirt road. Right before Agapia Monastery we pass the bakery of the monastery and buy some delicious cheese and apple pies made by the nuns.

The path of the monasteries represents more than an outdoor walk that will challenge your physical abilities: it’s a journey of your soul that will make you realize that it’s in our power to do something for our culture and our traditions and also that these churches and monasteries are much more than stone buildings. The distance of this touristic route is about 22 km and the time necessary to make it is between 7h 30 minutes and 10h, depending on how physically fit you are.