The 3 Best Hikes in the Hasmas Mountains of Romania
The stunning Hasmas Mountains can be found in the Eastern Carpathians of Romania. The mountain range is basically made up of sandstone and limestone massifs, offering an unforgettable outdoor adventure for hiking enthusiasts. But what exactly are the best trekking trails here, you ask? Let me show you around through a comprehensive guide, which entails all aspects of a hiking trip to the Hasmas Mountains.
How to get to the Hasmas Mountains
First of all, I’d like to clarify something. This post is about the south-western area of the Hasmas Mountains, mainly because the easiest and some of the most rewarding hiking trails can be found in this part. The beautiful Bicaz-Hasmas Gorge along with Red Lake are also part of these mountains and I will discuss them in detail in a future, separate post.
So let’s get back to the point! The Hasmas mountains can be reached either via car or train. There are some local bus routes as well, but these are scarce and a trip with them is difficult to plan because of this. The train arriving to the base of the mountain stops in the small village of Izvoru Oltului. From there you’ll either need to trek 11 kilometers, catch a bus or hitchhike to Balan. Arriving by car is so much simpler, since you can drive all the way to Balan (turn left in Gheorgheni and follow the E 578 road) and leave your car at the start of the hiking trail.
Where to Stay
If you don’t want to spend the night up in the mountains you can easily find a couple of pensions in the small villages around Balan. However, if you’re serious about hiking then the Piatra Singuratica Mountain Hut at 1,504 m is the best choice for your stay. To get there you’ll need to hike approximately 3 hours up the mountain by following either the red triangle or the blue stripe mark. The trail isn’t very steep and I think it’s fairly easy because you can leisurely get to the cabin in 3-3.5 hours.
The mountain hut is ideal because it gives you a head start to hiking and basically all the trails start from there. The cabin has been recently renovated and offers 16-18 beds on the main level and an additional 15 places for mattresses on the upper level. A night’s accommodation here costs 20 RON (about 4.4 euros). Food and alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic beverages can be purchased here. The hut is managed by a couple (Zoltan and Aranka Gal) and I really recommend calling in advance for booking your spot (telephone number: +40/744-156566). Since  neither of them speak English, you might want to ask a local Romanian or Hungarian native to help you out with the booking arrangements.
If you want to save some money and love your tent, you should know that camping is allowed on the lawn in the front of the house. The shepherd dogs of the hut will definitely make sure you’re safe all night long 🙂
Also, the sunsets seen from the cabin are heavenly. Make sure you catch at least one while you’re there!
The 3 Unmissable Hiking Trails of the Hasmas Mountains:
Once you’re up at the Piatra Singuratica Mountain Hut, these 3 simple trails are practically a must! I believe they are easy enough to be done by anyone who made it up to the cabin and provide a memorable experience for those looking for adventure. Check them out:
To the Hășmașu Mare Peak
Trail mark: Red Stripe
Difficulty: Medium
Maximum Height: 1,792 m
Duration: ~2-2.4 hours
Head left from the mountain cabin, following the red stripe trail mark. In a couple of minutes you’ll reach a spring, your last chance to stock up on clean water for your hike. Once you have enough water with you and keep on going, you’ll soon get out in the open. This particular trail leads hikers mainly through pastures and meadows. Don’t be surprised if you encounter a few cows, horses or even sheep on this path!
As you leave the meadows you’ll enter a small section which will lead you through the woods. When you get to the ridge of the pasture, look back to where you came from and admire the view!
Once you get out of the woods, the trail will continue on the edge of the steep rocks which form the Hasmas Mountains. I personally think that this section is the most rewarding, boasting dizzying depths, spectacular rock formations and amazing views of the surroundings. Enjoy it responsibly and don’t get too close to the ledge!
Like I said before, always look back on the trail where you came from. Your effort might be rewarded with a totally unique angle and some spectacular views!
After you’ve breathed in the surroundings, head towards the peak located a few minutes away. Sit down, enjoy the view and enjoy a snack or a chocolate to celebrate your achievement. And don’t forget to pose for a little top-of-the-peak victory dance!
To the Piatra Singuratică Peak
Trail mark:Â Red Stripe
Difficulty: Scrambling/Climbing required
Maximum Height: 1,608 m
Duration: 30 minutes
The road to this particular peak isn’t exactly a hike. I mean, you hike for about 10 minutes and then you need to climb, pull yourself up and scramble.
Although I like such challenges, I must admit that my heart was beating much faster then usual while getting to the top. It’s definitely not a trail for the faint of heart. Here’s what climbing up this section looks like:
The surrounding cliffs and rocks are extremely sharp and the depth below your leg is dizzying. Make sure you take your time whilst ascending and descending. The climb is fun, but don’t be overconfident in your climbing, because some rocks can move and I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want to fall off.
Once you’re up, you’ll find that the peak itself is pretty narrow and small, so there’s not much space to move around. I recommend sitting down for a minute or two if it’s not too windy and enjoy the view.
To the Vârful Ascuțit/Ecem Peak
Trail mark:Â Red Stripe
Difficulty: Easy
Maximum Height: 1,707 m
Duration: ~1-1.5 hours
Following the same red stripe you did for the Hasmasu Mare Peak, head towards the other direction. Out of the three trails I think this is the easiest on in the Hasmas Mountains. You’ll cross a small meadow and then turn into the woods, where the steepest part of the trail awaits you. It’s not too challenging and you should take your time, because the whole trail is fairly short.
After you get out of the forest another meadow will lead you up towards the peak. At this point you should leave the trail, as it leads all the way to another meadow, and approach the edge.
It’s totally worth it to go to the brink of the massif, where you’ll find a cross signaling you’ve made it to the top.
The view is most rewarding from this point, since you can basically see right to the other side of the Hasmas Mountains, to Hasmasu Mare Peak and even beyond!
As you go back, don’t hesitate to look down from the ledge. I always get a whole new point of appreciation and understanding when I look down from such a massif. Just don’t get too close 🙂
If you like this area of the Carpathians as much as I do, there are plenty of other mountain ranges in the area with similar characteristics. For example, take a look at The Saint Mountain of the Szeklers, Tihu Peak in the Calimani Mountains or even check out Colibita, the Lake of Summer Escapades! Last but not least, if you liked the post, help spread the word by Pinning to Pinterest.
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The climb up Varful Piatra Singuratică made my heart stop just from looking at your photos.
I’ll have to just walk around that mountain and admire it from below.
Andreas Moser recently posted…Stairway to Heaven
It’s not that steep, it probably looks so because of the camera angle. Believe me, if I could do it you can too. Also, the Hasmas Mountains would be perfect for you because throughout the 3 days we didn’t meet any big scary shepherd dogs, merely those at the cabin, which were tamed and kind of cute. So maybe you should reconsider! 🙂
cityoftheweek recently posted…The 3 Best Hikes in the Hasmas Mountains of Romania
The four people under the cross seem drunk, by the way.
Drinking and hiking? That would be totally irresponsible so no, they’re not drunk 🙂 Just very excited to be at the top!
cityoftheweek recently posted…The 3 Best Hikes in the Hasmas Mountains of Romania
Wow, the area looks beautiful!
We’ll be coming to Romania in early September. We’re flying into Bucharest but plan on getting a car at the airport (Otopeni) and driving out to the mountains right away. The general idea is plenty of family hiking (5-10k at a time) and some country sightseeing.
I still have a steep learning curve and I’m so glad I found your blog. The first thing I wonder about is the weather. We’ll be arriving from a hot Israeli summer in early September. I guess if we want to go up the mountains, we need layers – regardless of the forecast?
Hey Anne!
First of all, it’s so great to hear that you’re planning a trip to the mountains of Romania. I recommend wearing layers always, regardless of the forecast and regardless of what month it is. In the mountains it’s always a different story and the weather conditions can change from one moment to the next, even if the forecast doesn’t predict it.
Let me know if you need any help further in the planning process, I am more than happy to answer all your questions 🙂
You can find more hiking inspiration here and more about the Romanian countryside here.
Happy travels!