From Miercurea Ciuc, the county seat of Harghita County, follow the European road E578 or DN12 to Gheorgheni, then DN12C, DJ125 and DJ125A to the point called Olt Pass. It is 72 km and takes 1.5 hours by road. From Gheorgheni, there is also a shortcut from Gheorgheni, right next to the campsite, which starts from DN12C directly on DJ125A. The road is accessible by car, but in places quite damaged and narrow, crossing a forest.
Giurge Mountains (in Hungarian Gyergyói-havasok) belong to the Eastern Carpathian mountain range. Their highest peaks are Sipos Peak at 1,568 meters above sea level and Prișca Peak at 1,545 meters above sea level. They are bordered to the north by the Călimani Mountains, to the northeast by the Bilbor and Borsec Depressions and the Bistriței Mountains, to the south by the Hășmaș Mountains and to the west by the Hășmașului Depression. The main ridge of the Giurge Mountains, marked with a red stripe, stretches between Pasul Răchițiș in the north and Piciorul Niergheș in the south.
Oltului spring is one of the tourist attractions of the Giurgeului Mountains together with the Mures Spring and the Șugău Cave. Oltul springs near Trecătorii Oltului, is one of the longest rivers in Romania and flows into the Danube after 615 km, near Turnu Măgurele, crossing towns, villages, depressions and cutting an impressive gorge between Făgăraș, Cozia, Lotrului and Căpățânii Mountains.
(click on objectives for extended version)
Length 1 km round trip
Duration 20 minutes round trip
Red cross marking
Easy difficulty
Level difference +20 m / - 20 m
Minimum altitude 1240 m
Maximum altitude 1262 m
In the Olt Pass you can get out of cars. Here is a hub of hiking and biking trails. The red cross signpost directs you to the Olt's Spring past the Kovács Peter Catholic Chapel. Here there are several resting places with wooden benches. The wide, flat, forest path passes through blueberry bushes, where you can enjoy a snack if the fruit is ripe. After a 10-minute walk, on the right-hand side of the road, you'll find the Oltului spring.
rattles
Kovács Peter Catholic Chapel
ripe blueberries
red cross marking
branching routes
Oltului spring is located at an altitude of 1,262 meters. The spring has a high flow and offers good, cold drinking water. An arrangement makes it easy to fill water bottles. All around is a grassy plain with flowers. From the Oltului spring you can admire the Hășmașului Mountains between Hășmașul Negru, Piatra Roșie and Hăhmașul Mare.
The return is the same route.
Hășmaș Mountains
Hășmașul Negru (s), Piatra Roșie (m), Hășmașul Mare (d)
Oltului spring
explanatory panel
The Oltului spring is a reason to detour from Gheorgheni to this pleasant place, very easily accessible for a little rest and a sip of cold water. The Mures Spring is also nearby.
All the best!
Steps:
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