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Cat's Cat's Keys, Piatra Craiului Mountains

Zărnesti (710 m) - Botorog's Fountain (850 m) - Zărnesti Abyss (1.000 m) - Cat's Gorges - La Table (1.380 m) - Grind Refuge (1.620 m) - La Table (1.380 m) - Play Saddle (1.445 m) - Peștera / Măgura Village (1.100 m) - Dwarfs Path - Botorog's Fountain (850 m)

Zărnesti (710 m) - Botorog's Fountain (850 m) - Zărnesti Abyss (1.000 m) - Cat's Gorges - La Table (1.380 m) - Grind Refuge (1.620 m) - La Table (1.380 m) - Play Saddle (1.445 m) - Peștera / Măgura Village (1.100 m) - Dwarfs Path - Botorog's Fountain (850 m)

Access

The entry/exit point on the described route is town of Zărnești, Brasov county. From Brasov there are 30 km by road, which can be traveled in 45 minutes via DN73 and DN73A. There is also a railway line from Brasov to Zărnești. For those who wish to continue by car on the unpaved DJ112G, another 4 km, which can be covered in 10 minutes, to Botorog's Fountain, starting point for several trails.

 

About hiking

Just before the snow came, on a beautifully cool, colorful autumn day, we set off on a one-day hike of medium difficulty in the beloved "Königsstein", aka Piatra Craiului. The route crosses the spectacular and impressive precipices of Zărneștilor, then the Cat's gorge and climbs up to the Grind refuge to admire the white limestone ridge of the Pietrei Craiului. The return we took a different, partly unmarked route. A relaxing walk at the foot of the Piatra Craiului and a hike accessible to anyone willing to put in a little effort and properly equipped.

Route map

(click on objectives for extended version)

Technical box

Difficulty: medium

Duration / distance: 9 hours / 23 km (of which 5 km to Botorog)

Marking: red cross to La Table, red stripe to Grind and back, again red cross to Magura and red stripe again

Water sources: springs at points 10, 11, 13 on the map, the most important being Dâmbovicioarei spring (13)

Minimum altitude: 710 mdm, in Zarnesti

Maximum altitude: 1600 meters above sea level at Grind hut

Level difference: +1100 m / -1000 m

Comments: spectacular scenery, accessible all year round

1. Zărnesti (710 m) - Botorog's Fountain (850 m)

4 km / 1 hour / county road / easy

In a naturally sunny and chilly 4 degrees Celsius in the thermometers, we set off at a brisk pace through the city streets Zărnești towards Râului Street towards Gura Raului Hut, where the asphalt, which was more lacking anyway, ends. On this city segment we admired the autumn colors on the ever approaching ridges, with the Piatra Mica peak in front of us. I also pass Gura Râului cottage. From here the road becomes macadam. I enter Piatra Craiului National Park. On the left side I pass the old quarry Baia de Piatra, and a beautiful camping site and here I am at a well-known landmark in the area Botorog's Fountain, point 3 on the map.

campsite

walking through Zarnesti

Gura Râului cottage

Piatra Craiului National Park

2. Botorog's fountain (850 m) - Zărneștilor precipices (1.000 m) - branch of the Cat's Gorges (1.180 m)

1.7 km / 45 min / red cross / easy

We follow the route marked with red cross. The walls of the Zarnesti Gorges are impressive from the beginning, we pass a road barrier, and we enter the The Zărneștilor Abyss. The water line of the Prapastiilor Valley is dry this time as well, a sign that it hasn't rained in the last day. On the left side in a widening of the gorge there is a well known climbing spot, where there are many climbing routes, routes that are also in the rest of the gorges, but not as many as at this point. At the exit of the gorges, at their upstream end, the blue lane turns slightly right towards the Curmatura hut (2 h), on the Muchia Curmaturii, and our road, turns left on same red cross, to Cat's Keysthree hours to the Grind according to the indicator here. We're at point 6.

Botorog's Fountain

Autumn in the mountains

exiting the gorge

The Zărneștilor Abyss

Zărnești mountain rescue and climbing wall

through the Zărneștilor

3. Cheile Pisicii Branch (1.180 m) - Cheile Pisicii - Poiana Vlădușcăi - La Table (1.380 m)

3.9 km / 1.5 h / red cross / easy

And down the valley here, from Cat's Keys, which is filled with water after rains or in the snowmelt season, was dry. The gorges are not as spectacular as the Prapastiile. Shortly after entering the gorge, on the right, at the top of the cliffs, you can see a natural window, similar to the Zmeilor Window in Fagaras. You can follow the path or go right through the ford, but there are two small jumps to overcome. Because of the humidity in this forested area, the stones in the riverbed were slippery and we returned to the marked path. After passing the sector of gorges, the path climbs up the forest road that bypasses the gorges and which, what to see, is being deforested in spite of being in a national park. What a robbery! The forest road is a bit muddy from forest tractors and creeks. We arrive in Poiana Vlădușcăi. Here there are also 2 ponds and a red triangle branch to Curmatura (1 h). The path goes through the glen and is temporarily accompanied by both markings. We reach the point called The Tablewhere several trails intersect. It's supposedly named after the blackboard signs here. Today these are wooden on metal poles. Nearby I also saw the panoramic map of the mountains which is hard to put together with the arrow signs. We are at point 12.

 

the branch at the exit of the Cat's Gorge

cave in the rock

abrupt

Cat's Keys

entrance to Cat's Gorges

Vlădușca

Vlădușca sheepfold

4. La Table (1.380 m) - Dâmbovicioarei Spring - Grind Refuge (1.620 m) and return

1.5 km / 1 h / red lane / medium

We'll follow the marker from here red band but also fresh bear tracks in the trail. Oh no, we're not going to the lodge, we're staying on the marked trail! Next is a swampy area where wooden logs have been set up as footbridges. In 5 minutes we reach a important spring with high flow and last on the way to the ridge. It's Dâmbovicioarei springpoint 13 on the map. We were refreshing our liquid supplies, cooling off, as if it wasn't cold (!). At this water catchment are built several concrete pools so big that you could take a bath in them, see the pictures. We start the only uphill part of the chosen route, but nothing to be scared of. Ahead we have a beautiful landscape of birch forest, with leaves in shades of fall, predominantly yellow. The forest becomes mixed. The path takes us to another trail junction. The blue cross and the blue lane lead in 3-4 hours to Dambovicioara, and up to Refugiul Grind would be another 45 minutes and up to "La Om" 3 hours on the red lane. So on red band common with the blue, uphill, further on. We sneak through the firs and smell the forest. We reached Grind shelter (elevation 1620 m). The refuge can accommodate in my opinion 4 - 6 people and is a solution for the unpretentious or in need. We are in point 14.

bear tracks

The Table

the path passes over these logs the plain is marshy

Dâmbovicioarei spring

intersection markings

yellow-colored larch forest

southern ridge of Piatra Craiului

5. Grind Refuge (1,620 m) - La Table (1,380 m))

1.5 km / 0.5 hours / red lane / medium

We put out considerable times up to the Grind, below those on the signposts, which makes us think of a longer break. It is a sloping pasture area with a superb view to the highest part of the Pietrei Craiului ridge, right in front of our eyes, slightly to the right La Om peak (2.238 m), the highest peak in Piatra Craiului Massif. It is 2 hours to the top, for those who want to climb. The clouds and mist that enveloped and unveiled the ridge offered a magnificent free show. Warning - there is no water source near the refuge. A tricolor raised to flutter in the wind makes us proud that we are Romanians and that we made it here to the Grind. After a sandwich, an apple, an energizer, a mouthful of water and lots of pictures and videos, we start downhill. Until The Table we go down the same route.

signposts near the refuge

in refuge

to the right of the ridge is La Om peak

6. La Table (1.380 m) - Play Saddle (1.445 m) - Village of Peștera / Măgura (1.100 m)

3.5 km / 1.5 hours / red cross / easy

From The Table we take the red cross signpost to Magura / Cave via Saua Joaca (elevation 1445 m) - duration on the signs 1,5 hours. Feet go almost by themselves, the way is easy and pleasant and we don't even know when we wake up at the entrance of village Maguranear Folea House, another landmark here. We're at point 17. I think that all those who have passed through Magura and Pestera have admired and envied these villages with houses spread on maguri at altitudes around 1,000 meters, with an exceptional perspective of the Bucegi Mountains and Piatra Craiului.

Saua Play

village of Peștera

between Cave and Maggura

7. The village of Peștera / Măgura (1.100 m) - Dwarfs' Path - Botorog's Fountain (850 m)

4.6 km / 1.5 hours / unmarked, some maps show red tape / easy

The woods on the horizon offer more colors than I can name. On the left we can see the upper slopes of the Zarnesti Prapastiilor, on the right some sheep are grazing, and many purple fall brands are moving in the vanticel's beat. Let's keep our eyes on the road! Past the wooden fence of a property, a narrow path forms, unmarked, which then makes its way through several properties. It is Dwarfs' Path - a short cut not to be missed. In 20 minutes we reach Botorog's Fountain, trail head for the day. Ready! End of the line! It's beautiful fall in the mountains!

to the Zărneștilor Abyss

village Măgura

dwarf trail entrance

dwarfs' path

autumn landscape

Conclusion

We caught 6 hours of superb mountain walking at the foot of the Piatra Craiului, through Cat's Keys, and I really enjoyed this easy (medium) route, which I wholeheartedly recommend. It is true that I walked quite hard / sustained. I saw from sources on the net that there are organized hikes on this route, without the La Table - Grind - La Table branch, but I tell you that it is worth this appendix to the route for an unforgettable perspective on the ridge.

More hiking in the Piatra Craiului Mountains: La Om La Om, Dambovicioara Gorges.

All the best!

Steps:

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