Izvoru Muntelui: Lake and Ceahlău Hiking Trails

Lake Izvoru Muntelui is the largest artificial lake on Romania’s inland rivers.

Water and Nature

The aquatic nature reserve of Lake Izvoru Muntelui lies at the mouth of the Izvorul Alb stream, where it flows into the Izvoru Muntelui reservoir. It covers 150 hectares. The protected area preserves stream mouths as spawning grounds for rheophilic salmonids. These salmonids include trout and huchen.

The road that follows the shore of Lake Izvoru Muntelui offers views of the expanse of water. Along its route, the surrounding hills remain in view. Villages in the valleys and more distant mountain ridges can also be seen. The surroundings along this route therefore appear as a succession of lakeshore, valleys, hilly terrain and a more distant mountain panorama.

Hiking Trails on Ceahlău

The Ceahlău hiking trail “Traseul nr. 1” begins in a small clearing next to Cabana Izvorul Muntelui. The route is 5.6 km long. Part of this trail runs along the boundary of the Poliţa cu Crini scientific reserve. The starting point thus connects the open clearing at the cabana with a trail section along the edge of the reserve.

2” runs from Cabana Izvorul Muntelui via Curmătura Lutu Roşu to Cabana Dochia. This trail is 5.7 km long and has a medium level of difficulty. The named waypoints make the route over the mountain saddle to Cabana Dochia comprehensible.

Three of the eight hiking trails intended for tourists on Ceahlău begin in Izvoru Muntelui. This identifies the locality as one of the starting points for tourists within the described trail network.

Forest Reserve and Cycling Tour

The main access route to the Secu forest reserve is the 15.6 km Baraj–Pârâul Mare forest road. This forest road connects Bicaz, Secu, Izvorul Alb and the commune of Ceahlău. The connection therefore passes through several named places and areas of the surrounding landscape.

The Secu forest reserve can be visited for scientific, educational, recreational and tourist purposes. These different purposes of visitation range from scientific and educational use to recreation and tourism.

The cycling tour from Izvoru Muntelui to Durău begins at Cabana Izvorul Muntelui. The starting point is at the entrance to Ceahlău National Park. The tour is approximately 40 km long for the round trip. It has a medium level of difficulty. Climbs and descents alternate along the route. The route description thus combines the start at the national park entrance, the destination of Durău and the approximate total length of the return trip.

Ceahlău National Park

An information and visitor centre for Ceahlău National Park has been proposed in Izvoru Muntelui. The area serves as the access point to the national park. The status of the centre remains proposed, while the area’s function as an access point is explicitly described.

To the main travel overview: Bicaz Town.