Ceahlau Mountain is the oldest and perhaps the biggest tourist attraction of the Eastern Carpathians due to its beauty and moderate difficulty that makes it accessible even for inexperienced hikers. Bordered by large valleys that separate it from the surrounding mountains, Ceahlau has the appearance of a dominating massif, easy to spot from the neighboring regions.
Surrounded by watercourses and dam lakes, Ceahlau Mountain, the Olympus of Romania, displays an incredible concentration of flora – over 2,000 flower species, and wildlife. Fossil limestone, the rock formations Dochia, Cusma Dorobantului, and the Duruitoarea waterfall are just some of the main attractions in the park. The park is bounded to the east by the Bistrita River and Lake Bicaz, and to the south by the Bicaz River.
Ceahlau is the best choice if you like to take your time and plenty of photos as its scenic hiking trails will simply take your breath away. You can choose from seven well-marked routes departing from Durau, Izvorul Muntelui, Bicazul Ardelean and Neagra. Most trails are accessible all year round, and they vary in length and difficulty, but you can be sure you’ll find one that fits every level of experience
Some of the most exciting Romanian legends refer to the strange stone shapes spread around the peaks in the park. The Dochia rock formations are said to represent a mean old woman (“baba”) who came on Ceahlau to feed her sheep. Deceived by the sunny days of early spring, she took off, one by one, all her nine-sheepskin waistcoats. When the frost came, it turned both her and her animals into ice, which over the years transformed into the stones we see now.