Pietroasa among caves, waterfalls and mountain trails

Peștera Urșilor is located in the Apuseni Mountains near the municipality of Pietroasa at an altitude of 842 m. It is more than 1,500 m long and has two galleries arranged one above the other. Its altitude, length and structure provide concrete points of comparison when considering different cave experiences.

Nature

The municipality of Pietroasa lies on the banks of the Crișul Pietros River and along the Valea Crăiasa valley. Cascada Oselu is an almost vertical waterfall with five stages and a height of about 10 m. Cascada Săritoarea Bohodei is located on Valea Bohodei; Valea Bohodei is a left-bank tributary of the Aleu River. The waterfall, which descends in several stages, reaches a total height of about 80 m and is considered the largest waterfall in the Apuseni Mountains.

Măgura Guranilor Mountain is located in the immediate vicinity of Pietroasa. The mountains Măgura Fericii, Cârligați and Băița are also located in the wider area around Pietroasa. For geographical orientation, it is helpful to distinguish between the immediate vicinity and the wider surrounding area.

Trails

The main access road to the municipality of Pietroasa branches off to the left from the DN 76 Oradea–Deva at kilometre 72 and follows the DJ 763 to kilometre 11.

The TA hiking trail connects the village of Pietroasa with the ridge of the Vlădeasa Mountains at Şaua Bohodei and leads to Cascada Săritoarea Bohodei. The TG hiking trail connects the municipalities of Pietroasa and Arieşeni and provides access to Cheile Galbenei.

The final section of the Padiş–Satul de vacanţă Boga–Pietroasa hiking trail runs through the Valea Crișului Pietros valley, with hay meadows designated as a botanical reserve, and then reaches the village of Pietroasa. The Circuitul Văii Galbena circular trail passes through Glăvoi, Gheţarul Focul Viu, Poiana Florilor, Cheile Galbenei, Izbucul Galbenei, Avenul Borţig and Poiana Ponor before returning to Padiş.

When preparing, the trails can be considered according to their route type, course and endpoint. These characteristics help you compare connecting trails, a section through a valley and a circular trail objectively, without mixing up the individual routes. The number of named stops can also serve as a clear point of comparison.

Caves

The active Coliboaia Cave is 750 m long and contains more difficult passages. Speleological equipment such as a coverall, boots and cave ladders is required to explore the gallery.

The Coliboaia Cave contains wall paintings depicting a bison, a horse, a big cat, a bear's head and two rhinoceroses.

Culture

The churches Biserica Lazuri de Beiuş, Biserica Păcăleşti, Biserica Băleni and Biserica Totoreni are located in the area around Pietroasa.

More locality pages: Săcădat, Nucet, Urvind, Călățea, Finiș, Biharia, Oșorhei, Şoimi

To the higher-level travel overview: Bihor.