Dâmbovicioara: Mountain Trails and Gorges

Dâmbovicioara is best explored via its mountain trails, gorges and individual natural sites. When planning, it is worth considering route length, surface, duration and elevation difference separately. One mountain route is divided into a paved section and a forest road; another trail is marked with a blue cross and includes time and elevation details. These different details give you several points of reference instead of focusing solely on the number of kilometres.

Mountain Trails and Route Details

The Podu Dâmboviţei–Dâmbovicioara–Brusturet mountain route includes 5 km of paved road from Podu Dâmboviţei to Dâmbovicioara, followed by 6 km of forest road to Brusturet. Within this route, the section through Cheile Dâmbovicioarei runs for 3 km beneath vertical rock walls up to 200 m high, continuing to the upper part of Peștera Dâmbovicioara. The 5 km and 6 km refer to the two route sections, while the 3 km refers to the gorge section. This distinction is useful for planning: the gorge section is part of the route and is not an additional leg to add to the two sections.

Another option is the Brusturet–Valea Seacă a Pietrelor–Grindu or Vlădușca trail. It is marked with a blue cross, is about 6 km long, takes 2–3 hours and has an elevation difference of 423 m. The mountain route covers a total of 11 km in two sections, while the blue-cross-marked trail is around 6 km. The two routes therefore differ in more than just their length: for the mountain route, the paved road and forest road are listed separately; for the blue-cross-marked trail, a time estimate and elevation difference are also provided.

On the Podu Dâmboviţei–Dâmbovicioara–Brusturet mountain route, after the cave section and a short break, you can continue along marked mountain trails 2 and 3.

The Cave and Gorge Trails

Peștera Dâmbovicioara is about 1 km north of Dâmbovicioara, directly beside the road through Cheile Dâmbovicioarei, and is easily accessible to tourists. The trail through Cheile Brusturetului starts at the cave and is also easily accessible. This brings two distinct gorge locations into focus: the cave lies beside the road through Cheile Dâmbovicioarei and is also the starting point for the trail through Cheile Brusturetului.

Water, Rock and Culture

Izvoarele din Plai is among the area’s water features: several streams emerge from a rock there in cascades. La Gâlgoaie refers to a powerful surge of water at the foot of a 200 m-high limestone wall. Peștera Dracilor, also known as Gaura Brusturetului, lies at the foot of high cliffs near the confluence of the Brusturet and Valea Muierii. The natural sites thus differ in their streams, the surge of water and the cave’s location at the confluence.

Sequences for the Romanian television series “Toate pânzele sus!” were filmed in Cheile Dâmbovicioarei. For travellers interested in film history as well as natural sites, this is a specific cultural connection. A habitat is present in Piatra Craiului, in Cheile Dâmbovicioarei, at an altitude of 750–1,000 m.

Discover more destinations: Curtea De Argeş, Budeasa Mare, Rucar, Vlădești, Arefu, Dobrotu, Coteneşti, Nucşoara

For the broader travel overview: Argeş.