Bucegi Natural Park

Bucegi Natural Park is a protected area of IUCN category V in the Bucegi Mountains of the Southern Carpathians, in south-central Romania, on the territory of the counties Brașov, Dâmbovița and Prahova. It was declared a protected area by law in 2000. It is a mountain area of caves, pit caves, canyons, ridges, sinkholes, valleys, waterfalls, pastures and forests, famous for the rock formations known as Babele and the Sphinx. The habitats range from beech forests and bushes to alpine limestone grasslands, alpine rivers, mountain hay meadows and springs, and the park includes protected sites such as Cocora Cave and Cheile Urșilor.

Visiting Bucegi

The cable car from Bușteni takes about ten minutes, climbs 1,235 m over 4.3 km and is the standard way onto the plateau; in winter it runs from about 8:30 to 15:45, and a ride and a park fee (reported at 10 lei at Babele) apply. The Sphinx, a sandstone formation shaped by erosion, is a short, fairly flat walk from the Babele station, manageable for children. The Heroes' Cross on Caraiman is a steeper step up. Omu Peak (about 2,505–2,514 m) is the highest point in the range, and a Sphinx-and-Omu day takes six to eight hours at medium difficulty with about 500 m of height difference. Start early, because car parks fill on weekends. Summer is the hiking season and winter is for skiing; ridges are exposed, so check the forecast. Leashed dogs are generally welcome.