Piatra Mare and Seven Ladders Canyon.
The Seven Ladders Canyon is one of the accessible hikes in Brasov, Romania. Carved by the Șapte Scări Brook in the Piatra Mare mountains, it lies south of the Timișu village in the county of Brasov and is one of the most popular tourist attraction in the Piatra Mare Massif. There are seven waterfalls within the canyon, the tallest being 35 meters (115 ft.) high. Each waterfall has a ladder leading up to the next one, hence the moniker.
Seven Ladders Canyon Trail
The Seven Ladders Canyon
I did this hike with two hostel mates, Ryan and Kevin, we took 4 hours one way to the peak and 2-3 hours back. The receptionist at our hostel said it couldn’t be done in 5 hours, but if you’re determined you can. It’s reasonable to say that’s it’s a moderate hike and I even did with regular tennis shoes. The trail can be muddy and slippery so don’t do what I did. Wear proper hiking boots or shoes!
Piatra Mare
There’s a fair amount of warning posted all over the place but it’s all in Romanian and I couldn’t understand any of it. I think it’s there to make it seem more dangerous than it is. The trail is family and kids friendly so getting stuck behind a swarm of students on the way up the mountain is very common. In better weather, there’s zip lining available for 50 RON so you can hike up to near the peak and then zip line your way back down the mountain dodging pine trees on the way down.
Green Forest
The canyon is cut from limestone with cascading waterfalls snaking its way down into the valley. The waterfalls aren’t impressive, but the gorge is gorgeous (pun intended) and is unique enough to more than make up for it. There’s a 10 RON entrance fee for the trail and it takes about an hour of complete the canyon section of the hike.
The ladders are slippery because it’s wet from the waterfalls; however, the hand rails are solid. You shouldn’t have any problems climbing up and completing the canyon portion. Some people end the hike at the end of the canyon but the best views are at the top of the peak past the chalet of Piatra Mare.
Waterfall in Seven Ladders Canyon
An easy trail
The trail beyond the canyon towards the Piatra Mare chalet is steep but nothing crazy like the trails I’ve done in the Eastern Sierras, California. The trail meanders through a thick forest that levels down to a meadow where the chalet stands. From there you can continue up to higher peak for another 45 minutes. The average altitude is at a modest 980 meters, not high, nor impressive, but the vistas are stunning.
View Of The Carpathians
I recommend this hike if you’re ever in Brasov. Skip, Bran, vampires don’t exist but stunning and spectacular views of the Carpathian mountains does! Once you’re done marveling at the vistas you can take a break at the chalet and have a snack or play with the donkeys there.
From there you can make your way back down the same route you took back to the canyons or choose a different route. Both lead to the same spot. Going the other way is easier as the trail has no carved canyons, it’s just an old fire road that’s muddy and wet.
Piatra Mare Meadow
The Seven Ladders Canyon trail system is beautifully designed. Yellow markings take you up higher to the mountains and following the red markings take you back down. Every few steps there are markings making it impossible to get lost.
Getting to the trailhead is easy. Located 17 kilometers south of Brasov in a village called Timisul. A taxi is the most convenient and fastest way to get there. We paid 20 RON (5 dollars) one way. You could take a bus but I found the bus system in Romania very confusing, but YMMV. You can also drive but I don’t recommend it. Romanians are insane drivers.
Green Mountains
Getting back to Brasov, you can either take a bus or hitchhike your way back. We met a nice couple at the chalet and they were kind enough to give us a lift back to Brasov. If this isn’t an option, there’s a little snack back at the trail head and the lady there speaks English. You can ask her to hail a taxi for you or you can ask for the bus schedule. Either way, it’s easy to get back.
TREK THE SEVEN LADDERS CANYON TO PIATRA MARE MOUNTAIN
- The canyon is about 2.5 hours from Bucharest by car.
- It’s 15 minutes from Brasov by Taxi.
- Entrance fee is 10 RON.
- Graded easy to moderate.
- There are two ways back down the mountain. Go the same way or the other longer route that’s more moderate. Look for signs on the way back down.
A DAY IN BREAKDOWN:
- Taxi from Brasov to the Trailhead – $2 (per person, $6 split 3 ways)
- Entrance fee to the park – $2.5
- Breakfast at hostel – free (included)
- Packed lunch – $2
- Cooked own dinner at the hostel – $1.50
- Hostel stay – $14
- 1.5 liter beer after hike – $2
- TOTAL: $24
Wow, I knew about Romanian Green lands but you definitely showed us how diverse they can be.
I just saw Timisoara but hope I’ll be able to see some wild green area of Romania very soon. I’ll follow your path!
There are so many places in Romania that I’ve never heard of. Worth Exploring!
Last summer I was in Brasov and I went to do a hike in the nearby national park and it was a complete disaster. Trail was poorly marked, skill levels were all off and we ended up turning back after we found ourselves scaling a vertical climb up loose rocks. This hike looks MUCH more interesting – I only wish I had known about it sooner 🙂 The area is lovely.
Well, it was probably quite an adventure and if it were me, I’d go back and tackle it again 🙂
This hike looks really awesome. Love the fact you can go zip lining
Yeah for 50 RON but you can go a different route to go back instead.
What beautiful scenery!!
Romania has been in my travel radar for many time, and I think finally my husband and I gonna visit it, but on winter time 🙁
Not sure if I will have the opportunity to enjoy the same beauty and adventure around middle march… Let’s see!!
Thanks for the tips!
Nat
There’s plenty to do in the winter! The landscapes become surreal and there’s a few ski resorts if you like to ski/board.
Wow! Great pictures. I’ve never been to Romania before but it looks like a beautiful country. Thanks for sharing!
Happy travels 🙂
It’s really beautiful. I love the idea of the hike up and my knees like the idea of then zip lining back down part of it, I find a lot of stairs much harder going down than up so that sounds a great option.
Yeah not great for the knees, use a good pair of trekking and sticks and you’re set!
Sounds like a fabulous way to spend a day – I’ve heard from a few people that I should skip Bran, so going to put Brasov on the list instead. Might try and find an app which can translate on the go so I can read Romanian sign posts along the way 😀 Beautiful photos – thanks for sharing your experience!
Meg, yes skip Bran! In fact, I working on an article detailing exactly that! Brasov should be your headquarters, skip Bucharest 🙂
I really don’t know much about Romania. I wouldn’t mind giving Piatra Mare and the seven Ladders Canyon a go. The scenery is amazing, the waterfalls are not really spectacular as you said, but it is definitely worth the trip anyway.
Transylvania is full of amazing scenery 🙂
Incredible pictures – it was certainly worth the hike – although I was concerned when you said you did it in tennis shoes.. if that was me, I can guarantee I would have slipped in the mud and fallen flat on my face! .. but it still would have been worth it for those views!
I’ve done dumber things like hiking in Kings canyon with just sandals on very rocky terrain 🙂