Parang Mountains are located in the Eastern Carpathians, in the so called Southern Romanian Carpathians, in the center-south-west part of Romania, at about 15 km North-East of Targu-Jiu city and 5 km South-East of Petrosani. The mountains are delimited at the East by the famous Transalpina road (DN67C, the Novaci-Obarsia Lotrului section). The heighest peak of the masiff is Parangu Mare (alt. 2519m).
Way of access
By road:
-> Targu-Jiu -> (DN67) -> Scoarta -> (DN67) Bengesti -> (DN67C) Novaci (45km)
-> Ramnicu Valcea -> (DN67) -> Horezu -> (DN67) -> Novaci (83km)
See also
Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Cioara Peak
Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Calcescu Lake
Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Rosiile Lake
Track Description
This is the hardest track of the ones presented at "see also" section. The track requires 1 and 1/2 days. In the first day, we set as destination the Calcescu Lake (1900m), representing the tent location. The track starts at Urdele Pass, at an altitude of aprox 2100m, then follows the red band to Mohorul Peak (2337m), then the Plescoaia Peak (2250), then from the Plescoaia Saddle it gets down to Calcescu Lake via Hornul Lacurilor. From the Calcescu Lake, we followed the red cross to Zanoaga Lake and then to Piatra Taiata Saddle where we met a shepard. The shepard told us we have another 3-4 hours to Parangu Mare Peak (2519m), so we started to climb to Iesu Peak (2375m) on the same red band that we left with a day before when we got down to Calcescu Lake. After Iesu Peak, we followed the marker to Piclesa Peak (2335m), then Gruiu Peak (2345m) and after the Gruiu Saddle, we reached the most desired destination from Parang Mountains - the Parangu Mare Peak. From here we could see all the mountains around, several cities, the Polatiste Mountains that we followed in the past (http://vsorinel.blogspot.ro/2011/06/romania-parang-mountains-polatiste-key.html) and even the Danube. Then we had to return to Urdele Pass where we left our car, but as we chosen the return track to be a little different, we could see also the Setea Mica, Setea Mare Peaks and the Pasarile Lakes. As it is a ridge mountain track, beautiful views are available on all its length. Actually, this track is a variant of the most known track from Parang Mountains, the one red band marked, that starts from Rusu-Parangu Mic Peak Ski Resort, passes Carja, Gemanarea, Parangu Mare, Gruiu, Piclesa, Setea Mare, Mohoru Peaks, then Urdele Pass, then continues besides Papusa Peak and Cioara Peak to Curmatura Oltetului located in the Latoritei Mountains; you may see our restrained variant on the image below:
Track Map
The elevation curve:
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Images:
Urdele Pass Valley - 2000m
(where we left the car)
Path to Mohoru Saddle and view to Mohoru Peak
Looking back to Transalpina Road
Urdele Pass (2150m)
Cross on the path to Mohoru Peak
Mohoru Valley
View to Setea Mare Peak
from Mohoru Peak
Path on Mohoru
Day Two
Waking up at Calcescu Lake
Calcescu Lake
View from Westside
Heading up to Zanoaga Lake
(red cross marker)
Westside View of Calcescu Area
On the path to Zanoaga Lake
Zanoaga Lake
The Twins (sheepfold keepers)
found at Piatra Taiata Saddle (2255m)
Gheresu Saddle
Iesu Peak (2375m)
Gheresu Lake
Looking back to Piatra Taiata Saddle and Setea Peaks
View of Iesu Lake
Near Paclesa Peak
View of Gruiu and Parangu Mare Peaks
Rosiile Lake - view from Gruiu Peak
Closer look to Rosiile Lake
(deepest glacial lake in Parang mountains)
View of Mandra Lake
Closer look to Mandra Lake
Heading up to Parangu Mare Peak
Marker found at Gruiu Saddle
This is Parangu Mare Peak
Parangu Mare Peak (2519m)
(... very happy to be here...)
View back to Gruiu, Paclesa, Iesu, Setea Mare and Mohoru peaks
(from Parangu Mare)
View of Gemanarea, Slivei, Stoinita and Carja Peaks
(from Parangu Mare)
View to Sapa and Reci Peaks
(from Parangu Mare)
Mandra, Rosiile and Lung Lakes
(from Parangu Mare)
Heading back to Setea Mare Peak
Setea Mica Peak
View of Pasarile Lakes
Setea Mare Peak
(from northside)
View back to Setea Mare Peak
(from eastside)
Mohoru Valley again...
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