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# Cheile Turzii: a 5 km gorge circuit near Turda
- URL: https://hikingbeast.com/cheile-turzii-gorge-circuit/
- Published: 2026-10-03T17:55:42.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-03T19:09:51.000Z
- Description: A limestone gorge protected since 1938, as a 5 km circuit in about two and a half hours: cables and bridges along the streambed, then a steep climb onto the rim.
- Author: Alex

Cheile Turzii is a limestone gorge twelve kilometres from Turda, and it has been a nature reserve since 1938\. High vertical walls, cave mouths, limestone crests and rock towers — it is one of the most photogenic short walks in Romania and it is well known to Romanian and foreign visitors alike.

Expect company. The car park fills early on a Saturday morning.

**5 km · 2.5 hours · Easy to medium**

- **Circuit:** 5 km
- **Time:** 2.5 hours — allow 2–3
- **Waymark:** Red stripe, then red dot
- **Difficulty:** Easy to medium
- **Entry fee:** 6 lei adults, 4 lei children, in season only — free out of season
- **Nearest town:** Turda, 12 km
- **Parking:** Free, at the trail entrance
- **Footwear:** **Shoes with real grip.** We passed people in sandals who were struggling

![Cheile Turzii](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2026/10/ghost-f323d33f87fa-cruce-si-creste-1024x768.jpg)

Cheile Turzii

## Getting to the start

The eastern entrance is about 12 km from the centre of **Turda**. There is a large free public car park at the trailhead, but at weekends it fills up early.

**Without a car:** this one is harder than our Brașov-area walks. Turda is well connected to Cluj by bus, but the last 12 km to the gorge is not a walk you want to add to the day — plan on a taxi from Turda, or check locally for a seasonal shuttle before you rely on one.

To get into the gorge we went round Cabana Cheile Turzii to the left on a wide unmarked path; after five minutes it joins the red stripe. The cabana itself is five minutes from the car park.

![Into the gorge](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2026/10/ghost-c3f55072ad80-Pe-firul-apei-1024x768.jpg)

Into the gorge

## Along the streambed

*Red stripe — 1 hour, 1.6 km, 164 m up, 155 m down.*

This section follows the Hășdate stream to the far end of the gorge. It presents no real difficulty and takes little effort: the awkward parts are fitted with **steel cables and bridges over the water**. Some stretches are rough underfoot.

## Onto the rim and back

From the end of the gorge the circuit climbs the left-hand slope and returns through forest to the cabana. Both the climb and the descent are demanding because of the gradient — this is the part that turns an easy walk into a medium one.

The waymarks are in good condition and the path is clear throughout.

![Limestone crests above the gorge](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2026/10/ghost-f205701841a0-cheile-turzii-plimbare-1024x768.jpg)

Limestone crests above the gorge

## Water

We carried two litres each. There is nothing on the route.

## Opening and fees

In the tourist season the reserve is open 09:00–20:00 and entry is 6 lei for adults, 4 lei for children, paid to reserve staff at the payment point. Out of season there is no charge. The gorge itself is 2,900 m long with walls up to 300 m.

*Part of our guide to* [*hiking in Romania beyond Brașov and the Bucegi*](https://hikingbeast.com/hiking-in-romania-beyond-brasov/)*.*

🇷🇴

**Căutați în română?** Acest traseu este descris pe larg, cu mai multe fotografii și track GPS, pe [greuladeal.ro](https://www.greuladeal.ro/cheile-turzii/?ref=hikingbeast.com).  
Looking for the Romanian version? This route is written up in full, with more photos and a GPS track, at [greuladeal.ro](https://www.greuladeal.ro/cheile-turzii/?ref=hikingbeast.com).