Cheile Turzii: a 5 km gorge circuit near Turda
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Looking for the Romanian version? This route is written up in full, with more photos and a GPS track, at greuladeal.ro.
