The Făgăraș ridge: 93 km along Romania's highest mountains
The main crest is 93 km with about 5500 m of ascent, and forms part of the E8 path from Ireland to Bulgaria. An account of 73 km of it in 48 hours.
The Făgăraș are the highest mountains in Romania, bounded by the Dâmbovița and Bârsa Groșetului rivers in the east and the Olt in the west. The waymarked route along the main crest is 93 km with roughly 5500 m of ascent, marked throughout with a red stripe.
It is also part of something much bigger. The crest forms a section of the E8 European long-distance path — 4700 km from Cork in Ireland to Mezek in Bulgaria. In Romania the E8 crosses the entire Carpathian arc, from Sighetu Marmației to Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
93 km · ~5500 m ascent · Multi-day · serious, no easy exits
- Full crest: 93 km, about 5500 m of ascent
- Waymark: Red stripe (bandă roșie)
- Part of: E8 European long-distance path
- What we did: Plaiul Foii to Vârful Negoiu — 73 km, 4666 m of ascent, in 48 hours
- Nights: A tent near Refugiul Comisu, then Refugiul Fereastra Zmeilor
- Fastest known style: The whole crest has been run in under 24 hours
An important thing about the route
The waymarked crest path does not go over all the peaks. It contours elegantly around most of them, which leaves the exploring to you.
To stand on Moldoveanu, the highest point in Romania, or on Capra, Vânătoarea lui Buteanu, Dara or Hârtopul Darei, you have to leave the red stripe and come back to it. Budget time for those detours; they are the reason to be there.
Day one: Plaiul Foii to Vârful Comisu
Red stripe, 17 km, 1247 m up and 223 m down, about three and a half hours at a fast pace. This is the standard eastern entry to the crest.
What actually happened
The plan was to walk through to Turnu Roșu. From Vârful Negoiu I had to drop down to Cabana Negoiu instead, because of a storm and three days of accumulated tiredness.
73 km and 4666 m in 48 hours, solo, Friday evening to Sunday evening, two nights out. It worked only partly — but it taught me a lot about gear, hydration, eating and motivation, which is why it is written up here.
If you want a taste rather than the whole thing
Negoiu from Cabana Negoiu, or Moldoveanu from Cabana Valea Sâmbetei, both give you the character of these mountains in a weekend rather than a week.
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.
