Bicaz Gorge

A dramatic 10 km canyon road threading the limestone cleft of Cheile Bicazului from Lacu Roșu to Bicaz-Chei, with sheer walls rising 300 m overhead.

The DN12C through the Bicaz Gorge is one of the most spectacular drives in Romania, cutting between Transylvania and Moldova along a narrow ravine where limestone cliffs tower up to 300 m on either side. From the landslide-formed Red Lake the road follows the river through a string of curves and short tunnels, squeezing through the section known as Hell’s Gate where the walls almost close overhead and the sky shrinks to a slot. It is paved throughout but tight, with roadside stalls and pedestrians clustering at the narrowest, most photogenic points. The 10 km gorge run is the highlight, framed by the peaks of Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș National Park. Mind the very narrow gorge floor with two-way traffic and tour coaches, pedestrians wandering near the market stalls, and rockfall and water across the carriageway after rain.