Eastern Carpathians · Romania
Bicaz Gorge
DN12CLacu Roșu to Bicaz-Chei
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 Gâtul Iadului, Hell’s Neck, 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.
On the road
The road runs from Lacu Roșu to Bicaz-Chei, on the DN12C between Gheorgheni and Bicaz. It starts at the Red Lake, formed in the late 1830s when a landslide dammed the Bicaz river. The drowned spruce trunks still stand in the water. From the lake, the river runs about 2.5 miles (4 km) to the gorge.
Following the river down, a short run of hairpins and a tunnel cut through the rock lead to Gâtul Iadului, Hell’s Neck. This is the narrowest, most canyon-like stretch, about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) long. The cliffs here hold some of the hardest climbing routes in Romania, so look up for climbers. Traffic builds quickly on such a narrow road, so come early in the morning or on a weekday.
The gorge lies inside Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș National Park, which covers 6,575 hectares and has 18 marked hiking routes. Among the rock towers, look for Piatra Altarului, the Altar Stone. Bicaz-Chei, at the lower end, is in Neamț County but historically belongs to Transylvania.
Scenery
Best seasons
In these collections
Bicaz Gorge on the map6.3 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Corners
busiest around mile 2Elevation
approximateunder 4%4 to 8%over 8%627 to 1,000 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Gâtul IaduluiLandmark2.5 mi in
- Cheile BicazuluiLandmark3.6 mi in
- Poarta de PiatrăLandmark1.7 mi in
Hazards
- Very narrow gorge floor shared with coaches and two-way traffic
- Pedestrians and parked cars at the market and viewpoints
- Rockfall and water running across the road after rain
Sources
“The road along ravines, often in serpentines with rock on one side and a sheer drop on the other, is one of the most spectacular drives in the country.”
Route traced from OpenStreetMap, with its stats measured from that line. How the roads are mapped
Routes for iPhone carries Bicaz Gorge offline, with live weather and a 7 day forecast.
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