RoutesBike touring routes & trailsRomaniaNeamț
View of Lake Izvorul Muntelui – View of Ceahlău Massif loop from Bicaz
RoutesBike touring routes & trailsRomaniaNeamț
View of Lake Izvorul Muntelui – View of Ceahlău Massif loop from Bicaz
Hard
25
riders
View of Lake Izvorul Muntelui – View of Ceahlău Massif loop from Bicaz
06:28
95.2km
1,620m
Cycling
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: February 23, 2026
Tips
Your route passes through protected areas
Please check local regulations for:
Parcul Național Ceahlău
Waypoints
A
Start point
Train Station
Get Directions
1
26.9 km
View of Lake Izvorul Muntelui
Highlight • Viewpoint
It is the highest part of the road that connects Izvorul Muntelui with Durau Resort, known as Axial Ceahlau.
From here you can see a beautiful panorama over Lake Izvorul Muntelui, the villages on its banks, the hills and the viaduct from Poiana Largului.
From here you can see a beautiful panorama over Lake Izvorul Muntelui, the villages on its banks, the hills and the viaduct from Poiana Largului.
Tip by
2
30.3 km
View of Ceahlău Massif
Highlight • Viewpoint
The Ceahlău massif is a mountainous massif belonging to the Eastern Carpathians, located on the territory of Neamț county. The highest peaks are Ocolașul Mare (1907 m) and Toaca (1904 m).
The Ceahlău massif is the highest of the Bistrița Mountains group. It is crossed by the parallel 47 degrees north latitude and the meridian 25 degrees east longitude. Its limits are: to the north, the Bistricioara valley, to the east the Izvorul Muntelui lake, to the south the Bicazului valley, and to the west the Jidanului Bistrelor and Pinticului valleys.
The nearest town is Bicaz. At its foot, at about 800 m altitude is the tourist resort Durău.
To the east and north DN15 on the Bicaz - Poiana Largului - Tulgheș section, to the south DN12C on the Bicazu Ardelean - Bicaz section. The DN155F secondary road between Izvoru Muntelui - Durău - Ceahlău - Bistricioara detaches from DN15.
The Ceahlău massif is the highest of the Bistrița Mountains group. It is crossed by the parallel 47 degrees north latitude and the meridian 25 degrees east longitude. Its limits are: to the north, the Bistricioara valley, to the east the Izvorul Muntelui lake, to the south the Bicazului valley, and to the west the Jidanului Bistrelor and Pinticului valleys.
The nearest town is Bicaz. At its foot, at about 800 m altitude is the tourist resort Durău.
To the east and north DN15 on the Bicaz - Poiana Largului - Tulgheș section, to the south DN12C on the Bicazu Ardelean - Bicaz section. The DN155F secondary road between Izvoru Muntelui - Durău - Ceahlău - Bistricioara detaches from DN15.
Tip by
3
31.6 km
Durău Slope
Highlight • Trail
The park is located at the foot of the Ceahlau Massif, in the Durău resort, surrounded by nature. Considering that the summer park is located in the perimeter of the Durău Slope, the space is open, with an amazing view. Tourists can easily reach the Summer Park, navigating to the permanent location of the Durău Slope.
The Durău slope is ideal for sledding and skiing, both for beginners and advanced. Located at the foot of Mount Ceahlau, at an altitude of 800 m, where the snow layer is provided from December to March, the slope has a length of 406 m, a width of at least 62 meters, a level difference of 35 meters and a degree medium of difficulty.
The Durău slope is ideal for sledding and skiing, both for beginners and advanced. Located at the foot of Mount Ceahlau, at an altitude of 800 m, where the snow layer is provided from December to March, the slope has a length of 406 m, a width of at least 62 meters, a level difference of 35 meters and a degree medium of difficulty.
Tip by
4
50.1 km
Piatra Teiului (Devil's Stone)
Highlight • Natural Monument
Piatra Teiului is a limestone cliff located at the tail of the current basin of the Izvorul Muntelui reservoir on the Bistrița River, declared a natural monument (IUCN category III) since 1951, currently with the status of geological reservation.
It is located a little upstream of the confluence of the Largu brook with the Bistrița river, in the area where they meet having as common point the Poiana Largului Viaduct - DN15, DN15B, DN17B. The road leading to the southeast goes on the left bank of the lake to Bicaz (44 km), and the road leading to the northeast reaches Târgu Neamț (46 km). To the northwest the road goes to Vatra Dornei (85 km), and to the southwest to Toplița (69 km).
It is perfectly visible from the viaduct that crosses the lake and very close to it upstream on the right side of the valley, being surrounded by land or with its foot covered in water (for most of the year, about 6-8 months), after how the lake has lower or higher water levels.
The rock, with a height of 23 m, is located on a terrace 5-7 meters higher than the level of Bistrita. The protected area has an area of 0.2 ha and is located at an altitude of 508 m.
It is a witness to the erosion of a Cretaceous coral reef. The composition of the rock includes a rich Sarmatian fossil fauna.
Initially called the Stone of the Devil due to its uniqueness, which could only be explained by legends, it later acquired its current name after a linden tree grew towards its top.
According to the legends, the Devil would have broken in one night a piece of rock from the top of Ceahlău mountain to stop the waters of Bistrița and flood the area. As he flew with the rock in his arms, he would have been surprised by the dawn and, fearing the sunlight, would have let it fall and fled to take refuge in the dark.
It is located a little upstream of the confluence of the Largu brook with the Bistrița river, in the area where they meet having as common point the Poiana Largului Viaduct - DN15, DN15B, DN17B. The road leading to the southeast goes on the left bank of the lake to Bicaz (44 km), and the road leading to the northeast reaches Târgu Neamț (46 km). To the northwest the road goes to Vatra Dornei (85 km), and to the southwest to Toplița (69 km).
It is perfectly visible from the viaduct that crosses the lake and very close to it upstream on the right side of the valley, being surrounded by land or with its foot covered in water (for most of the year, about 6-8 months), after how the lake has lower or higher water levels.
The rock, with a height of 23 m, is located on a terrace 5-7 meters higher than the level of Bistrita. The protected area has an area of 0.2 ha and is located at an altitude of 508 m.
It is a witness to the erosion of a Cretaceous coral reef. The composition of the rock includes a rich Sarmatian fossil fauna.
Initially called the Stone of the Devil due to its uniqueness, which could only be explained by legends, it later acquired its current name after a linden tree grew towards its top.
According to the legends, the Devil would have broken in one night a piece of rock from the top of Ceahlău mountain to stop the waters of Bistrița and flood the area. As he flew with the rock in his arms, he would have been surprised by the dawn and, fearing the sunlight, would have let it fall and fled to take refuge in the dark.
Tip by
5
50.8 km
Poiana Teiului Viaduct
Highlight • Bridge
The "Poiana Teiului" viaduct crosses the Izvorul Muntelui lake, has a length of about 800 m and was built in 1960. It is a strategic connecting artery between Moldova (Piatra Neamt / Targu Neamt), Bucovina (Vatra Dornei) and Tansilvania (Borsec / Targu Mures).
GPS coordinates: 47 ° 5'21 "N 25 ° 57'52" E
GPS coordinates: 47 ° 5'21 "N 25 ° 57'52" E
Translated by Google •
Tip by
53.8 km
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
7
74.4 km
View of Lake Izvorul Muntelui and Ceahlău Mountain from Ruginesti
Highlight • Viewpoint
Hangu is a commune in Neamț County, Western Moldavia, Romania. Situated in an area of the Lake Izvorul Muntelui also called "Little Switzerland," it is a mixture of modern and archaic culture. It is composed of five villages: Buhalnița, Chirițeni, Grozăvești, Hangu and Ruginești.
Hangu is near Lake Izvorul Muntelui (also known as Bicaz Lake), an artificial lake used to generate hydroelectricity. The village is located in the valley of Hangu river and it surrounded by the peaks of Mount Stânișoara: Muntele Hangu westwards, Boboteni village and Muncelu Peak in the north, the Audia village and the Malu Peak eastwards. In the south, the 15C road separates the village from the Bicaz Lake and over the lake, the Ceahlău mountain (a popular Romanian tourist site).
From the Ruginesti area there is a grandiose view over the Izvorul Muntelui lake and towards the legendary Ceahlau mountain.
Hangu is near Lake Izvorul Muntelui (also known as Bicaz Lake), an artificial lake used to generate hydroelectricity. The village is located in the valley of Hangu river and it surrounded by the peaks of Mount Stânișoara: Muntele Hangu westwards, Boboteni village and Muncelu Peak in the north, the Audia village and the Malu Peak eastwards. In the south, the 15C road separates the village from the Bicaz Lake and over the lake, the Ceahlău mountain (a popular Romanian tourist site).
From the Ruginesti area there is a grandiose view over the Izvorul Muntelui lake and towards the legendary Ceahlau mountain.
Tip by
8
87.3 km
Izvorul Muntelui Dam and Lake Bicaz
Highlight • Lake
The dam was completed in 1960, after a construction that lasted about ten years. The mountain spring of Bicaz is built under Russian influence, it is a weight dam, which means that it keeps behind the support, by its own weight, the nearly 1.3 billion cubic meters of Bicaz accumulation lake.
For almost 60 years, 1.6 million tons of concrete have been holding the waters of the largest inland lake in Romania, so big that it has a captaincy, which belongs to that of Galați.
The colossus between Moldova and Transylvania, managed by Hidroelectrica, is 127 meters high, of which 30 underground, a 430 meter crown and has not only the role of keeping the lake of 31,000 hectares in spine, but also to supply water. for the hydroelectric power station Oak that connects it with an adduction tunnel dug in the mountain, with a length of 4.8 km.
At the construction site, no concrete mountain was poured, but 30. Specifically, the dam is made up of 30 concrete blocks, so it is almost impossible for it to completely give up in the event of a disaster. In case of overload, that is to say above the water limit, there are four mouths of discharge over the dam, a few meters below the level of the floor. To these are added four drainage berths at the base of the dam, ie at the initial level of the river, which allow the total emptying of the lake.
At the base, the dam is 119 meters wide and is like a hive, crossed by tunnels full of measuring instruments, including high-grade seismographs, which recorded, among others, the 2009 Sumatra earthquake. Concrete blocks are also constantly checked for any movement (horizontal or vertical), and the third verification system is the pendulum type. At the peak, the dam is thinned to 11 meters.
For almost 60 years, 1.6 million tons of concrete have been holding the waters of the largest inland lake in Romania, so big that it has a captaincy, which belongs to that of Galați.
The colossus between Moldova and Transylvania, managed by Hidroelectrica, is 127 meters high, of which 30 underground, a 430 meter crown and has not only the role of keeping the lake of 31,000 hectares in spine, but also to supply water. for the hydroelectric power station Oak that connects it with an adduction tunnel dug in the mountain, with a length of 4.8 km.
At the construction site, no concrete mountain was poured, but 30. Specifically, the dam is made up of 30 concrete blocks, so it is almost impossible for it to completely give up in the event of a disaster. In case of overload, that is to say above the water limit, there are four mouths of discharge over the dam, a few meters below the level of the floor. To these are added four drainage berths at the base of the dam, ie at the initial level of the river, which allow the total emptying of the lake.
At the base, the dam is 119 meters wide and is like a hive, crossed by tunnels full of measuring instruments, including high-grade seismographs, which recorded, among others, the 2009 Sumatra earthquake. Concrete blocks are also constantly checked for any movement (horizontal or vertical), and the third verification system is the pendulum type. At the peak, the dam is thinned to 11 meters.
Tip by
9
87.9 km
Emil Racoviță Shipwreck
Highlight • Structure
There are not many who know that at the bottom of Lake Bicaz stands what many years ago, was considered the pearl of the fleet on that lake.
The ship, or rather the wreck comes to light almost every year, when the lake's water level drops much, by over 20 meters.
It can be seen best on the bank near the road that leads to the white spring, near the dam.
"It once belonged to the University of Alexandru Ioan Cuza in Iasi and, following a dispute, was abandoned at the bottom of the lake. The vessel had a German engine and the interior of mahogany wood of the highest quality ”.
The ship arrived on Bicaz Lake somewhere after the year 90 and it changed its owners until it was not known who it is, remaining abandoned, and finally sank.
The ship, or rather the wreck comes to light almost every year, when the lake's water level drops much, by over 20 meters.
It can be seen best on the bank near the road that leads to the white spring, near the dam.
"It once belonged to the University of Alexandru Ioan Cuza in Iasi and, following a dispute, was abandoned at the bottom of the lake. The vessel had a German engine and the interior of mahogany wood of the highest quality ”.
The ship arrived on Bicaz Lake somewhere after the year 90 and it changed its owners until it was not known who it is, remaining abandoned, and finally sank.
Tip by
B
95.2 km
End point
Train Station
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
54.4 km
40.3 km
518 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
93.7 km
1.02 km
518 m
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Highest point (1,050 m)
Lowest point (420 m)
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Monday 18 May
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7°C
69 %
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