Padiş – Karst landscape and hiking trails in the Apuseni Mountains

The Padiș tourist area includes the enclosed Padiș–Cetățile Ponorului basin. Padiș is located in the northern part of the Munții Bihor, a mountain range of the Munții Apuseni. The Padiș–Cetățile Ponorului karst area is considered the most important tourist area in the Munții Apuseni. There are 27 marked hiking trails in the Padiș–Vârtop tourist area. The landscape therefore combines a karst basin with an extensive network of trails and numerous underground and above-ground natural features.

Discover more destinations at: Oradea, Băile Felix, Băile 1 Mai, Salonta, Auşeu, Sălişte, Cordău and Hidişelu De Sus.

Nature

Izbucul Ponor drains the waters of streams that disappear underground on the Padiș Plateau. The visitor trail to Izbucul Ponor leads to a spring inside a small cave and is a relatively easy hike of approximately 30 minutes. At this destination, the karst area thus presents itself both as a landscape with disappearing streams and as an underground spring area.

Cascada Evantai forms where the water of the Galbena Valley emerges from a cave again and plunges approximately 10 metres into the depths. The portal of Peștera Cetățile Ponorului is 75 metres high and is considered the highest cave portal in Europe. Avenul Borțig is approximately 40 metres deep and, after the Scărișoara Glacier, is considered Europe's second-largest ice cave.

Avenul Gemănata on the route through Lumea Pierdută has a vertical drop 82 metres deep. Pietrele Galbenei is a protected natural monument and has been a geological reserve since 2000. Peștera Șura Boghii is 212 metres long. The area's natural features therefore include waterfalls, caves, vertical shafts, a high cave portal, a protected natural monument and a geological reserve established in 2000.

Hiking

The circular trail through Lumea Pierdută leads across the karst plateau. The fairly demanding hike takes approximately 5 hours and is not recommended in winter.

The visitor trail to Pietrele Galbenei is a short, moderately difficult branch from the classic Circuitul Văii Galbena and is not recommended in winter. The trail to the Pietrele Boghii viewpoint is prohibited in winter.

The Circuitul Cetăților Ponorului is a difficult circular trail taking approximately 6.5 hours. Safety ropes have been installed at important points; the circular trail is not recommended in winter. The four viewing balconies along the Circuitul Cetăților Ponorului were built by Czaran Gyula in the 19th century.

Orientation

The visitor and tourist information centre of the Apuseni Natural Park administration is located at the Padiș forestry canton. A forestry canton and a supply point are located in the La Grajduri clearing; this is where most tent campers stay. Orientation in the area is therefore anchored at two named locations: the information centre at the Padiș forestry canton and the La Grajduri clearing with its forestry canton and supply point.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bihor.