about 45 minutes from the cabin · half a day · May to October
Moara Dracului Gorge (the “Devil’s Mill”) is a short, narrow gorge cut by the Valea Caselor stream into the limestone at the foot of Rarău, near Câmpulung Moldovenesc. The rock walls rise straight up, in places leaning over the path, and between them you cross wooden footbridges above water that flows in small cascades. The site is protected as a geological reserve and is perfect for half a day, combined with the drive up to Rarău. Times are approximate and may vary depending on access conditions and the weather.
Why it is worth it
The gorge isn’t long: a few dozen metres, in two sections, 4-5 metres wide. You walk through it in about ten minutes, but they are ten minutes you won’t easily forget: the wet rocks, the moss clinging to the stone, the flowers in the cracks and the murmur of the water underfoot.
The reserve also protects rare plants and animals. Yew trees grow near the gorge, edelweiss appears on the rocks, and lynx, martens and foxes live in the surrounding forests. Look with your eyes, not your hands: nothing may be picked or broken in the reserve.
How to get there
From Stulpicani, drive through Slătioara on the DJ177B towards Câmpulung Moldovenesc. At the junction with the DN17, turn left, then immediately left again, towards the Bucovina ski slope and Valea Caselor. The road, partly gravel, climbs along the Valea Caselor stream: follow it for about 4 kilometres, past houses and hay meadows, to a junction with a sign for the gorge.
Leave the car there and continue on foot for about 400 metres, along the path marked with a red cross. Just before the gorge there is a spring-water fountain.
The gorge combines naturally with the Transrarău road and Pietrele Doamnei, as they are in the same direction. You can do both in one day if you set off in the morning.
On foot, through the gorge
The wooden footbridges start next to the fountain and cross from one wall to the other, over the stream. After them, the path climbs through the forest towards the crests of Rarău: that is a long mountain trail, for which you need time, the right gear and a map downloaded beforehand. If you only want to see the gorge, come back the same way.
Good to know
Footwear matters: hiking boots or trainers with a good grip, never sandals. The footbridges and stones are slippery when wet.
Don’t go into the gorge in a storm or after torrential rain: in a narrow gorge, the water rises quickly.
It isn’t a trail for very young children, but older children who are used to hiking can do it in good conditions, with adults, holding hands on the footbridges and the wet stretches. Phone signal is weak, so tell someone where you are going.
Sources: Câmpulung Moldovenesc City Hall and Taraba cu amintiri (both in Romanian).
Frequently asked questions
How long does the visit take?
You walk through the gorge in about ten minutes. With the walk from the junction, there and back, and stops for photos, allow about an hour.
Can we go without a guide?
Yes, the trail is marked with a red cross. Still, tell someone where you are going, as the signal is weak.
Can we combine it with Rarău on the same day?
Yes, they are in the same direction. Leave the cabin in the morning: the gorge in the morning, Pietrele Doamnei in the afternoon.
In the evening, warm water and a fire
After a day among the rocks, the warm hot tub and the fire in the fireplace are waiting for you. The whole house, just for your group, from 900 lei a night.
