Tarcău-Goșmanu Mountains

Lucăcești Park – Manachia Hill – Iezer Lake – Scăpătura Peak – Stănești – Măgirești

Route name: 11. Lucăcești Park – Manachia Hill – Iezer Lake – Scrăpătura Peak – Stănești – Măgirești

Marking: Red triangle

Travel time: 3-4 hours

Departure/arrival altitude: 433 m / 394 m

Maximum altitude: 710 m

Elevation difference: 403 m

Route length: 14,5 km

Difficulty: Easy trail. Requires equipment appropriate for the season.

Seasonality: Recommended in all seasons

Presentation: We start the route from Lucăcești Park, Moinești municipality, on George Coșbuc Street, we cross the bridge over the Tazlău River and then, taking a left, we climb through the village of Valea Arinilor, Măgirești commune, on the road that takes us to Dealul Runcu, also known as the "Transalpina de Măgirești", which offers a remarkable experience of walking through a picturesque village, in an environment with clean air, surrounded by forests and a peaceful atmosphere.

After approximately 40-50 minutes from departure, from Runcu Road we set off on paths known only to locals towards Manachiei Deal, then towards Doncea pasture, from where we turn towards Fântâna Călugărului, then towards Lake Iezer, as well as Culmea Scrăpătura.

Among firs, pines, spruces, birches, alders, beeches, ferns, blackgrass, chicory or yarrow, one can observe, in the clay banks, where ruptures or landslides have occurred , galleries – small holes dug in the exposed soil, almost vertically. In these galleries nest colonies of wagtails , medium-sized migratory birds, approximately 25-29 cm, with very bright colors, with long and curved beaks. The wagtails are protected by law in Romania and consume mainly bumblebees, wasps, bees, but also dragonflies, grasshoppers, cicadas, which they catch in flight.

In about 30 minutes we reach the plateau of Dealului Manachia, from where a special panorama opens : almost the entire Tazlău Valley of Sărat de Sus. The eye encompasses in an impressive image: the Berzunți Mountains, the Goșmanu Mountains, Tarcău, Ciuc, Nemira, the hills, valleys and waters, the picturesque villages scattered here and there. The hill, in the west, is covered with forest, stretching to the Doncei Valley and the Ruja Stream to the north. Here is a resting place, as always, for the cattle that eat on the islaz, the small shepherds of sheep and goats, or villagers gathering sponges (mushrooms) and berries or hazelnuts, for young playful couples, or any traveler to these lands…

We then descend Manachia on a path from the northeast, through Vânoaga, cross a small bridge on our right and arrive at Pășunea Doncea, from where we deviate for 5 minutes to Fântâna Călugărului, where we satisfy ourselves with cold water.

We return to Doncea Pasture to continue our route eastward, among the tall trees. We advance on the path marked with a red triangle, through the forest, a place where wild animals have begun to take possession of what is theirs. The timid wild boars make their presence felt through the tracks of digging in the ground and their hooves, among the alders, beeches and birches. The deer jump scared towards the Manachiei Coast, the badgers stay hidden among the blackberry bushes waiting for the night. Foxes, rabbits, squirrels, hawks, ducks or wild geese live their lives in secret.

The silence of the forest is, from time to time, disturbed by a dry twig broken under our feet or a woodpecker "tapping" a tree. On our route we also come across a small pond or " băltoc ", as it is called by the locals, where the bravest ones bathe, and others try their luck at fishing.

After about 20 minutes of walking through the forest, we reach a clearing and turn right where, in 10 minutes, we encounter Lake Iezer. On the path, hardworking ants run happily and colorful butterflies fly freely above us.

The legend of the place says that a wedding drowned in the Iezerul Mare. The bride and groom, Ion of Donceoaiei and Roza (or Ruja), after a beautiful love story, decided to get married, a consent given with great difficulty by the boyar in the valley, the girl's father, the boyar Magir or Magear. The two decided to get married religiously at a hermitage in the mountains. It was an end of winter that announced a spring like in stories and a fruitful year for farmers. The scattered patches of snow, hidden in the recesses of the mountains, reminded of the winter season, as if wanting to say that the wolf did not eat in winter.

After the wedding, at night, a severe frost struck and the Great Iezer froze, locking the image of the moon in ice. The wedding party crossed the pond and ... it broke, drowning everyone. Their souls remained at the bottom of the Iezer until Ruja freed them and carried them from the water to the flowing water in the sea.

It is said that in the Bottomless Pond, a young boy drowned who did not listen to the advice of the elders: "Don't go there! The Spirit of the Forest lives deep down and is hungry. You will perish without anyone being able to find you!"

After returning from Iezer, we continue on the appropriately marked path, keeping to the right, after which we reach in approximately 15-20 minutes the Scrăpătura Peak, at an altitude of approximately 710 m, from where the view captivates us once again with a wonderful belvedere over the picturesque villages, but also of the mountains on the horizon. These special panoramas will offer a unique perspective on the natural beauty and will represent an excellent opportunity for unforgettable photos.

We continue our hike on the marked path among birch and alder trees, where we notice rocks, like scales, as if there were a huge creature sleeping indifferently under our feet under the hill. Descending, we intersect with the oil road, where we head northeast and arrive in approximately 30-40 minutes in the village of Stănești, a charming destination that delights us with its traditional architecture and the hospitality of its inhabitants. Here, travelers can make a short stop to enjoy the authentic atmosphere and interact with the local community.

Continuing on the road, we reach the end of this captivating route – Măgirești City Hall.

Tourist attractions: "Transalpina de Măgirești" (Runcu Road), Viewpoints towards the Goșmanu Mountains, the Berzunți Mountains, the Tazlău-Cașin Subcarpathian Depression, the Monk's Fountain, Lake Iezer, Erosion witnesses (Runcu Hill).

Download GPS Track: Lucacesti Park – Magiresti Route – red triangle