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

Bookmark: Red triangle

Travel time: 3-4 hours

Departure/arrival altitude: 433 m / 394 m

Maximum Altitude: 710 m

Level 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 village. picturesque, in an environment with clean air, surrounded by forests and a peaceful atmosphere.

After approximately 40-50 minutes from departure, from Runcu Road we start on the paths known only to the locals to Dealul Manachiei, then to the Doncea pasture, from where we we turn towards the Monk's Fountain, then towards Lake Iezer, as well as the Scrăpătura Peak. 

Among firs, pines, spruces, birches, alders, beeches, ferns, heather, chicory or horsetail mouse, can be observed in the clay banks, where ruptures or landslides have occurred land, gallery – small holes dug in the exposed soil, almost vertically. In these galleries nesting colonies of bee eaters, medium-sized migratory birds, approximately 25-29 cm, with very vivid coloring, with a long and curved beak. The Prigorii are protected in Romania by law and It mainly consumes bumblebees, wasps, bees, but also dragonflies, grasshoppers, cicadas, which it catches from flight.

In about 30 minutes we reach the plateau of Manachia Hill, from where a special panorama: almost the entire Tazlău Valley Sărat de Sus. The eye encompasses in a impressive image: Berzunți Mountains, Goșmanu Mountains, Tarcău, Ciuc, Nemira, the hills, the valleys and waters, the picturesque villages scattered here and there. The hill, on the western side, is covered by forest, extending to the Donca Valley and The Ruja stream to the north. Here is a resting place, as always, for the cattle that feed on the islaz, small shepherds of sheep and goats, or villagers gathering mushrooms and forest berries or peanuts, for young playful couples, or any traveler to these lands...

We then descend Manachia on a path from the northeast, through Vânoaga, we pass over a small bridge to our right and we arrive at Pășunea Doncea, from where we turn off for 5 minutes to the Monk's Fountain, where we fill ourselves with cold water.

We return to Pășunea Doncea to continue our route east, among the trees. We advance on the path marked with a red triangle, through the forest, a place where animals The wild boars have begun to take possession of what is theirs. The timid wild boars make their presence felt through the tracks of digging the ground and the hoof prints, among alders, beeches and birches. The deer jump scared towards the Manachi Coast, the badgers are hiding among the blackberry bushes waiting 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" in a tree. On our route we also encounter a small pond or "puddle", as it is called by the locals, where the bravest bathe, and others try their luck at fishing. 

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

The local legend 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, agreed given with great difficulty by the boyar of the valley, the girl's father, the boyar Magir or Magear. The two They decided to get married religiously at a hermitage in the mountains. It was the end of winter, heralding a a spring like in fairy tales and a fruitful year for farmers. Scattered patches of snow, hidden in the depths of the mountains, they reminded of the winter season, as if wanting to say that he had not eaten the wolf in winter.

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

It is said that in the Bottomless Pond a boy drowned who disobeyed the 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 right, after which we reach in approximately 15-20 minutes the Scăpătura Peak, at an altitude of of about 710 m, from where the view captivates us once again with a wonderful view of the picturesque villages, but also the mountains on the horizon. These special panoramas will offer a unique perspective on natural beauty and will represent an excellent opportunity for unforgettable photos.

We continue hiking on the marked path among birch and alder trees, where we notice rocks, like scales, as if under the hill there were a huge creature sleeping indifferently under our steps. Descending, we intersect with the oil road, where we turn northeast and we arrive in approximately 30-40 minutes in the village of Stănești, a charming destination that delights 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 Gosmanu Mountains, Berzunti Mountains, Tazlău-Caşin Subcarpathian Depression, Fântâna Călugărului, Lake Iezer, Erosion Witnesses (Runcu Hill).

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