Valea Dâljii

Problems: On the segment Sibișel – Valea Dâljii – near the Ostrov dam, orientation problems may occur due to a less visible dirt road.

Highlights: The route passes near several cultural landmarks: the medieval church in Sânpetru, the thematic Dinosaur Valley trail, water mills, and still functioning fulling mills.

Start from the visitor center of the Retezat National Park. If you are staying nearby, you can easily bike to the center. From here, continue to the village of Nucșoara, and then to the viaduct over the Nucșoara Valley. After the viaduct, ascend a bit on the paved road, then turn right onto the blue triangle trail that climbs up to Colț fortress. The road to the fortress is quite challenging, so we do not recommend attempting to climb it by bike. Just after entering the hiking trail, you will identify a grassy path that first follows the contour line, then descends increasingly steeply into the valley. From here, follow one of the numerous paths along the valley until you reach Ohaba-Sibișel, where you will first encounter a fulling mill (right), then a water mill (left). Continue to Sibișel where, upon leaving the village, turn left behind the last house. Cross the stream by a bridge and continue on a dirt road used mainly by animals today, which then turns into a path. Cross the pasture on the interfluve and descend through the forest towards Valea Dâljii. As soon as you exit the forest, you will already see the village in the valley, slightly to the left. Exit onto the main paved road and turn left, then right at the first intersection onto another paved road. From here, continue straight ahead, leave the village, and climb the well-outlined road until you reach the top, then descend to the county road connecting Unciuc and Râu de Mori. Turn right and go to Sânpetru. Here you can visit the medieval church of the village. Just at the church, you will find the first board of the thematic Dinosaur Valley trail that continues to Sibișel. Continuing towards Ohaba-Sibișel, you will enjoy a superb view of the famous Retezat peaks: Peleaga, Păpușa, Bucura 1, Bucura 2, and Retezat. Cross the bridge at the end of the paved road and the route follows a dirt road beside the last houses of the village. Turn left at the first intersection, cross the Nucșoara stream by water, and continue 150m uphill, then enter a paved road that leads to the village of Nucșoara (there are plans to pave the section between Ohaba Sibișel and Nucșoara). At the main road in the center of the village of Nucșoara, turn left and follow the paved road until the visitor center.