Capra Lake – Bâlea Lake Trail

The trail starts from Capra Chalet, but there is the possibility to drive on the Transfăgărășan for about 2-3 km until you reach a marked spring, near which the road forms a tight bend. Here, you can park your car and begin the adventure by foot.

At the beginning, the trail has a steep ascent, but as you progress, the terrain becomes gentler, allowing you to admire the spectacular Transfăgărășan from above. After approximately 2 and a half to 3 hours of walking and covering a distance of 3 km, with an elevation difference of 700 m, you reach the beautiful Capra Lake.

Capra and Căprița Lakes are located below Capra Saddle, at an altitude of 2230 m and 2228 m, respectively. From here, you can head in various directions for exploration. In just one hour, you can also reach the peak of Vânătoarea lui Buteanu, standing at 2,507 m.

From here, we have two options: you can return on the same path or take a more spectacular route passing through Şaua Caprei and reaching Bâlea Lake, then return to the car on the road, provided you have previously parked at Bâlea Lake, before starting the route.

If you choose for the second option, from Capra Lake, there is a gentle ascent of 20-30 minutes to Capra Saddle, where you’ll enjoy a spectacular view of Lake Bâlea.

From Saua Caprei, you descend in a winding path filled with gravel and stones, requiring a bit of attention but it’s easy to navigate. This descent takes about 1 hour and a half.