If you stop at the first hairpin turn on the Transfăgărășan, just as you start ascending towards Vidraru Dam and follow the red dot hiking trail, you’ll have the opportunity to discover a spectacular canyon. Being the only developed canyon in the Făgăraș Mountains, Valea lui Stan provides a good dose of adrenaline with its metal stairs, walkways, cables facilitating the passage of tourists through waterfalls, vertical rock walls, and numerous water pools. The trail is of medium difficulty and can be traversed from spring until late autumn; however, in winter, special equipment is required.

Located roughly halfway between Poiana Mucenicului and Vidraru Dam, Valea lui Stan is a spectacular trail that connects you with nature and energizes you. It’s an ideal trail for a day escape from the everyday routine, a circuit (Valea lui Stan – Poiana Călugărița – Vidraru Dam – Valea lui Stan) that can be completed in approximately 5 hours.

Access to the trail entrance is by car, which can be parked along the roadside, outside of the roadway. From here, for about 30 minutes, you walk along the watercourse, either through the valley (if the water level is low) or alongside it. Until the actual entrance into the canyon, the path is dotted with water pools and waterfalls. Crossing the canyon is done by following the stairs and footbridges installed along the route. There is a short section that can be bypassed through the forest if the water level doesn’t allow passage, following the designated trail. After you go through the entire canyon, which is about 2 km long, you start a climb through the forest to Poiana Călugărița. From here the road descends through the forest, passes the former Călugărița cabin and then follows the contour of Lake Vidraru to the dam. From this point, the descent to the car is made on the Transfăgărășan road.

We recommend the Valea lui Stan route to those who want to spend a day in nature, enjoy wonderful landscapes and relax for a few hours in the fresh mountain air.