# Măcin Mountains National Park

Măcin Mountains National Park is a national park in Northern Dobruja, Romania.

## Understand
### History

The national park was set up in 2003.

### Landscape

The Măcin mountains are geologically the oldest in Romania. They feature a wide variety of landscapes including arid rocky areas, canyons, and weathered granite.

### Flora and fauna

This national park has features of Balkan, Mediterranean and Central European forest landscapes, including forest-steppe woods with Dobrogean peony, and a variety of plants including downy oak, flowering ash, sessile oak, Dobrogean olive, spirea, nettle tree, viburnum, and Chequer. Its Dobrogean Beech forest is the only one in the world.

### Climate

The Măcin Mountains' climate is continentally-tempered with steppe climate influences in the south of the park and Mediterranean climate influences on the peaks and mountain ridge.

## Fees and permits

Tourists must pay 10 RON Per person (available for two days)
Locals can enter in the park for free.

## Get around

Măcin Mountains National Park is crossed by many mountain trails arranged (with campsites) in order to facilitate the access of tourists safely to the chosen destination.
Tourist Trails
* Cozluk (marked with red circle) on the route: Greci Village - Cozluk Valley - Jugului's Valley - Groapa de Aramă - Adâncă Valley - Plopilor's Valley - Greci (4hr 20min).
* Crapcea Peak (marked with red stripe) on the route: Cerna Village - Puiu's Valley - Echiștea Peak - Crapcea Peak - Crapcea Hill - Balabancea (3–5hr).
* Pricopan Heights (marked with blue stripe) on the route: Măcin - Sulucu Mare Peak - Piatra Râioasă - Șerparu Saddle - Caramalău Peak - Izvorul Tămăduirii (Fântâna de Leac) - Măcin (4–5hr).
* Țuțuiatu (marked with blue triangle) on the route: Greci Village - Morsu Valley - Țuțuiatul Peak - Piscu Înalt Valley - Seacă Valley - Fagilor's Valley - Cetățuia (archaeological site) - Luncavița Village (5hr 10min).
* Dealul cu Drum (marked with red triangle) on the route: Greci Village - Racova Valley - Dealul cu Drum - Piatra Roșie Valley - Curături Valley - Taița Valley - Nifon Village (3hr 30min).
* Wine/Vinului Valley (marked with blue stripe) on the route: Cerna Village - Cerna Valley - Poteca Țigăncii Valley - Vergu Peak - Vinului Peak - Cardonului's Ridge - Hamcearca Village (3–5hr)
* Cocoș - Sarica (marked with blue stripe) on the route: Nifon Village - Cocoș Monastery - Niculițel Village - Sarica hill (6½–9hr)
* Celic – Alba (marked with blue triangle) on the route: Celic Dere Monastery - Edirlen - Carasan Teke – Alba (6hr 20min)
* Troesmis (marked with yellow stripe) on the route: DN22D - Troesmis Fortress - Iacobdeal Lake - Bulgarian Peony Hill - Fossiliferous Peony Place - Priopcea Hill - Panait Cerna Memorial House (8hr 20min)
* Dealul Consul - Florești (marked with red stripe) on the route: DJ 229 - Dealul Consul - Valea Teilor - Florești (8hr 10min)
* Dealul cu Drum - Țuțuiatu Link (marked with red cross) on the route: Bălan Peak - Piscu Înalt peak (1-2hr 30min)
Thematic Trails
* Pietrosul Dobrogean (marked with yellow stripe) on the route: DJ 222A 1,2 km segment in common with Țuțuiatu Trail - Pietrosului Valley - Pietrosul I - Pietrosul II - DJ 222A (3h 12min)
* Dinogeția (marked with red circle) on the route: Dinogeția Fortress/Archeological site – DN 22E – Crăcănele Peak – Crăcănele Saddle – Bugeacului hill – Hut “La Lătîme” – DN 22E (36min)
* Priopcea Path (marked with yellow circle) on the route: DN 22D -North Promontory Priopcea Peak - Boldea Peak - Sivrica Peak - DN 22D (40min–3hr 20min)
* The Tales of Măcin (marked with blue circle) on the route: Greci Village - Racova Valley - Dealul cu Drum - Ditcova Valley (43min)
* Jijila Valley (marked with blue cross) on the route: Jijila Village – Jijilei Valley – Cheia Peak – Cheita Peak – Caramalău Peak – Fântâna de Leac – Fântâna de Leac Monastery (1hr 14min–3hr 14min)
* Niculițel (marked with blue circle) on the route: Țugulea Hill - La Troian - Dumitru Hill - Great Hill - Episcopate Hill - Niculițel (2-3hr 10min)
* Fântâna de Leac (marked with yellow circle) on the route: Fântâna de Leac - Piciorul Cărămălău (1-2hr 10min)
Other Trails
* Equestrian trail (no marking) on the route: Cerna Village - Arsu Valley - Şaua Mare - Arheuziu Peak - Archizel Peak - Lifante Peak - Pietrele Albe Peak - Mangina Peak - Puturoasa Valley - Horse paddock (1hr 21min–5hr 10min)

## See

Măcin Mountains National Park has a variety of tourist attractions including:
* Fortresses
** 45.37916728.1386941 Dinogeția Fortress. (updated Jul 2024)
** 45.238828.12772 Arrubium Fortress. (updated Jul 2024)
** 45.14305628.1953 Troesmis Fortress. (updated Jul 2024)
** 45.26666728.4833334 Noviodunum Fortress. (updated Jul 2024)
* Lakes
** Iacobdeal Lake
** Horia Lake
** Isaccea Lake
* Monasteries
** Izvorul Tămăduirii monastery
** Cocoș monastery
** Celic-Dere monastery
** Valea Teilor monastary
** Saon monastery
* Other Attractions
** Copacul lui Mircea Bezergheanu. (updated Jul 2024)
** Crucele Forest
** Cheile Chediului
** Pietrele Mariei

## Do

Măcin Mountains has a variety of activities including rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking.
Rock Climbing Areas and Trails

#### Racova Valley

* Colţul Viperei
** Țestoasei - Grade 6, Sport gear style, 25m
* Oglinda de Jad
** Cameleom - Grade 7-, Sport gear style, 7m
** Thalassa - Grade 7, Sport gear style, 7m
* Peretele Amurg
** Extrema stângă - Grade 6-, Trad gear style, 2 pitches
** Luna - Grade 6-, Trad gear style, 2 pitches
** Soarele - Grade 6- A2, Trad gear style, 2 pitches
** Amurg - Grade 7 A2, Trad gear style, 2 pitches
* Peretele Diagonal
** Brânelor - Grade 5+, Trad gear style, 3 pitches
** Muchia Brânelor - Hornul Prieteniei - Grade 3, Trad gear style, 3 pitches
** Diagonal - Grade 5-, Trad gear style, 3 pitches
* Peretele Grădiniță
** Piticot - Grade 4, Sport gear style, 10m
** Gopo - Grade 5-, Sport gear style, 10m
* Peretele Taberei
** Barbă - Grade 5, Sport gear style, 10m
** Kanietz - Grade 6+, Sport gear style, 10m
** Musca - Grade 6, Sport gear style, 10m
** Fete - Grade 4+, Sport gear style, 10m
** Hibrid - Grade 6, Sport gear style, 7m
** Bile - Grade 5+, Sport gear style,10m , 3 clips
** Păianjen - Grade 6-, Sport gear style,10m, 3 clips
** Oul Dogmatic - Grade 7/7+, Sport gear style, 7m
** FPM - Grade 7,Trad gear style, 7m
* Turnul de Șah
** Mecla de Piatră - Sport gear style, 10m
** Zig Zag - Grade 6-, Sport gear style, 10m
** Dorința - Grade 5, Sport gear style, 7m
* Carabalu Valley
** La Insecte
*** Licurici - Grade 5-, Sport gear style, 10m, 3 clips
*** Greierele - Grade 7, Sport gear style, 10m, 4 clips