About Caraiman Waterfall
Caraiman Waterfall, called in older guidebooks the Caraimanului Waterfall or Vânturișul Caraimanului, lies in the upper part of the Jepi valley (Valea Jepilor, also known as the Caraiman valley), the deep valley between Caraiman and Jepii Mici that runs down to Bușteni. The stream gathers its water on the edge of the Bucegi plateau and, below the Caraiman chalet, meets a break in the slope of almost 200 m, which it descends in several tiers; the tallest is a vertical jet down a grey rock wall.
The flow comes almost entirely from snowmelt and rain. In May and June, sometimes into July, the waterfall is a white veil you can hear from afar; by late summer it shrinks to a thin thread, and in dry years it almost disappears, leaving only the wet rock face. Hence the name ‘ghost waterfall’ by which many hikers know it.
The waterfall has no access route of its own: you see it from the Bușteni – Jepii Mici valley – Caraiman chalet trail, one of the busiest and steepest trails in the Bucegi, inside Bucegi Natural Park.
What you can see
Coming up from Bușteni, after the path leaves the forest and reaches the foot of a stone staircase fitted with cables, the waterfall appears ahead in the valley floor, with the wild slopes of Jepii Mici on the left and the grassy faces of Caraiman on the right. The path passes right by the foot of the rock step, where you see the whole jet and the smaller tiers below, with tongues of snow that linger in the valley into summer. Higher up, at the Caraiman chalet, you look down the whole Jepi valley to Bușteni and across to the Baiu Mountains.
Good to know
The Bușteni – Caraiman chalet section is closed in winter by Salvamont Prahova (mountain rescue) and only reopens once the snow bridges in the valley have melted; in 2026 it was still closed at the end of June. The trail is hard, with exposed stretches secured with chains and cables; check its status with Salvamont before setting off.
- The main jet of the waterfall, seen from the foot of the rock step, where the path passes right beside it.
- The first view of the waterfall, from the foot of the stone staircase with cables, with Jepii Mici on the left and Caraiman on the right.
- The tongues of snow in the Jepi valley floor, which linger below the waterfall well into summer.
- The view from the Caraiman chalet down the whole Jepi valley to Bușteni.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
On foot from Bușteni: the Jepii Mici valley trail (blue cross) starts near the lower cable car station (885 m) and climbs ~1,140 m to the Caraiman chalet (2,025 m) in 3–4 hours; the waterfall is in the last third, about 2–2.5 hours from the start. The path is steep, with stretches cut into the rock and secured with chains and cables, for experienced hikers only.
By cable car: take the Bușteni–Babele cable car, walk 20–30 minutes on the blue cross to the Caraiman chalet and go down the Jepi valley for another ~30 minutes to the foot of the waterfall; the way back is uphill, so allow about an hour back to Babele and make sure you catch the last cable car down.
By car: Bușteni is on the DN1, ~135 km from Bucharest (via Ploiești and Sinaia) and ~40 km from Brașov (via Predeal); follow the signs for the cable car.
Public transport: Bucharest – Brașov trains stop at Bușteni station; from there it is ~15–20 minutes on foot to the cable car and the start of the trail.
- Where to park
Leave the car in Bușteni: the large car park by the lower cable car station and the surrounding streets are paid and fill up early on summer weekends. The waterfall cannot be reached by car.
- Fees & discounts
There is no ticket for the waterfall. Visiting Bucegi Natural Park costs 10 lei per person aged 14 and over, with a ticket valid for 90 days, bought online or in cash from the rangers; children under 14 go free. The Bușteni–Babele cable car is paid separately (2026 fares: 105 lei each way, 199 lei return for adults).
- Rules
You are in Bucegi Natural Park: stick to the waymarked path, leave no litter, do not light fires and do not camp outside permitted sites. Do not go onto the trail while Salvamont has it closed, and do not cross the snow bridges in the valley floor, which can give way. Bring hiking boots, rain gear and warm clothes even in summer, and start early. Mountain rescue: 0SALVAMONT (0725 826 668) or 112.
- Facilities
no facilities at the waterfall · Caraiman chalet, above the waterfall, with bar and food · bar at the top cable car station, at Babele · patchy mobile signal in the valley
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