About Iadolina Waterfall
Iadolina Waterfall is the best-known waterfall on the Iad Valley (Valea Iadului), in the Vlădeasa Mountains, on the Bihor side of the Apuseni Mountains. Here the river drops over several tiers between enormous blocks of stone and gathers in narrow, deep pools before flowing on towards Lake Leșu.
Unlike many waterfalls in the Apuseni, which take hours of walking to reach, Iadolina sits right at the edge of the county road linking the resort of Stâna de Vale with the holiday village of Coada Lacului Leșu, about 6 km from the latter. The road, rebuilt and asphalted as part of the "Apuseni Road", follows the ever narrower Iad Valley, with dense forest on both banks.
The waterfall is also the last stop on the marked circuit of the Iad Valley waterfalls, a day-long route that also takes in the Runcului, Laia Mare (Miss), Vălul Miresei and Săritoarea Ieduțului waterfalls. The Moara Dracului waterfall lies on the same valley.
What you can see
Your first view is from above, from the metal platform set up beside the road: the valley suddenly narrows and the water leaps from tier to tier between the huge boulders. A little downstream of the viewpoint, a built path with handrails leads down to the foot of the waterfall, where you see the pools and lower tiers up close.
Good to know
The waterfall lies below road level, the banks are steep and the rocks wet: only go down on the built path, not on other tracks through the forest.
- The view from above, from the metal platform beside the road, over the tiers of the waterfall and the valley closing in between wooded walls.
- The narrow, deep pools at the foot of the waterfall, reached by the built path with handrails.
- The huge boulders between which the water of the Iad Valley breaks from tier to tier.
- The drive along the Iad Valley between Stâna de Vale and Lake Leșu, with the Vălul Miresei and Săritoarea Ieduțului waterfalls a few kilometres upstream.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the waterfall is on the DJ 108J, the asphalted road between Stâna de Vale and Remeți (part of the "Apuseni Road"), about 12 km from Stâna de Vale and 6–7 km from Coada Lacului Leșu. From Oradea, take the DN1 towards Cluj-Napoca, then go via Remeți and past Lake Leșu (~110 km, ~2 hours); from Beiuș, via Budureasa and Stâna de Vale on the DJ 764A and DJ 108J (~38 km, ~45 min). From Cluj-Napoca it is ~125 km, on the DN1 and then via Remeți (~2h20).
Public transport: there is no regular service along the Iad Valley; the nearest railway is the Oradea – Cluj-Napoca main line, which still leaves a few dozen kilometres of mountain road. In practice you can only get there by car, by bike or on foot, on the red-dot circuit that starts near Coada Lacului Leșu.
- Fees & discounts
Access to the waterfall, the viewing platform and the path is free.
- Rules
Only go down to the foot of the waterfall on the built path: elsewhere the banks are steep and the rocks wet and slippery. Wear shoes with good grip. This is bear country: do not leave food or litter behind and make yourself heard on the path. Do not light fires outside designated places.
- Facilities
metal viewing platform beside the road · built path with handrails down to the foot of the waterfall
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