# Bâlea Waterfall

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Sibiu County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/sibiu)

> Romania's biggest tiered waterfall, dropping about 60 m over the lower step of the Bâlea cirque in the Făgăraș Mountains; an hour's walk up from the Bâlea Cascadă chalet on the Transfăgărășan.

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**At a glance:** Waterfalls in Sibiu County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. Ticket: Free. The visit takes 1½ – 2 hours. Information verified on 30 September 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** daily open 24 hours — The waterfall is in the open air and can be reached at any time; walk the path in daylight. The road from Cârțișoara to the Bâlea Cascadă chalet is open all year, but the high section of the Transfăgărășan, from the chalet up to the lake, is usually closed from the second half of October to the end of June. The cable car from Bâlea Cascadă runs all year, 09:00–18:00 in summer and 09:00–17:00 in winter, with at least 10 passengers, and stops in bad weather.
- **Ticket:** Free — cable car paid separately
- **Visit duration:** 1½ – 2 hours — there and back, on foot
- **With kids:** Yes — wet stones, steep last stretch
- **Parking:** Yes, free — at the foot of the cable car
- **Best season:** May – October — biggest flow at snowmelt
- **Address:** Transfăgărășan (DN7C), Bâlea Cascadă chalet, 22 km from Cârțișoara, then 1.3 km on the red-dot path, Sibiu County
- **Coordinates:** 45.6264, 24.6123
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascada_B%C3%A2lea
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12274393
- **Categories:** [Waterfalls](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cascade), [Mountains and trails](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/munti-si-trasee)

## About Bâlea Waterfall

Bâlea Waterfall, known to locals as Urlătoarea Bâlei (Bâlea's Roar), is where the Bâlea stream, flowing out of the glacial lake of the same name, leaps over the lower step of the Bâlea cirque: a rock wall of about 60 m down which the water tumbles in several tiers, unravelled into white threads. It is considered the biggest tiered waterfall in the country and is the best-known fall in the Făgăraș, because it stands right next to the Transfăgărășan: you can see it from the road, from the bends below Bâlea Cascadă, and from the cable car that crosses the valley on its way up to the lake.

The fall is fed by the snow and lakes above, so it carries water all year, but the flow varies a lot: at snowmelt, in May and June, the roar that gave it its name can be heard from afar and the water covers the whole wall, while by late summer it thins to a few streams. In mid-August, in the shade of the walls, patches of snow sometimes still linger at its foot.

### What you can see

Getting there is an hour's walk: from the Bâlea Cascadă chalet, at 1,234 m, the red-dot path climbs along the bank of the Bâlea stream, wide and gentle at first, under the pylons of the power line, then ever steeper over boulders, up to the foot of the falls. Here you stand right under the wall, with the spray in your face, and see every tier the water breaks over on its way down. Behind you is the valley and, high above, the red cabins of the cable car crossing the cirque.

If you would rather not climb, you can see it from the cable car, as a white streak on the mountainside, or from the roadside a few hundred metres below the chalet. Bâlea Cascadă is also the start of the long trail to Bâlea Lake up the Bâlea valley (blue triangle, about three hours) and of the cable car, which does the same trip in 15 minutes.

### Good to know

The path is short but has wet, slippery, moss-covered stones: you need shoes with good grip, not sandals, and the last stretch is steep. It is not suitable for pushchairs. In winter and early spring the valley is under avalanche risk and the path is iced over — then the waterfall is admired from below, at the chalet. The road from Cârțișoara to Bâlea Cascadă is open all year; only the upper section, towards the lake, closes in winter. There are bears in the area: do not feed them.

## Don't miss

- The foot of the falls, where you stand right under the 60 m wall and see every tier the water breaks over.
- The red-dot path along the Bâlea stream, with the valley and the red cable car cabins behind you.
- The waterfall seen from the cable car, as a white streak on the mountainside, on the way to Bâlea Lake.
- The roar of the water at snowmelt, in May and June, when the fall covers the whole wall.
- The Transfăgărășan bends below the chalet, from where you can see the waterfall without climbing.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** from the north, leave the DN1 (Sibiu–Brașov) for the Transfăgărășan (DN7C) at Cârțișoara, ~45 km from Sibiu and ~100 km from Brașov; from there it is 22 km to the Bâlea Cascadă chalet, at the foot of the cable car, where you leave the car. The road this far is open all year. From the south (Curtea de Argeș, past Lake Vidraru and through the tunnel) you can only get here in summer, while the high section is open; from Bâlea Lake it is 13 km down to the chalet. From the chalet, on foot: 1.3 km and ~244 m of climb, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

**Public transport:** there are no scheduled services. In summer a private tourist shuttle (Bâlea Bus) runs from Sibiu to Bâlea Cascadă; otherwise you can only get here by car or on an organised tour.

### Where to park

The car park at the foot of the cable car, next to the Bâlea Cascadă chalet, is free according to the cable car's website; some 2025 reports mention a fee, so check on the spot. On summer weekends it fills up by around 10 am and cars line the roadside 1–2 km from the chalet.

### Fees & discounts

The waterfall and the path are free. The Bâlea Cascadă – Bâlea Lake cable car, if you want to carry on to the lake, costs ~80 lei each way for adults and ~40 lei for children aged 2–12 (2026 fares, on the cable car's website); prices change often, so check at the station.

### Rules

Hiking boots or shoes with good grip: the stones on the path are wet and covered in moss, and the accidents here are usually slips. Do not climb the rocks at the foot of the falls and do not enter the water. In winter and early spring the valley carries an avalanche risk and the path is frozen — do not go up without winter gear and without asking the Salvamont mountain rescue. Stay on the path, leave no litter and do not feed the bears; dogs on a lead.

### Facilities

Bâlea Cascadă chalet, with rooms and a restaurant · stalls with food and souvenirs by the car park in summer · toilets at the chalet · lower station of the cable car to Bâlea Lake · no step-free access on the path · weak mobile signal in the valley

## Details

- **Drop height:** 60 m
- **Watercourse:** Bâlea stream
- **Altitude:** 1,464 m
- **Walk to the waterfall:** 1.3 km from the chalet
- **Maximum altitude:** 1,464 m
- **Trail length:** 1.3 km
- **Elevation gain:** 244 m
- **Difficulty:** easy
- **Trail marking:** red dot
- **Mountain range:** Făgăraș Mountains

## Frequently asked questions about Bâlea Waterfall

**How much is a ticket to Bâlea Waterfall?**

Admission to Bâlea Waterfall is free (cable car paid separately). The waterfall and the path are free. The Bâlea Cascadă – Bâlea Lake cable car, if you want to carry on to the lake, costs ~80 lei each way for adults and ~40 lei for children aged 2–12 (2026 fares, on the cable car's website); prices change often, so check at the station.

**What are the opening hours of Bâlea Waterfall?**

Opening hours at Bâlea Waterfall: daily open 24 hours. The waterfall is in the open air and can be reached at any time; walk the path in daylight. The road from Cârțișoara to the Bâlea Cascadă chalet is open all year, but the high section of the Transfăgărășan, from the chalet up to the lake, is usually closed from the second half of October to the end of June. The cable car from Bâlea Cascadă runs all year, 09:00–18:00 in summer and 09:00–17:00 in winter, with at least 10 passengers, and stops in bad weather.

**How long does a visit to Bâlea Waterfall take?**

A visit to Bâlea Waterfall takes about 1½ – 2 hours (there and back, on foot).

**Can you visit Bâlea Waterfall with kids?**

Yes, Bâlea Waterfall is suitable for children (wet stones, steep last stretch).

**Where can I park at Bâlea Waterfall?**

There is free parking at Bâlea Waterfall (at the foot of the cable car). The car park at the foot of the cable car, next to the Bâlea Cascadă chalet, is free according to the cable car's website; some 2025 reports mention a fee, so check on the spot. On summer weekends it fills up by around 10 am and cars line the roadside 1–2 km from the chalet.

**How do I get to Bâlea Waterfall?**

Bâlea Waterfall is located at Transfăgărășan (DN7C), Bâlea Cascadă chalet, 22 km from Cârțișoara, then 1.3 km on the red-dot path, Sibiu County. By car: from the north, leave the DN1 (Sibiu–Brașov) for the Transfăgărășan (DN7C) at Cârțișoara, ~45 km from Sibiu and ~100 km from Brașov; from there it is 22 km to the Bâlea Cascadă chalet, at the foot of the cable car, where you leave the car. The road this far is open all year. From the south (Curtea de Argeș, past Lake Vidraru and through the tunnel) you can only get here in summer, while the high section is open; from Bâlea Lake it is 13 km down to the chalet. From the chalet, on foot: 1.3 km and ~244 m of climb, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Public transport: there are no scheduled services. In summer a private tourist shuttle (Bâlea Bus) runs from Sibiu to Bâlea Cascadă; otherwise you can only get here by car or on an organised tour.

**When is the best time to visit Bâlea Waterfall?**

The best season for Bâlea Waterfall: May – October (biggest flow at snowmelt).

## Nearby attractions

- [Transfăgărășan](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/transfagarasan) — Scenic roads · Argeș County · Free · 3½ – 4 hours · Top 20 · 3 km
  The DN7C crosses the Făgăraș Mountains for 151 km, from the Vidraru dam up to the glacial Bâlea Lake at 2,042 m, then winds down in hairpin bends into Transylvania.
- [Bâlea Lake](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/lacul-balea) — Lakes · Sibiu County · Free · 1½ – 2 hours · Top 100 · 3 km
  A glacial lake at 2,034 m in the Bâlea cirque of the Făgăraș Mountains, at the top of the Transfăgărășan; reachable by car in summer and by cable car all year round.
- [Capra Lake](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/lacul-capra) — Lakes · Argeș County · Free · 2½ – 3 hours · 4 km
  A glacial lake at 2,230 m on the southern side of the Făgăraș Mountains, just below the ridge; about an hour's walk from Bâlea Lake, over the Capra saddle.
- [Capra Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cascada-capra) — Waterfalls · Argeș County · Free · 20 min · 6 km
  A waterfall of about 40 m on the Capra stream, right beside the Transfăgărășan on the southern side of the Făgăraș Mountains, at 1,690 m; you see it from the bridge, without any hiking.
- [Clay Castle of Fairy Valley (Castelul de Lut Valea Zânelor)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castelul-de-lut-valea-zanelor) — Castles and palaces · Porumbacu de Sus, SB · 1 – 1½ hours · 15 km
  A fairy-tale building of clay, sand, straw, wood and river stone, raised between 2014 and 2017 at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains. Today it is a restaurant and guesthouse: you enter with a reservation, not a sightseeing ticket.
- [Zbuciumată Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cascada-zbuciumata) — Waterfalls · Nucșoara, AG · Free · 30 min · 16 km
  A waterfall of almost 100 m in three tiers on the side of the Valea Rea valley in the Făgăraș Mountains, below Moldoveanu Peak; it can be seen from Stâna lui Burnei, at the end of the forest road from Slatina.

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Last updated: 30 September 2026
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