Bohodei Waterfall

About Bohodei Waterfall

At a glance: Waterfalls in Pietroasa, Bihor County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. Ticket: Free. The visit takes 6 – 6½ hours. Information verified on 4 October 2026.

Bohodei Waterfall lies on the Bohodei stream, a left-bank tributary of the Aleu, on the western slopes of the Vlădeasa Mountains, below Bohodei peak (1,654 m). The water does not fall freely but slides down a sloping slab of rock in a series of steps, over a drop of about 80 m. Bihor County Council and the Apuseni Natural Park administration describe it as the tallest waterfall in the Apuseni Mountains.

The setting is wild and far from any road: the waterfall is in the commune of Pietroasa, inside Apuseni Natural Park, on a loop marked with a blue triangle that starts in the village, climbs the Aleu valley and returns down the Șerpilor valley. The loop section proper, around the waterfall, is only about 4 km long but it is the hardest part: three steep rock passages fitted with chains.

Good to know before you go

Getting there

By car: from Oradea take the DN76 (E79) via Beiuș to Sudrigiu, then turn left for Pietroasa: ~86 km, ~1h30; from Beiuș it is ~20 km. From Pietroasa, the forest track up the Crișul Pietros valley and then the Aleu valley leads towards Poiana Aleului; you can drive part of it, as far as the guesthouses in the Aleu valley, and continue on foot on the blue triangle. The full loop from Pietroasa village is 17 km and takes 6–6½ hours, of which the chain section around the waterfall is 4 km and 2–2½ hours. The waterfall can also be reached from the Stâna de Vale resort, along the ridge to the Bohodei saddle, but the loop must still be walked in the marked direction.

Public transport: trains and buses run from Oradea to Beiuș; services from Beiuș to Pietroasa are infrequent, and you need a car to reach the start of the path in the Aleu valley.

Where to park

There is no formal car park and no published parking fee. Leave the car at the end of the drivable part of the forest track in the Aleu valley, without blocking the track, or in Pietroasa if you are doing the full loop.

Fees & discounts

The waterfall and the trail are free: the Apuseni Natural Park fee list does not include a charge for hiking trails.

Rules

The waterfall is in Apuseni Natural Park: stay on the marked trail, do not light fires and take your litter with you. The loop may only be walked in the direction of the waymarks (up beside the waterfall, down through Poiana Boiului); the reverse direction is forbidden, and the whole loop is closed in winter. Footwear with good grip is mandatory, and the trail should be avoided in wet weather. You need to be fit and have your hands free for the chains: carry a backpack, nothing in your hands. In an emergency call 112 or Salvamont (0SALVAMONT, 0725 826 668).

Facilities

No facilities on the trail · guesthouses and accommodation in Pietroasa and in the Aleu valley · the trail is not accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair · weak or no mobile signal in the valley