Duruitoarea Waterfall

About Duruitoarea Waterfall

At a glance: Waterfalls in Durău, Neamț County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. Ticket: 10 lei. The visit takes 3½ – 4 hours. Information verified on 4 October 2026.

Duruitoarea Waterfall is the best-known waterfall in the Ceahlău massif and the goal of the most popular hike from the Durău resort. The Rupturi stream, fed by springs on the mountain's high plateau, drops here over a rock wall in two tiers: a tall one of about 20 m and a short one of around 5 m, separated by a ledge cut into the rock. The name comes from the roar of the water (duruit means a rumbling noise in Romanian), which you hear through the forest long before you see the falls.

The waterfall lies at roughly 1,250 m, on the northern side of the massif, below the cliffs of Piatra Ciobanului and Toaca peak. It is a natural monument, a one-hectare reserve inside Ceahlău National Park, protected by law since 2000. A wooden staircase once climbed up to the ledge between the two tiers; it is long gone, and the falls are now seen from below.

The walk there is a big part of the visit: a path through mixed forest, past huge boulders that have tumbled from the cliffs, climbing from Durău to the Poiana Viezuri clearing and then running almost level to the stream valley.

Good to know before you go

Getting there

By car: the trail starts in the Durău resort (Ceahlău commune). From Piatra Neamț, the shortest route is via Bicaz and then along the DJ155F axial road, through Izvorul Muntelui, to Durău: ~60 km, about 1h30; the Izvorul Muntelui – Durău stretch is closed in the cold season and usually reopens around mid-May. Otherwise, from Bicaz take the DN15 along Lake Izvorul Muntelui to Ceahlău commune, where a road climbs up to Durău. From Târgu Neamț it is ~60 km, via Poiana Largului. In Durău, the red-cross path starts in front of the park administration building: it crosses the Nicanu stream and the county road, climbs through the forest for about an hour to Poiana Viezuri, then carries on almost level to the waterfall. The blue-cross trail along Piciorul lui Bucur (~4 km) is a good way back.

Public transport: buses and minibuses run from Piatra Neamț to Ceahlău commune and Durău; timetables change from year to year, so check before you go. The nearest railway stations are Bicaz and Piatra Neamț.

Where to park

Parking is in the Durău resort, in the centre and around the hotels, free according to recent visitor reports. It gets busy on summer weekends, so come in the morning. You cannot drive any further than the resort.

Fees & discounts

Ceahlău National Park entry fee (2026 rates, approved by Neamț County Council): adults 10 lei per person per week; children, pupils, students and pensioners 5 lei per week. An annual pass costs 80 lei for adults and 40 lei for children, pupils, students and pensioners. Camping at the designated sites costs 15 lei per tent per day. The fee is paid in cash at the checkpoints in Durău or, since 2025, online by card or by text message, using the QR codes on the signs at the park entrances.

Rules

You may only enter the park with the fee paid and only walk on marked trails. Dogs on a lead only. Do not light fires, leave litter, pick plants, mushrooms or berries, or make noise; camping is only allowed at designated sites, and motor vehicles (quad bikes, enduro bikes, 4×4s) are banned. Commercial photography and filming are charged separately. Wear hiking boots or shoes with good grip and bring water and a rain jacket: the path has rocky, wet stretches and the rocks by the waterfall are slippery. There are bears in the area.

Facilities

Rest area with tables and benches at the waterfall · no toilets, drinking water or shops on the trail · restaurants, guesthouses and shops in the Durău resort · Salvamont base in Durău · no step-free access · weak mobile signal in the forest