About Bicaz Gorge
At a glance: Gorges and canyons in Bicaz-Chei, Neamț County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. Ticket: Free. The visit takes ½ – 1 hours. Information verified on 28 September 2026.
The Bicaz Gorge was cut by the Bicaz river into the limestone of the Hășmaș Mountains, on the border between Neamț and Harghita counties, between the Lacu Roșu resort and the village of Bicaz-Chei. The vertical walls top 300 m in places, and in the narrowest stretch, the Neck of Hell (Gâtul Iadului), where the Bicăjel stream flows in, the rocks close in so tightly that the road is carved beneath them, above the water. The gorge is a nature reserve within the Cheile Bicazului – Hășmaș National Park.
The DN12C, the road between Gheorgheni and Bicaz that links Transylvania with Moldavia, runs through the gorge. Construction began in 1910 from the Gheorgheni side, reached the Neck of Hell at that time and was only completed in 1937. It is not a high mountain road but one along the valley floor: tight bends, hairpins below the Altar Rock and single-lane stretches under the cliffs.
What you can see
From Gheorgheni, the road crosses the Pângărați Pass (1,255 m), drops to Lacu Roșu, the Red Lake, a natural dam lake formed in 1837, with fir trunks sticking out of the water, then enters the gorge, where it passes through a tunnel. Next come the hairpins below the Altar Rock (Piatra Altarului), a solitary limestone tower above the valley, then the Neck of Hell, with the highest walls and the row of souvenir stalls at their foot. Towards Bicaz-Chei the valley widens. The gorge is best seen on foot, walking a few hundred metres along the roadside.
Good to know
Rocks fall from the walls: in April 2026 they landed on the road by the stalls, and in 2022 a tourist was injured. Do not linger at the foot of the cliffs longer than you need to. In summer, at midday and at weekends, the road gets congested.
- The Neck of Hell, the narrowest stretch, where the road passes beneath walls over 300 m high.
- The Altar Rock, the limestone tower that looms over the hairpins in the middle of the gorge.
- Lacu Roșu, the Red Lake, with fir trunks sticking out of the water, at the upper end of the gorge.
- A walk along the roadside, beside the Bicaz river, between the limestone cliffs.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Moldavia, from Piatra Neamț on the DN15 to Bicaz, then on the DN12C through Bicaz-Chei (~50 km to the gorge, ~1 hour). From Transylvania, from Gheorgheni on the DN12C, over the Pângărați Pass and through Lacu Roșu (~30 km). The DN12C is paved but narrow and tightly winding in the gorge: in places two cars can barely pass each other, and coaches and lorries take up the whole road. Drive slowly, do not overtake, and stop only in the wider spots.
Public transport: daily minibuses link Piatra Neamț with Bicaz-Chei and Lacu Roșu, passing through the gorge; you can get off at the stalls or at Lacu Roșu and walk through the gorge from there.
- Where to park
There are no proper car parks in the gorge: you stop in the wider spots along the DN12C, most of them by the stalls, below the walls. On summer weekends they fill up by midday. Do not stop on the carriageway and do not park right under the cliffs. At Lacu Roșu there is parking by the lake and at the guesthouses.
- Fees & discounts
The road is public and free. The Cheile Bicazului – Hășmaș National Park charges a visitor fee of 10 lei per day for adults and children over 14 and 5 lei per day for children under 14 (2026 rates), with tickets also sold online on the park's website.
- Rules
The gorge lies in the protected zone of the national park: do not pick plants (edelweiss is protected), leave no litter and light no fires. Rockfalls are frequent: do not stand or park at the foot of the walls longer than you need to. Walk only along the edge of the road, watching out for cars. Climbing is allowed only on the equipped routes, with proper gear.
- Facilities
Stalls with souvenirs and local produce in the gorge in summer · restaurants, guesthouses, hotels and toilets at Lacu Roșu · petrol stations at Bicaz and Gheorgheni · weak mobile signal in the gorge · no street lighting on the road
Frequently asked questions about Bicaz Gorge
- How much is a ticket to Bicaz Gorge?
- Admission to Bicaz Gorge is free (public road, no toll). The road is public and free. The Cheile Bicazului – Hășmaș National Park charges a visitor fee of 10 lei per day for adults and children over 14 and 5 lei per day for children under 14 (2026 rates), with tickets also sold online on the park's website.
- What are the opening hours of Bicaz Gorge?
- Opening hours at Bicaz Gorge: daily open 24 hours. A national road open at all times, all year round. Temporary restrictions may be imposed on the DN12C after rockfalls or landslides; check the announcements of the CNAIR road authority and the Neamț Prefecture before setting off.
- How long does a visit to Bicaz Gorge take?
- A visit to Bicaz Gorge takes about ½ – 1 hours (with stops along the road).
- Can you visit Bicaz Gorge with kids?
- Yes, Bicaz Gorge is suitable for children (watch out for traffic).
- Where can I park at Bicaz Gorge?
- There is free parking at Bicaz Gorge (on the roadside). There are no proper car parks in the gorge: you stop in the wider spots along the DN12C, most of them by the stalls, below the walls. On summer weekends they fill up by midday. Do not stop on the carriageway and do not park right under the cliffs. At Lacu Roșu there is parking by the lake and at the guesthouses.
- How do I get to Bicaz Gorge?
- Bicaz Gorge is located at DN12C, between the Lacu Roșu resort and the village of Bicaz-Chei, Bicaz-Chei, Neamț County. By car: from Moldavia, from Piatra Neamț on the DN15 to Bicaz, then on the DN12C through Bicaz-Chei (~50 km to the gorge, ~1 hour). From Transylvania, from Gheorgheni on the DN12C, over the Pângărați Pass and through Lacu Roșu (~30 km). The DN12C is paved but narrow and tightly winding in the gorge: in places two cars can barely pass each other, and coaches and lorries take up the whole road. Drive slowly, do not overtake, and stop only in the wider spots. Public transport: daily minibuses link Piatra Neamț with Bicaz-Chei and Lacu Roșu, passing through the gorge; you can get off at the stalls or at Lacu Roșu and walk through the gorge from there.
- When is the best time to visit Bicaz Gorge?
- The best season for Bicaz Gorge: All year round (summer, in the morning).
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