About Capra Lake
At a glance: Lakes in Argeș County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. Ticket: Free. The visit takes 2½ – 3 hours. Information verified on 4 October 2026.
Capra Lake lies in a glacial cirque on the southern side of the Făgăraș Mountains, at 2,230 m, only a few hundred metres from the main ridge. It has an irregular, almost round shape, covers about 1.8 hectares, roughly half the area of Bâlea Lake, and is 10–11 m deep. Unlike its neighbour on the northern side, no road leads to it: the only way there is on foot.
The Capra stream, one of the headwaters of the Argeș, flows out of the lake. Just below, linked by a short brook, lies the small, shallow Căprița Lake, and further down the water drops in cascades towards the valley that the Transfăgărășan climbs.
In winter the surrounding slopes are prone to avalanches. On the lakeshore stands a monument to four climbers killed by an avalanche in 1963, and there are other memorial plaques in the cirque.
What you can see
From Bâlea Lake, the path climbs steeply in zigzags across the scree below Iezerul Caprei peak to the Capra saddle, on the main ridge. From there the cirque opens to the south and the lake suddenly appears below you, with the rocky walls of the ridge reflected in the water and patches of snow that linger well into summer. The walk down to the shore is short. Chamois are often seen on the slopes, and from the saddle you can carry on to Vânătoarea lui Buteanu peak (2,507 m).
Good to know
The trail is above 2,200 m: the weather turns quickly, and snow can stay on the path until July. In winter and spring the climb to the Capra saddle carries a high avalanche risk and is not a hike for visitors without the gear and experience.
- The first view of the lake from the Capra saddle, with the cirque opening to the south.
- The lakeshore, with the walls of the ridge reflected in the water and patches of late snow.
- Căprița Lake, just below Capra Lake, linked to it by a short brook.
- The climbers' monument on the shore, in memory of the four killed in the 1963 avalanche.
- The extension from the Capra saddle to Vânătoarea lui Buteanu peak, at 2,507 m.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: start from Bâlea Lake, on the Transfăgărășan (DN7C). From the north, leave the DN1 (Sibiu–Brașov) for the DN7C at Cârțișoara, ~45 km from Sibiu and ~100 km from Brașov; from there it is ~35 km to the lake. From the south, take the DN7C from Curtea de Argeș through Arefu and along Lake Vidraru (~85 km), then through the Capra–Bâlea tunnel. From Bâlea Lake, follow the blue triangle waymarks to the Capra saddle (2,315 m), about 45–50 minutes uphill, then walk down to the lake in a few minutes. From the south there are also longer trails that leave the Transfăgărășan and climb up the Capra valley.
Public transport: there are no scheduled services. In summer a private tourist shuttle (Bâlea Bus) runs from Sibiu to Bâlea Cascadă, where you take the cable car up to Bâlea Lake and continue on foot.
- Where to park
Leave the car in the paid car parks at Bâlea Lake (in 2025, ~10 lei per hour for cars), which fill up quickly on summer weekends; for a hike of a few hours to Capra Lake, arrive early in the morning. Capra Lake itself cannot be reached by car.
- Fees & discounts
Access to the lake is free. You pay for parking at Bâlea Lake and, if you come up from Bâlea Cascadă, for the cable car (~80 lei each way for adults).
- Rules
You need hiking boots, rain and wind gear and water; the path below the Capra saddle is steep and covered in scree. Do not set off in fog or storms, and do not go up in winter or spring without winter gear and checking the avalanche risk with the Salvamont mountain rescue. People camp on the lakeshore, but leave no litter, do not pick plants and keep your distance from chamois and bears.
- Facilities
No facilities at the lake · Bâlea Lac and Paltinu chalets, with rooms and restaurants, and paid public toilets at Bâlea Lake · Salvamont mountain rescue post at Bâlea Lake · camping on the lakeshore · no step-free access
Frequently asked questions about Capra Lake
- How much is a ticket to Capra Lake?
- Admission to Capra Lake is free (paid parking at Bâlea Lake). Access to the lake is free. You pay for parking at Bâlea Lake and, if you come up from Bâlea Cascadă, for the cable car (~80 lei each way for adults).
- What are the opening hours of Capra Lake?
- Opening hours at Capra Lake: daily open 24 hours. The lake is in the open air and can be reached on foot at any time. The usual starting point, Bâlea Lake, can only be reached by car while the high section of the Transfăgărășan is open (usually June–July to October), between 07:00 and 21:00; the rest of the year, only by cable car from Bâlea Cascadă. In winter and spring the climb to the Capra saddle is exposed to avalanches.
- How long does a visit to Capra Lake take?
- A visit to Capra Lake takes about 2½ – 3 hours (return hike from Bâlea Lake).
- Can you visit Capra Lake with kids?
- Yes, Capra Lake is suitable for children (steep climb of about an hour).
- Where can I park at Capra Lake?
- There is paid parking at Capra Lake (paid, at Bâlea Lake). Leave the car in the paid car parks at Bâlea Lake (in 2025, ~10 lei per hour for cars), which fill up quickly on summer weekends; for a hike of a few hours to Capra Lake, arrive early in the morning. Capra Lake itself cannot be reached by car.
- How do I get to Capra Lake?
- Capra Lake is located at Capra cirque, south of the Capra saddle; reached on foot from Bâlea Lake (DN7C), Argeș County. By car: start from Bâlea Lake, on the Transfăgărășan (DN7C). From the north, leave the DN1 (Sibiu–Brașov) for the DN7C at Cârțișoara, ~45 km from Sibiu and ~100 km from Brașov; from there it is ~35 km to the lake. From the south, take the DN7C from Curtea de Argeș through Arefu and along Lake Vidraru (~85 km), then through the Capra–Bâlea tunnel. From Bâlea Lake, follow the blue triangle waymarks to the Capra saddle (2,315 m), about 45–50 minutes uphill, then walk down to the lake in a few minutes. From the south there are also longer trails that leave the Transfăgărășan and climb up the Capra valley. Public transport: there are no scheduled services. In summer a private tourist shuttle (Bâlea Bus) runs from Sibiu to Bâlea Cascadă, where you take the cable car up to Bâlea Lake and continue on foot.
- When is the best time to visit Capra Lake?
- The best season for Capra Lake: July – September (snow on the path until July).
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