# Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor)

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Brașov County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/brasov) › [Zărnești](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/city/zarnesti)

> A dry limestone gorge in Piatra Craiului National Park, with vertical walls and layers of Jurassic limestone, walked on an easy forest road that also suits children.

**At a glance:** Gorges and canyons in Zărnești, Brașov County. Ticket: 10 lei. The visit takes 2 – 2½ hours. Information verified on 24 October 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** The gorge is visited on foot, on the forest road, in dry weather. After heavy rain stones can fall from the walls, and in the cold season the path in the gorge can be damp or icy. Check the announcements of Salvamont Zărnești and the park administration before you go.
- **Ticket:** 10 lei — park fee, valid 7 days
- **Visit duration:** 2 – 2½ hours — there and back through the gorge
- **With kids:** Yes — wide road, no climbing
- **Parking:** Yes, free — at Fântâna lui Botorog
- **Best season:** May – October — come in dry weather
- **Address:** at the end of county road DJ 112G from Zărnești, at Fântâna lui Botorog, at the entrance to the gorge, Zărnești, Brașov County
- **Coordinates:** 45.5237, 25.2756
- **Website:** https://www.pcrai.ro/
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheile_Z%C4%83rne%C8%99tilor
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12723964
- **Categories:** [Gorges and canyons](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/chei-si-defilee), [National parks and reserves](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/parcuri-nationale-si-rezervatii)

## About Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor)

The Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor, also called the Zărnești Gorge or Cheile Zărneștilor, are a gorge sector in the north-east of the Piatra Craiului massif, south of Zărnești, on the territory of Măgura village. The gorges are 3.9 km long in total, and the largest sector, Valea Prăpăstiilor, is 1.7 km: a narrow valley with vertical walls and layered limestone. The geological nature reserve covers 109.8 ha and lies inside Piatra Craiului National Park; it is declared a natural monument.

The valley is dry today, but according to the park administration it went through four stages: a surface river, then its capture underground and a cave, the collapse of the cave roof, which left a narrow canyon behind, and finally the loss of the water underground a second time. The walls keep traces of the geological processes of the Jurassic, with folded and faulted limestone layers. With some luck you can see chamois, rock butterflies and rock flowers.

### What you can see

The forest road runs through the gorge on a gravelled valley floor, between walls tens of metres high, and is easy to walk: the park administration describes it as accessible to children and people with disabilities. The most striking stretches are those where the walls draw close and the sky is left a narrow strip, and the layered, folded limestone can be seen up close. From the gorge a more demanding trail climbs to Poiana Curmătura and Curmătura Chalet, at the foot of the northern cliffs of Piatra Craiului, 2–2.5 hours from Fântâna lui Botorog.

### Good to know

In wet weather stones can fall from the walls: in June 2026, after heavy rain, a large rock came loose near the spot called Zidul lui Dumnezeu, and Salvamont Zărnești cleared the road together with the park administration. The gorge is inside the national park, so the park visiting fee applies. Cars are not allowed past the barrier on the forest road.

## Don't miss

- Valea Prăpăstiilor, the 1.7 km sector with vertical walls and a gravelled valley floor.
- The Jurassic limestone layers, folded and faulted, seen up close on the walls.
- The wide forest road, easy to walk and fine with children.
- Chamois, rock butterflies and rock flowers on the walls, with some luck.
- The trail to Poiana and Curmătura Chalet, which starts in the gorge.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** from Zărnești, take the DJ 112G south, past the Gura Râului Chalet, to Fântâna lui Botorog and the entrance to the gorge (~5 km from the town, ~10 minutes); the last ~2 km are on a stone road that any car can drive. From Brașov, via Cristian and Râșnov, it is ~30 km to Zărnești (~40 minutes). You can also come from Peștera, on an unpaved road through Măgura. Cars are not allowed past the barrier on the forest road.

**Public transport:** regional trains run from Brașov to Zărnești station (~1 hour). From there it is ~5 km to Fântâna lui Botorog, on foot or by taxi.

### Where to park

You park at Fântâna lui Botorog, in an undeveloped car park, and continue on foot towards the gorge. On summer weekends the spaces fill up early. Come in the morning.

### Fees & discounts

The gorge is part of Piatra Craiului National Park, so the park visiting fee applies: 10 lei for one person or 20 lei for two people, valid for 7 days; the season pass costs 40 lei. Tickets can be bought from the blue machines at the post office in Zărnești, at the Visitor Centre, at Plaiul Foii Chalet and at the bridge at Valea lui Ivan, online on pcrai.ro or by text message to 7473 (Pcrai1 for one person, 2 euros + VAT). Keep the SMS confirmation during your visit. Holders of a valid ticket or pass, under-18s and residents of the communities around the park are exempt. The fee also includes the Visitor Centre in Zărnești.

### Rules

Stay on the marked trails and take your litter with you. Do not pick plants, light fires except in the designated places, and keep quiet, because bears and chamois live in the area. Do not leave food within a bear's reach. Cars, motorbikes and ATVs do not enter the zones where motor access is forbidden. Wear shoes with a good sole and do not stay under the walls in wet weather.

### Facilities

Undeveloped car park at Fântâna lui Botorog · wide forest road, accessible to children and people with disabilities · no shops or restaurants in the gorge · Curmătura Chalet at the end of the trail towards the ridge

## Details

- **Protected area type:** natural monument
- **Part of:** Piatra Craiului National Park
- **Length:** 3.9 km
- **Accessible by car:** No

## Frequently asked questions about Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor)

**How much is a ticket to Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor)?**

A ticket to Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor) costs 10 lei (park fee, valid 7 days). The gorge is part of Piatra Craiului National Park, so the park visiting fee applies: 10 lei for one person or 20 lei for two people, valid for 7 days; the season pass costs 40 lei. Tickets can be bought from the blue machines at the post office in Zărnești, at the Visitor Centre, at Plaiul Foii Chalet and at the bridge at Valea lui Ivan, online on pcrai.ro or by text message to 7473 (Pcrai1 for one person, 2 euros + VAT). Keep the SMS confirmation during your visit. Holders of a valid ticket or pass, under-18s and residents of the communities around the park are exempt. The fee also includes the Visitor Centre in Zărnești.

**How long does a visit to Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor) take?**

A visit to Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor) takes about 2 – 2½ hours (there and back through the gorge).

**Can you visit Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor) with kids?**

Yes, Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor) is suitable for children (wide road, no climbing).

**Where can I park at Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor)?**

There is free parking at Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor) (at Fântâna lui Botorog). You park at Fântâna lui Botorog, in an undeveloped car park, and continue on foot towards the gorge. On summer weekends the spaces fill up early. Come in the morning.

**How do I get to Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor)?**

Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor) is located at at the end of county road DJ 112G from Zărnești, at Fântâna lui Botorog, at the entrance to the gorge, Zărnești, Brașov County. By car: from Zărnești, take the DJ 112G south, past the Gura Râului Chalet, to Fântâna lui Botorog and the entrance to the gorge (~5 km from the town, ~10 minutes); the last ~2 km are on a stone road that any car can drive. From Brașov, via Cristian and Râșnov, it is ~30 km to Zărnești (~40 minutes). You can also come from Peștera, on an unpaved road through Măgura. Cars are not allowed past the barrier on the forest road. Public transport: regional trains run from Brașov to Zărnești station (~1 hour). From there it is ~5 km to Fântâna lui Botorog, on foot or by taxi.

**When is the best time to visit Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor)?**

The best season for Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor): May – October (come in dry weather).

## Nearby attractions

- [Piatra Craiului National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/parcul-national-piatra-craiului) — National parks and reserves · Zărnești, BV · 10 lei · 4½ – 5 hours · 6 km
  Romania's longest and highest limestone ridge, 25 km long, with La Om Peak at 2,238 m, the Zărnești Gorge, Curmătura Chalet and trails for every level.
- [Bran Castle](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castelul-bran) — Castles and palaces · Bran, BV · 120 lei · 1 – 1½ hours · Top 20 · 9 km
  A medieval fortress built by the people of Brașov on a rock in the Bran Pass, later Queen Marie's summer residence and known around the world as “Dracula's Castle”.
- [Rucăr–Bran Pass](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/culoarul-rucar-bran) — Scenic roads · Brașov County · Free · 1 – 1½ hours · 13 km
  The pass between Piatra Craiului and the Bucegi: the DN73 climbs from Rucăr onto the Fundata plateau, over the Giuvala Pass at about 1,260 m, and descends to Bran past hamlets scattered on the ridges.
- [Dâmbovicioara Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pestera-dambovicioara) — Caves · Dâmbovicioara, AG · 30 min · Top 100 · 13 km
  A small, easy-to-visit cave on the Rucăr–Bran corridor, in Piatra Craiului National Park: a dry gallery carved by the Dâmbovicioara stream, with about 250 m laid out and lit.
- [Zărnești Bear Sanctuary](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/sanctuarul-de-ursi-zarnesti) — Zoos and aquariums · Zărnești, BV · 95 lei · 1 – 1¼ hours · 15 km
  The Libearty Bear Sanctuary, on 69 hectares of forest near Zărnești: home to more than 120 brown bears rescued from captivity, visited only on guided tours. It is not a zoo.
- [Cumidava Roman Fort](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castrul-roman-cumidava) — Monuments and historic sites · Râșnov, BV · 30 min · UNESCO World Heritage · 22 km
  The auxiliary fort that guarded the way out of the Bran Pass into the Bârsa Land, north-west of Râșnov: a square of earth banks in the middle of the fields, part of the UNESCO site of the Dacian limes.

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Last updated: 24 October 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania