Șesul Craiului - Scărița-Belioara, Nature reserve in Apuseni Mountains, Romania.
Șesul Craiului - Scărița-Belioara is a nature reserve in the Apuseni Mountains featuring limestone plateaus, sheer rock faces, and deep valleys. The landscape consists of rocky ridges that rise well above 1.300 meters and display a rough, uneven terrain.
The area was protected to preserve plant species that survived the last ice age, including gentian and mountain avens, which still grow on the plateau today. These ancient remnants remain central to why the reserve is carefully managed and restricted to visitors.
The area holds deep meaning for mountain enthusiasts who have explored these peaks across generations. You can still sense this connection to the landscape in the small villages at the base of the mountains.
Access requires sturdy footwear and a good sense of balance on rocky ground, since trails are not uniformly maintained throughout. Clear weather makes navigation easier, but fog can roll in quickly and limit your view of the surroundings.
Golden eagles nest on the limestone cliffs, making this one of the best places in Romania to observe these impressive birds of prey. The chances of spotting one of these birds soaring over the valleys are notably high here.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
