Jgheabului Gorges are located downstream Galbenei Valley, in Apuseni Mountains. These gorges start at less than half a kilometer from the place where the Galbenei (Yellow) River flows down into the Crisul Pietros River.
Galbenei Valley is one of the most spectacular and wild valley in the Apuseni Mountains. It has only 7 km from its spring up to its flow into the Crisul Pietros River. The upstream of Galbenei Valley is one of the most visited tourist places in the Apuseni Mountains.
The Jgheabului Gorges, because they don’t have marked trails for tourists, are unknown by the latter.
The tourist area of Galbenei Valley is located from its spring until the crossroads with Luncsoara Valley, along approximately 1 km.
It is here that one can find a lot of tourist attraction: steep rocks, waterfalls that fall in giant potholes, underground tunnels, cave mouths. It is the marked area of Galbenei Valley.
The waters of Luncsoara Valley disappear in a hole before meeting the Galbena River. They reappear in the Pauleasa Glade, as the Pauleasa Spring. Before the spring, the valley gets an important tributary, with a temporary flow, the Dry Valley River. Upstream this valley one can find the Apuseni Mountains’s “Colorado”- the Ruginoasa Pit (The Rusty Pit). It is the yellow sediments brought from the Ruginoasa Pit Hole that gave the name to the valley – Galbena (Yellow).
Downstream the Pauleasa Glade we enter the wild gorges of Jgheabului. The next 2 kilometers the water flows through the impressive and narrow walls of the gorges, letting no way of turning back.
Type of trail: adventure trekking.
Degree of difficulty: medium. This is due to the fact that the route implies climbing over rocky areas but also crossing the water many times (sometimes arriving until the hips). There is no clear path to follow, you have to improvise.
Not having the possibility to call if there is a problem (no phone signal) or having the risk of floods means that this trail is one with high degree of engagement.
- Distance: ~ 8 km, depending on the access route that you will choose.
- Difference of level: + 300m
Suggested trail: Boga – Pauleasa Glade – Jgheabului Gorges – Boga
The access in the Jgheabului Gorges:
- upstream, from the Pauleasa Glade (by car or by foot). In the glade there are some constructions and a watchman’s cabin.
- downstream from the intersection of the Galbenei River with the Crisul Pietros River (by foot).
For reaching to Pauleasa Glade:
- by car: follow the forest road Galbenei Valley. The road takes a 8 km detour, however the conditions are quite bad for a small car. Galbenei forest road starts from the asphalted road Pietroasa-Boga at approx. 5 kilometres from Boga.
- by foot: follow yellow triangle trail marking. Keep in mind that the marking is not in very good quality, there are areas where is hard to orientate yourself.
If you decide to go by car up to the Pauleasa Glade, it will be difficult to go back to the car, by the end of the day.
If you decide to make the whole trail by foot: the tourist marking shortens the winding roads and reduces by half the distance. The trail begins in the holiday village Boga, at the place called Intre Ape (Between Waters). It is here that the Galbena River flows into the Crisul Pietros River. There are a few holiday cabins and a small hydroelectric power plant. If you come by car you can leave it here.
The tourist trail goes right up from the beginning.
The path meets the forest road twice before arriving at the Pauleasa Glade. It is here that we can turn left in the Jgheabului Gorges.
There is no sign indicating the road towards the Jgheabului Gorges. If we follow the Galbena downstream we will soon arrive between the tall walls of the gorges (approx. 500 m).
Recommended equipment: no matter the period in witch you go be sure of one thing, you will get wet. It’s up to you if you want to go mainly in the water or you go also on the sideways of the river.
- May – June > helmet, wetsuit (pants, hooded jacket, socks, gloves) or helmet and clothes you are willing to wet + neopren socks.
- July-August-September > helmet, mountain shoes and neopren socks.
The water is pretty cold as it does not have the time to warm itself on the 3 kilometers from its spring up to here.
Do not enter the gorges after a period of heavy rain or when the weather forecast announces rain periods. Once you have entered the gorges there aren’t many exists on the way.
You will cross the river many times so don’t try to avoid it. Small waterfalls and cascades make us find alternatives of detours through giant rocks or by making easy climbing.
The stones are slippery, so be extremely careful!
Time of journey:
- 2 hours to get to the entrance of the gorges.
- about 4 – 5 hours to do the route inside the gorges.
All together you can consider it a full day of adventure trekking.
Pentru versiunea in limba romana
