The Rails' Trail
This is one of our destination's trails with few demanding uphill slopes, yet sprinkled with many attractions. The core of the trail stretches along fragments of old narrow-gauge railway embankments on which trains used to carry logs (Ferești – Mara – Runcu), salt, but also passengers (Ocna Șugatag – Ferești – Sighet).
No less than five old wooden churches "watch" our way and waiting for us are apple and plum orchards, paths through the forest, salt lakes, the place where "Tânjaua on the Mara" (an old agrarian custom) is held every year, and roads of all kinds.
Highlights
- The old wooden churches in Breb (1621), Hoteni (1790), Hărnicești (1679), Sat Șugatag (1699), and Mănăstirea (XVII century)
- The rural landscape
- The Crăiasca Forest – nature reserve
- The Gavrilă Lake
- Craftspeople's workshops
When, and on what terrain
The good season runs from April to October. In early spring the forest sections stay wet and muddy long after the village has dried out; in autumn, wet leaves cover the stones and make the descents slippery. In summer, start in the morning — afternoon showers are common on the slopes of Gutâi.
The trails were not built for bikes: they are forest and cart tracks, shepherds' paths, village lanes and short stretches of county road, now also used by cyclists. The surface ranges from asphalt to crushed stone and packed earth, so a mountain or gravel bike is the right choice. The waymark used in the destination is a red letter "C".
What to take
Water for the whole ride — there are no shops along the way — a spare inner tube and a pump, a basic tool kit, some food and layered clothing: the temperature drops noticeably with altitude, and the wind on the ridge feels very different from the village. A charged phone and the GPX file downloaded before you leave solve most navigation problems, as there is no signal everywhere.
Safety
Along the trail you will come across sheepfolds and shepherd dogs. If you are surrounded, stop, get off your bike and keep it between you and the dogs, speak calmly and back away slowly — don't speed up and don't shout. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
In an emergency: 112 · Salvamont Maramureș: +40 725 826 668.
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