The Rooster's Crest – Budești Trail
An epic route, which has the "audacity" to link the Rooster's Crest to the Văratec Piedmont and the village of Budești, following various roads, with no shortage of obstacles. Of the total of 22 km, barely over 4 km run on asphalt. The rest is both delightful and off-road.
The trail is interspersed with countless panorama spots, pastoral trails running through spruce forests, vistas which on clear days break through as far away as the neighbouring countries. The trail arouses the travellers' curiosity, promising to reveal a way to access the Cosău Valley which is totally different from the usual one: more adventurous, less travelled, and more idyllic.
Highlights
- The UNESCO monument wooden church in Budești Josani (1643)
- Spectacular scenery
- Adventurous downhill rides
- Blazed trails
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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