The Roșia Trail
Anyone seeking to learn about Budești will find out that in this village on the Cosău there are two old wooden churches, the one in Josani being a UNESCO monument, authentic households, and many places which recall the name of the legendary Pintea the Brave. Then, one knows that the soils of Budești hide "treasures" of gold, once exploited in the mines now closed.
The Roșia Trail reveals the picturesque quality of this village, leading us through the landscape offered by the volcanic caldera, meadows, and little wooden houses perched on hills, all the way to the Roșia Monastery and the mouth of the springs which form the river called Râul Mare. The route has a drawback: it is solely uphill. But that always comes bundled with a big advantage: the return is an easy descent, all you have to do is sit on the bike saddle and exclaim, "This is so cool!"
Highlights
- The wooden church of Budești Susani (1760)
- Enchanting landscape
- Traditional households
- The church of the Roșia Monastery
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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