Hike to Lake Știol, the source of the Golden Bistrița
A glacial lake below the ridge of the Rodna Mountains, where the Golden Bistrița river begins. You reach it on foot from the Prislop Pass.
- Distance
- 28 km
- Time
- a day's hike
- How
- by car to the Prislop Pass, then on foot
Photo: Fealty90, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Știol is a glacial lake in the Rodna Mountains, near Gârgălău peak. It is also called Lake Izvorul Bistriței Aurii, “the source of the Golden Bistrița”, because the Bistrița river begins here. On OpenStreetMap it appears as Iezerul Bistriței.
Getting there
The drive to the Prislop Pass is 27.7 km, about 35 minutes from the guesthouse. From there you continue on foot through the Rodna Mountains National Park.
- On Komoot, the Prislop Pass – Lake Știol – Horses’ Waterfall loop is 13.7 km with about 480 m of ascent, roughly four and a half hours of walking. It is rated a moderate hike.
- The lake’s altitude varies between sources: around 1,600–1,800 m.
For groups
- For a group, the hike takes a full day. Set off in the morning and you will be back in time for dinner at the guesthouse.
- We can prepare packed lunches. Tell us in your enquiry how many you need.
- The trail is inside a national park: waymarks and park rules should be checked in advance with the park administration or the Salvamont mountain rescue service.
