The 90,830-acre Nera Gorge -Beușnița National Park has been declared a protected natural area since 1990 and is located in the southwestern Carpathian Mountains of Romania, called the Banat Region. The complex landscape, characterized mainly by beech forests, rocky slopes and various shrublands, forms a well-established national park since 1990. The limestone substrate, the low altitude (150-1150 m), the temperate continental climate with sub-Mediterranean influences, along with the presence of thermophilic species, create interesting travertine formations, and the rivers and the waterfalls make the park quite famous.

15 km from Sasca Montană, where we set up base for a few days, is Sasca Română. Sisters in appearance and remoteness, these two villages were probably more famous 2000 years ago, when the Romans called this area “Centum putae”, meaning The region of a Hundred Mines. And if not, it would still be one of the most beautiful national parks in Romania where you can go chasing waterfalls!

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La Văioaga Waterfalls

Driving on the dirt road along the Beu River was our time-saving decision. Beușnița Waterfalls was our final destination, and walking the entire 4km to the trailhead on a dirt road was not very appealing.

We carefully navigated through the potholes and made a few stops along the way to see some of the mini cascades of the river we followed along the road. The bright green foliage made us think we were in a fairy tale, until we came across a couple returning back from their own adventure.

La Vaioaga falls are well hidden by the forest, and not noticeable if you drive in a rush. We left the car on the side of the road and made it there thanks to the sound of the powerful waterfalls.

We couldn’t get too close because the steep valley didn’t look very safe, but we somehow managed to see the tumultuous waters tumbling down the rocks through an opening in the surrounding trees.

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Beușnița Waterfalls

Once we reached the end of the dirt road, we followed the path marked with a yellow stripe towards  the Bey’s eye lake. After enjoying the turquoise colours of this small lake for a while, we continued. The winding path started with a slight slope but the dense vegetation provided us with wonderful shade, so we quickly picked up our pace, as we wanted to reach this famous waterfall sooner.

After crossing a small meadow, we knew we would soon arrive. We could hear it before we saw it, and finally, an opening unfolded, letting us see a 12-metre-high wall covered in moss and lichens. A series of small waterfalls delighted our eyes as we searched for the largest one.

The dry winter and lack of rain didn’t provide large volumes of water at that time, but the green moss and the size of the travertine wall were still impressive.

The moss-covered cliffs offer so many photo opportunities, so we took our time to walk around and see them from as many angles as possible.

It took us an hour to walk each way from the parking lot (or half an hour from the Bey’s Eye Lake).

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Șușara Falls

Another short and rewarding hike is the trail to Șușara waterfalls. Starting from the end of the main road in the Village of Sasca Montană, the trail begins with a narrow path and the company of 2 friendly dogs tagging along for a while. The path runs along the Șușara stream, which is very pleasant. The karst landscape and the perfectly clear stream, with lots of small cascades and pools, made the walk very interesting and refreshing.

The trail is marked with a blue cross and took us 1 hour – one way. It is an easy one, and the only challenging part is the short canyon near the waterfalls, where we had to hold on the steel cable to keep our feet from getting wet. It was fun, especially since we spotted several salamanders in the canyon, resting in the cracks.

Șușara Waterfall is located at the end of the trail and is a horsetail type of waterfall. It is 15 metres high, and drops down in two sections. The large rocks in front of the waterfall are the perfect spot for a picnic, where we could admire the falling waters. We enjoyed the solitude and the fresh air of the forest before returning, taking the same path back to the parking lot.

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Bigăr Waterfall

Of all of the waterfalls of Nera – Beușnița park, Bigăris the most accessible. And also, the most popular, as it is only a 5-minute walk from the parking lot.

These uniquely shaped rocks are covered in moss and lichens like Beusnita waterfall, giving it a special and evergreen appearance. The waterfall is 7 metres high, and the mossy outcrop offers an intricate shape where the water falls in several cascades until it reaches the Minis Stream.

While all the other waterfalls are located in the western part of the park, Bigăr is located in the northeast part, along DN57B.

There is a short trail, less than 0.5 km, along the Bigăr Stream, and for the brave ones there is a small cave after a very steep path at the end of it. We enjoyed the nature and the rustle of the forest, returning to the falls for few more photos before leaving the park.

~visited in May 2024