The Highlands Region (Ținutul de Sus)
The spiritual heart of the trail: from the Rodna and Călimani Mountains to the Tășuleasa Social campus and the Mureș valleys.
Region Overview & History
Leaving 📍 Poiana Stampei behind, we step into Bistrița-Năsăud and Mureș counties. Spanning 207 km (plus two official variants adding another 70 km), The Highlands (Ținutul de Sus) is a spectacular transition zone where high alpine mountains give way to rolling hills, lowland forests, and multicultural villages.
This region holds priceless symbolic meaning for every thru-hiker: high up at Tihuța Pass (📍 Piatra Fântânele, over 1,000 meters above sea level) sits the headquarters of Tășuleasa Social, the NGO that created the Via Transilvanica.
Key Locations on Google Maps
- Tășuleasa Social HQ & Tihuța Pass: 📍 Tășuleasa Social Campus, the historic 📍 Roman Road (Drumul Romanilor), and the giant Iron Cross monument in Piatra Fântânele.
- Variant A (City of Bistrița): The medieval old town of 📍 Bistrița (Evangelical Church), the Saxon village of 📍 Dorolea, and the animal sanctuary 📍 PIPO Animal Shelter (Monariu).
- Variant B (Cușma Forest & Petriș): The forested ridge near 📍 Cabana Dealu Negru and the checkered lily nature reserve at 📍 Orheiu Bistriței.
- Noble Castles & Tradition in Mureș: 📍 Teleki Castle (Posmuș), 📍 Kemény Castle (Brâncovenești), 📍 Rákóczi-Bornemisza Castle (Gurghiu), and the trout ponds of 📍 Câmpu Cetății.
Stage Table, Duration & Locations
| Stage | Section (Google Maps Links) | Distance | Est. Time | Ascent + | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 📍 Poiana Negrii – 📍 Lunca Ilvei | 23 km | 9 h | +714 m | Easy / Medium |
| 2A / 2B | 📍 Lunca Ilvei – 📍 Tășuleasa Social | 21 / 19 km | 7.5 h | +800 / +1,036 m | Medium / High |
| 3 | 📍 Tășuleasa Social – 📍 Bistrița Bârgăului | 25 km | 8.5 h | +545 m | Medium |
| 4A | 📍 Bistrița Bârgăului – 📍 Dorolea (Var. A) | 17 km | 4.5 h | +490 m | Easy |
| 5A | 📍 Dorolea – 📍 Bistrița (Var. A) | 17 km | 4.5 h | +339 m | Easy / Medium |
| 6A | 📍 Bistrița – 📍 Jeica (Var. A) | 25 km | 8 h | +500 m | Medium |
| 4B | 📍 Bistrița Bârgăului – 📍 Petriș (Var. B) | 25 km | 10 h | +419 m | High |
| 5B | 📍 Petriș – 📍 Jeica (Var. B) | 28 km | 9 h | +403 m | Medium |
| 7 | 📍 Jeica – 📍 Gledin | 25 km | 7.5 h | +673 m | Easy / Medium |
| 8 | 📍 Gledin – 📍 Brâncovenești | 17 km | 5.5 h | +359 m | Easy |
| 9 | 📍 Brâncovenești – 📍 Cașva | 20 km | 6.5 h | +541 m | Easy |
| 10 | 📍 Cașva – 📍 Brădețelu | 23 km | 8 h | +685 m | Medium |
| 11 | 📍 Brădețelu – 📍 Câmpu Cetății | 20.5 km | 7 h | +788 m | Medium |
Accommodations & Infrastructure
Pure hospitality & iconic stays: The unmissable milestone is staying overnight at the Tășuleasa Social campus (24 beds, shared meals, washing machine, and donation-based lodging—make sure to call ahead). Along the way, you will also experience one-of-a-kind stays: parish houses (in Jeica or Gledin), sleeping inside historic Kemény Castle in Brâncovenești, the legendary Insula Argentina in Toaca, or the trout-fishing inns of Câmpu Cetății.