Măcin Mountains National Park

Măcin Mountains National Park is a national park in Northern Dobruja, Romania.

History
The national park was set up in 2003.

Landscape
The Măcin mountains are geologically the oldest in Romania. They feature a wide variety of landscapes including arid rocky areas, canyons, and weathered granite.

Flora and fauna
This national park has features of Balkan, Mediterranean and Central European forest landscapes, including forest-steppe woods with Dobrogean peony, and a variety of plants including downy oak, flowering ash, sessile oak, Dobrogean olive, spirea, nettle tree, viburnum, and Chequer. Its Dobrogean Beech forest is the only one in the world.

Climate
The Măcin Mountains' climate is continentally-tempered with steppe climate influences in the south of the park and Mediterranean climate influences on the peaks and mountain ridge.

Fees and permits
Tourists must pay 10 RON Per person (available for two days)

Locals can enter in the park for free.

Get around
Măcin Mountains National Park is crossed by many mountain trails arranged (with campsites) in order to facilitate the access of tourists safely to the chosen destination.

Tourist Trails
 * Cozluk (marked with red circle) on the route: Greci Village - Cozluk Valley - Jugului's Valley - Groapa de Aramă - Adâncă Valley - Plopilor's Valley - Greci (4hr 20min).
 * Crapcea Peak (marked with red stripe) on the route: Cerna Village - Puiu's Valley - Echiștea Peak - Crapcea Peak - Crapcea Hill - Balabancea (3–5hr).
 * Pricopan Heights (marked with blue stripe) on the route: Măcin - Sulucu Mare Peak - Piatra Râioasă - Șerparu Saddle - Caramalău Peak - Izvorul Tămăduirii (Fântâna de Leac) - Măcin (4–5hr).
 * Țuțuiatu (marked with blue triangle) on the route: Greci Village - Morsu Valley - Țuțuiatul Peak - Piscu Înalt Valley - Seacă Valley - Fagilor's Valley - Cetățuia (archaeological site) - Luncavița Village (5hr 10min).
 * Dealul cu Drum (marked with red triangle) on the route: Greci Village - Racova Valley - Dealul cu Drum - Piatra Roșie Valley - Curături Valley - Taița Valley - Nifon Village (3hr 30min).
 * Wine/Vinului Valley (marked with blue stripe) on the route: Cerna Village - Cerna Valley - Poteca Țigăncii Valley - Vergu Peak - Vinului Peak - Cardonului's Ridge - Hamcearca Village (3–5hr)
 * Cocoș - Sarica (marked with blue stripe) on the route: Nifon Village - Cocoș Monastery - Niculițel Village - Sarica hill (6½–9hr)
 * Celic – Alba (marked with blue triangle) on the route: Celic Dere Monastery - Edirlen - Carasan Teke – Alba (6hr 20min)
 * Troesmis (marked with yellow stripe) on the route: DN22D - Troesmis Fortress - Iacobdeal Lake - Bulgarian Peony Hill - Fossiliferous Peony Place - Priopcea Hill - Panait Cerna Memorial House (8hr 20min)
 * Dealul Consul - Florești (marked with red stripe) on the route: DJ 229 - Dealul Consul - Valea Teilor - Florești (8hr 10min)
 * Dealul cu Drum - Țuțuiatu Link (marked with red cross) on the route: Bălan Peak - Piscu Înalt peak (1-2hr 30min)

Thematic Trails Other Trails
 * Pietrosul Dobrogean (marked with yellow stripe) on the route: DJ 222A 1,2 km segment in common with Țuțuiatu Trail - Pietrosului Valley - Pietrosul I -  Pietrosul II  - DJ 222A (3h 12min)
 * Dinogeția (marked with red circle) on the route: Dinogeția Fortress/Archeological site – DN 22E – Crăcănele Peak – Crăcănele Saddle – Bugeacului hill – Hut “La Lătîme” – DN 22E (36min)
 * Priopcea Path (marked with yellow circle) on the route: DN 22D -North Promontory Priopcea Peak - Boldea Peak - Sivrica Peak - DN 22D (40min–3hr 20min)
 * The Tales of Măcin (marked with blue circle) on the route: Greci Village - Racova Valley - Dealul cu Drum - Ditcova Valley (43min)
 * Jijila Valley (marked with blue cross) on the route: Jijila Village – Jijilei Valley – Cheia Peak – Cheita Peak – Caramalău Peak – Fântâna de Leac – Fântâna de Leac Monastery (1hr 14min–3hr 14min)
 * Niculițel (marked with blue circle) on the route: Țugulea Hill - La Troian - Dumitru Hill - Great Hill - Episcopate Hill - Niculițel (2-3hr 10min)
 * Fântâna de Leac (marked with yellow circle) on the route: Fântâna de Leac - Piciorul Cărămălău (1-2hr 10min)


 * Equestrian trail (no marking) on the route: Cerna Village - Arsu Valley - Şaua Mare - Arheuziu Peak - Archizel Peak - Lifante Peak - Pietrele Albe Peak - Mangina Peak - Puturoasa Valley - Horse paddock (1hr 21min–5hr 10min)

See
Măcin Mountains National Park has a variety of tourist attractions including:


 * Fortresses


 * Lakes
 * Iacobdeal Lake
 * Horia Lake
 * Isaccea Lake
 * Monasteries
 * Izvorul Tămăduirii monastery
 * Cocoș monastery
 * Celic-Dere monastery
 * Valea Teilor monastary
 * Saon monastery
 * Other Attractions
 * Crucele Forest
 * Cheile Chediului
 * Pietrele Mariei
 * Pietrele Mariei

Do
Măcin Mountains has a variety of activities including rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking.

Rock Climbing Areas and Trails

Racova Valley

 * Colţul Viperei
 * Țestoasei - Grade 6, Sport gear style, 25m
 * Oglinda de Jad
 * Cameleom - Grade 7-, Sport gear style, 7m
 * Thalassa - Grade 7, Sport gear style, 7m
 * Peretele Amurg
 * Extrema stângă - Grade 6-, Trad gear style, 2 pitches
 * Luna - Grade 6-, Trad gear style, 2 pitches
 * Soarele - Grade 6- A2, Trad gear style, 2 pitches
 * Amurg - Grade 7 A2, Trad gear style, 2 pitches
 * Peretele Diagonal
 * Brânelor - Grade 5+, Trad gear style, 3 pitches
 * Muchia Brânelor - Hornul Prieteniei - Grade 3, Trad gear style, 3 pitches
 * Diagonal - Grade 5-, Trad gear style, 3 pitches
 * Peretele Grădiniță
 * Piticot - Grade 4, Sport gear style, 10m
 * Gopo - Grade 5-, Sport gear style, 10m
 * Peretele Taberei
 * Barbă - Grade 5, Sport gear style, 10m
 * Kanietz - Grade 6+, Sport gear style, 10m
 * Musca - Grade 6, Sport gear style, 10m
 * Fete - Grade 4+, Sport gear style, 10m
 * Hibrid - Grade 6, Sport gear style, 7m
 * Bile - Grade 5+, Sport gear style,10m, 3 clips
 * Păianjen - Grade 6-, Sport gear style,10m, 3 clips
 * Oul Dogmatic - Grade 7/7+, Sport gear style, 7m
 * FPM - Grade 7,Trad gear style, 7m
 * Turnul de Șah
 * Mecla de Piatră - Sport gear style, 10m
 * Zig Zag - Grade 6-, Sport gear style, 10m
 * Dorința - Grade 5, Sport gear style, 7m


 *  Carabalu Valley 
 * La Insecte
 * Licurici - Grade 5-, Sport gear style, 10m, 3 clips
 * Greierele - Grade 7, Sport gear style, 10m, 4 clips