October transforms the Apuseni into a place of light and silence. Forests shift to gold, waterfalls grow stronger, and the air feels sharper with every step. Staying at Raven’s Nest – The Hidden Village of Transylvania means waking up surrounded by trails that lead to caves, ridges, fortresses, and villages where time still lingers.
Here’s a guide to the places waiting to be discovered.
Vânătarele Ponorului Reserve
This is often the first walk guests take and for good reason. The path leaves the Nest and winds gently through open meadows and scattered farmhouses. In less than half an hour you arrive at the waterfall, where water carves its way into stone and disappears into the depths. The nearby Dâlbina Cave and Dâlbina Waterfall add to the experience, creating a pocket of natural wonders so close you barely realize how short the hike was. A wooden terrace offers the perfect viewpoint to pause and take it all in.
Distance: 20–30 min hike | Easy access | Perfect for: a first step into the Apuseni.
Cave of Papară (Huda lui Zamolxes)
The entrance to the cave appears after a walk of about 40 minutes, or you can reach it by car if you prefer. From the outside, the opening feels almost like a cathedral carved into the mountain. Legends link it to Zamolxes, the Dacian god, and standing at the mouth of the cave it’s easy to understand why stories grew here. In summer and autumn, when water levels drop, you can approach the entrance more closely. For those who want to explore inside, a local guide and equipment are required. Inside, the cave reveals rivers, chambers, and echoes that belong to another world.
Distance: ~1.5 km | Easy outside, guided access inside | Perfect for: a mix of legend and geology.
Dragons’ Gate and Groși Cave
This is a full-day hike and one of the most rewarding. Trails marked in blue and red take you through rolling fields, dense forests, and across mountain ridges. After 5–6 hours you reach Poarta Zmeilor (Dragons’ Gate), a natural rock arch rising out of the slope like a monument left by giants. Nearby, the Groși Cave opens into darkness, waiting for those who brought a headlamp. An observatory deck offers wide views over the Apuseni, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from reaching this point makes the long walk unforgettable.
Distance: 5–6 h round-trip | Medium difficulty | Perfect for: experienced hikers seeking dramatic landscapes.
Șipote Waterfall
The trail to Șipote runs for several hours, following streams and forest paths. The waterfall reveals itself in stages, falling in multiple steps down the mountainside. In autumn, the water carries more volume, crashing against stone with power. In winter, it freezes into columns of ice, but October is when the flow is strong and framed by golden trees. Even if you only catch the last drop of the waterfall from the road near Sălciua, the full hike is worth the effort.
Distance: 3–4 h | Easy | Perfect for: photographers and those who love the sound of water in the forest.
Colțești Fortress
High above the valley, the ruins of Colțești Fortress overlook the fields below. You can reach it in about an hour by car, or take the longer 5–6 hour hike across the Bedeleu Massif. The trail passes through forests and clearings, offering changing views until the fortress comes into sight. Built in the 13th century, its stones still hold the memory of battles and storms. Standing here, the mountains stretch endlessly around, and the history feels alive in the silence.
Distance: 1 h drive or 5–6 h hike | Medium difficulty | Perfect for: history woven into a mountain view.
Rimetea – A Traditional Hungarian Village
Rimetea is known for its white houses with green shutters, a UNESCO-recognized heritage village nestled at the base of Piatra Secuiului. The drive takes about an hour, but hiking here is also possible in 5–6 hours. Beyond wandering the cobbled streets, Rimetea is a starting point for climbing, trekking, and even paragliding. The cultural charm of the village pairs beautifully with the dramatic ridge that rises above it.
Distance: 1 h drive or 5–6 h hike | Medium | Perfect for: blending culture and nature.
Râmeț Gorges
For those seeking adventure, the Râmeț Gorges deliver. You can drive there in under an hour, or hike for 3–4 hours. The gorge is narrow, carved by water, and part of the path requires wading through knee-deep streams during summer. Limestone walls tower above, and the passage between them feels both wild and intimate. Best explored in warm months, the gorges in autumn are quieter, painted with color, and full of atmosphere.
Distance: 3–4 h hike or 50 min drive | Medium to high difficulty | Perfect for: adventurous hikers, summer and autumn explorers.
The Deserted Village of Cheia
Three hours of walking lead you to Cheia, a village abandoned decades ago. The path is not difficult, crossing farmland and forest before opening into a cluster of old houses overtaken by time. There is no road access anymore, only the trail itself or by mountain bike. The silence here is heavy but fascinating, a reminder of how nature slowly reclaims what is left behind.
Distance: 3 h hike | Low to medium difficulty | Perfect for: those drawn to forgotten places.
The Ancient Fortress of Apoulon (Craiva)
Further afield, about two hours by car, stands the fortress of Apoulon, also known as Craiva. After parking in the village below, the trail climbs for about an hour through fields and forest before reaching the limestone cliff where the Dacians built their stronghold. From the top, views stretch wide across the region, and paragliders often leap from here into the air. It’s both a site of history and an open invitation to adventure.
Distance: 2 h drive + 1 h hike | Medium | Perfect for: history and adrenaline seekers.
Roșia Montană
A drive of just over an hour brings you to Roșia Montană, now part of UNESCO World Heritage. Known for its Roman gold mines, it’s one of the oldest mining sites in Europe. Guided tours take you inside the galleries and into the museum, though they require booking ahead. The visit connects natural beauty with human history, showing how deeply the mountains shaped the lives of those who lived here.
Distance: 1 h 20 min drive | Easy access | Perfect for: heritage and cultural travelers.
Trails for Every Kind of Explorer
From waterfalls and caves to fortresses and villages, the surroundings of Raven’s Nest hold more than a weekend can cover. Some trails are short walks, others stretch into full-day hikes, and each one leaves you with a different memory, the roar of water, the quiet of abandoned homes, the view from a ridge at sunset.
Autumn is the season when the Apuseni feel both alive and calm, a perfect balance of color, air, and silence. Whether you wander for half an hour or climb for a full day, you return to the Nest with stories worth telling, ready to rest by the fire or under the stars.
Plan your hikes and your stay at ravensnest.eu