03MN23: Rodna - Satul Valea Vinului - Şaua Curăţel

The trail starts in the center of the village of Rodna, opposite the church, where there is a road sign indicating Valea Vinului village (9 km from Rodna). Leave the main road and after about 150 m there is a signpost on the left side of the road, indicating the separation of the blue dot trail (Trail 24) to the right. The blue dot trail on the ridge is very scenic. It reaches Saua cu Lac saddle, below Varful Ineu peak. The nine kilometers to Valea Vinului can be done by car, as the road is good (partly asphalt, partly concrete). There are 2 more km to the last houses. There is another signpost near the bridge over Izvorul Rosu stream flowing into Valea Baia (this junction is called ‘La Gatere’). The red triangle continues eastwards, while another trail starts to the north-west: the blue triangle (Trail 25). If you need accommodation, Suzy guesthouse is just around the bridge. If you have enough time, visit Remenyik Sandor Memorial House. There is a parking where the guesthouse is. From here, you start hiking. There are not many other settlements further, but there is one more building offering accommodation (on the right). The road suddenly becomes narrower as the waters are making their way through the rocks (Stramtoarea Dracului - Devil’s Strait). For the next 40-45 minutes, Izvorul Bailor stream is on your right. Cross the stream on a footbridge (a new road for articulated forest tractors - to the north - has made it difficult to get to) and continue to the right on the forest road, through the forest. There are several other forest exploitation roads going to the left and to the right along the way. After a few kilometers on the road, get to a signpost with two arrows on it. One (to the right) indicates the winter route of the red triangle trail (time: 1 ½ hours to the ridge), the other (to the left) indicates the summer route (1 hour). The winter route continues on a grassy path through the forest up to the ridge (about 1 km south from the summer route). If you choose the summer route, continue through the forest and, when you exit it, walk past a recently established sheepfold. From it, climb steeply to the ridge, where there is a signpost. Come across the blue dot trail (Trail 24) coming from the south and continuing towards Muntele Curatel mountain.