Postăvarul Massif Mountains Romania: Walks & Views

If visiting Braşov, nothing beats a trip to the top of Postăvarul Massif. This is a mountain range near Braşov which has some splendid views from the peak. I first spotted the mountain on a walk from Solomon’s Rocks. Since then, I have walked on the mountain many times throughout the seasons.

One of my bucket list items when I first visited Romania was to explore the Carpathian Mountains after seeing the film Wild Carpathia. The film really drew my attention to how beautiful the Romanian Carpathian Mountains are.

Postăvarul Massif: What To Expect

The Postăvarul massif is a group of mountains in Romania and is part of the Romanian Carpathians. The altitude of the highest peak, which is also named Postăvarul, is 1799 metres.

The Postăvarul Massif is near Poiana Braşov at the southern end of the grand arc of the Eastern Carpathians. The Carpathian Mountains are a range that forms an arc shape in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is the third-longest European mountain range; it stretches from the far eastern Czech Republic through to Romania.

My Visits

I first ascended the mountain on the first blue-sky day of 2020 to visit the mountains. This was mainly for the views I hoped to see. I initially travelled by bus from Brasov to Poiana Braşov. On the way, I picked up some Ursus, water, snacks and a pair of gloves.

Poiana Braşov

Once in Poiana Braşov, which is the most popular ski resort in Romania. It shocked me how busy the resort was with winter sports enthusiasts. These were mainly skiers.

After getting my bearings and deciding the best plan for me, the game was on. The first was to get the cable car to near the top. There were a few options, but I chose the one closest to me. Then the plan was to walk and scramble to the peak from wherever I landed.

Cable Car

The cable car cost me 35 lei for a return trip, about £7. There was quite the wait for the ascent, mainly for people with skis. It was pretty packed, but I got a window seat to enjoy the view. The ride was fantastic for the views of the nearby mountains and the ski action below. I would have loved to have the car to myself, but there’s no chance of that.

Dude’s Pub – Beer at Altitude

My departure was different. I opted to head into Dude’s Pub, possibly the highest-altitude pub I had ever visited. The bar was pleasant, and I opted to sit on a barstool and order my Tuborg lager. Feeling the need for some sugar, I enjoyed a Snickers bar while I warmed up. The beer gave me the opportunity to consult Google Maps and the AllTrails app. So before departing, I knew where to head once I left the comfort of Dude’s Pub.

I checked my boots were double-tied, bag was packed, coat was fully zipped, and hat was on. All done, I was ready to leave. Exiting the bar, I found myself on the edge of a smooth ski slope with fantastic views of another range of mountains.

Walk to the Peak of Postavarul Massif

I walked over and scrambled up the edge of the slope. That was until I reached a sharp corner with a safety barrier at the top of a cliff. The views suddenly became very special here. So out with the phone to take a few snaps and appreciate the cold, fresh air. The next phase was walking just off the edge of a narrow ski track. This took me towards another cable car station.

From this point, I spotted the path to the peak. There was nobody skiing this part and a few walkers between me and the highest point. The first part of the walk was on a plateau and easy walking. Next, I faced a steep climb up a very slippery-looking path to the peak. I braced myself and watched a few people coming down, most of whom had a slight or bigger slip on the way. None of them had consistently had 3 points of contact, so I got into the right headspace, put on my gloves, and was ready to go.

The Peak & Marvellous Mountain Views

I hauled myself up this slippery slope, using carefully placed railings and rocks to keep myself from slipping. After a big push and a rise in heart rate, I had done it and reached the peak of Postavaral, 1799 m in altitude.

At the peak, I took a moment to catch my breath and hydrate. Then I whipped out the hip flask for a shot of tuica.

I spent over half an hour enjoying the scenery while inhaling the cold, fresh air. Feeling blown away by the views, I had to take it all in. Also, I spent some time taking a few photos for the memory bank and blog. The views included seeing over to the Piatra Mare Massif, where I had previously enjoyed a walk to Seven Ladders Canyon.

Descending

Descending was even trickier coming down the slippery slope, but I kept my footing before reaching the plateau. Then an enjoyable, simple walk back to the 2nd cable car station.

I had enjoyed my time and jumped on a near-empty cable car on the way down from Poiana Braşov. This was a much more enjoyable ride for me.

Review of my first Mountain in Romania

I thoroughly enjoyed my day out in the mountain range. It enthused me; I need to do this more often. I hope to hike to the top next time in the summer or autumn with the dog in tow. The range supposedly has fantastic fauna in the spring and summer, with lots of wildlife, including some I don’t really want to bump into, like bears.

Return Visits to Postavarul

I have subsequently returned to Postavarul to hike on the top and near the lower sections. Each time I’ve used a different route, which is nice. I enjoyed my birthday on the mountain, where there was still snow at altitude in April. We discovered Yager Chalet for a beer or two. They are near the top and a stone’s throw from the cable car. As a bonus, they have a balcony which has picturesque views, especially on a sunny day.