
The breathtaking road to Costila Peak in the Bucegi Mountains
Romania, europe
8.2 km
2,578 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, buckle up for Vârful Coștila in Romania's Muntenia region – we're heading high into the Prahova County mountains! This isn't your average Sunday drive; we're talking about one of the highest points you can reach by road in the whole country, topping out at 2,485 meters (8,152 feet)!
You'll find this gem nestled in the heart of the Bucegi Natural Park, and you absolutely can't miss the massive television tower, Releul Coștila, perched right at the summit. This tower is a beast, adding another 84 meters to the height, making it the tallest artificial structure in Romania!
Now, getting there is part of the adventure. Forget your sports car because the 8.2 km (5.09 miles) of DJ713 is totally unpaved and seriously steep, gaining 560 meters from where the paved TransBucegi ends. You're looking at an average gradient of 6.82%, so a 4WD is essential.
Heads up, this road is usually closed from late October until late June or early July due to snow. In the past, the radio and television relay was guarded by a military unit. Today, access to the relay building is restricted by a fence around the construction.
Where is it?
The breathtaking road to Costila Peak in the Bucegi Mountains is located in Romania (europe). Coordinates: 45.5207, 24.8740
Road Details
- Country
- Romania
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 8.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,578 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 45.5207, 24.8740
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