Obarsia hike

Starting from the village of Obârșia, this hiking loop ascends through shady forests and mountain meadows toward Vârful lui Ianoș (689 m), offering an immersion into the traditional landscape of Zărand. Along the trail, hikers discover old homestead shelters, traditional fruit-drying houses, and mountain springs, as well as broad panoramic views over the surrounding valleys from the ridge viewpoints.

We set off from the end of Obârșia village and follow the King’s Road (DJ 707). After approximately 3 km (1 hour), we reach the gazebo, where we suggest taking a longer break to admire the diverse landscape of the Petriș Valley. On a clear day, the view extends beyond the Mureș Valley to areas over 20 km away.

We push on toward the ridge of the Zărand Mountains, and after about 2 km (40 minutes), we recommend another pause, as a spectacular 360-degree panorama opens up before our eyes! From here, we can admire the Apuseni Mountains in the distance.

We continue along the main ridge trail of the Zărand Mountains (marked with a red stripe) for about 1.5 km (30 minutes) until we reach Vârful lui Ianoș. Here we propose another break to rest and take in the scenery. From this point, we begin our descent.

Next, we pass through the hamlet of Fântâna Ursului (Bear’s Spring), a magical place that, a few decades ago, was a permanently inhabited settlement with dozens of homes and homesteads.

About 900 m (20 minutes) from Vârful lui Ianoș, we can admire a traditional fruit-drying house—a testament to how locals processed and preserved their homestead harvests.

After another 200 m (5 minutes), we reach the spring that gave the place its name and originally drew people to settle here permanently.

Following another 2 km (40 minutes), we arrive back at the starting point, completing this loop through landscapes and heritage sites that still preserve the traces of traditional life in this part of Zărand.