Apuseni

Muntele Băișorii Resort

The mountain resort can be found in the place where the Gera brook springs (source of the Ierța valley), on the heights that start towards East from Buscat peak (1676 m), on the territory of the Băișoara commune (Cluj county), at 46 degrees and 32 minutes Nordic latitude and 23 degrees and 19 minutes Eastern longitude, at an altitude between 1200 and 1400 m. 

The main hotel of the resort is located at 1345 m altitude, not at 1385 m altitude, as it appears in many writings, which is actually the altitude of the old challet. The view is large, open to the Transylvanian Plain, the Turzii Gorges and further horizons. During good visibility conditions one can admire Maramureș, Țibles, Rodnei, Călimani and Făgăraș Mountains and sometimes even the Wooded Carpathians, Gutâi, Suhard, Harghita or Ciucaș Mountains.

From the nearby peaks one can see during clear skies Șureanu, Parâng or Retezat mountains and during exceptional conditions, even the High Tatras.

Recreation

Various sports and games can be practiced in the area, however the mountain sports prevail, since the mountains offer many possibilities, especially for hiking, alpine skiing, ski touring, mountain biking, paragliding. Nordic skiing, alpinism and speleology can be practiced as well, but on a lesser scale.

Relief

Muntele Mare Massif constitutes the oldest area of Apuseni Mountains. Together with Bihor Mountain and Vlădeasa Mountains, they form the orographical pivot of the Apuseni, by dominating as a bastion the surrounding areas (Arieșului Valley, Iara basin – Vlaha – Săvădisla, Huedin basin). The dominant note of the relief is given by the large spread of the leveling surfaces, represented by large peaks resembling plateaus, and valleys in great depth, straight-like (Iara Valley, Someșulu Rece Valley, etc).

Traces of the long evolution of these mountains can be found in the three syncronous leveling surfaces, in the Meridional Carpathians: Fărcaș – Cârligați (at 1600 – 1800 m altitude), remarcably flat, Mărișel – Măguri (1000 – 1300 m), presenting many scattered small villages, and Feneș (600-800 m), less developped. Being surrounded by low basin areas and deep valleys, Muntele Mare (The Great Mountain) seems to rise higher and to be more massive than it really is. The maximum altitude can be registered on the top of Muntele Mare, at 1826 m, the third highest point in the Apuseni Mountains, after Cucurbăta Mare (1849 m) and Vlădeasa (1836 m).