Romania’s highest paved road, the Transalpina (DN67C) climbs nearly 25 km from Novaci, at the foot of the Parâng Mountains, up to Urdele Pass at 2,145 m. Long a mule track before its 1930s rebuilding, it crosses four counties and stays closed to traffic for a good part of the year because of snow.
A long climb rather than a steep one
From Novaci (around 560 m), the road climbs roughly 1,580 m at a moderate average of 6-6.5%, with a few stretches near 10% in the upper hairpins. It’s the length, altitude and wind exposure that make the climb demanding rather than a brutal gradient — pacing the effort matters more here than a burst of power.
Rânca, a resort along the way
About 12 km from Novaci, the resort of Rânca offers a welcome resupply stop before the most exposed part of the climb, above the tree line, where wind can pick up quickly even in high summer.
When to ride it
The road usually opens only at the end of May and closes again in mid-October, with night-time traffic restrictions early and late in the season. Checking current conditions before setting out is essential — the Transalpina can close temporarily for snow, fog or heavy rain even in season.
Good to know
Novaci and Rânca offer a decent choice of accommodation for a Romanian mountain area, but services thin out noticeably past the resort: carry enough supplies for the roughly 13 km stretch with no resupply up to the summit.
