Mountain trails
The mountain area benefits from numerous tourist routes that enhance the potential for mountain tourism development in Gorj county, particularly in the mountains west of Jiu (Godeanu and Vâlcan), but also in the Parâng mountains, with higher difficulty, not indicated for the majority of tourists.
The Vâlcan, Godeanu and Mehedinţi mountains are heavily penetrated by road access routes, in the category of forest routes, many of which have been used since the Daco-Roman period. From these routes, crest paths can be derived that can constitute attractive routes.
1. Lainici - Lainici Monastery (Locurele) and return (red circle marking);
2. Bumbeşti Jiu - Valea Porcului - Vâlcan pass (white triangle marking) - Buliga House, overnight stay - Poiana lui Mihai - Schela - Sâmbotin - Târgu-Jiu (blue circle marking);
3. Târgu-Jiu - Bârseşti - Stăneşti - Vaidei - Şuşiţei valley - Straja Ridge (blue triangle marking), overnight stay - Vâlcan crest - Muncelu peak (red strip marking) - Jaleş valley - Pătrunsa Gorges - Sohodolul Gorges - Runcu (red triangle marking);
4. Peştişani - Gureni - Bistriţa Gorges - Vâja lake - Oslea peak, overnight stay - Păltinişul ridge - Cioclovina II and Cioclovina I Monasteries - Tismana valley - Tismana Monastery (red triangle);
5. Padeş – Călugăreni – Cloşani – Motru Valley – Valea Mare Lake – Cernei Springs (marked with "red triangle") – Valea lui Iovan Lake, overnight – Corcoaia Gorges (marked with "red circle") – Balmezu Valley – Balmezu Ridge (marked with "red cross") – Godeanu Peak – Micuşa Peak – Cerna Pass (marked with "red band"), overnight – Cernei Springs (marked with "red circle") – Mehedinţi Mountains Ridge (marked with "red band") – Motrului Sec Valley – Motru Sec – Padeş (marked with "red triangle")
2. Bumbeşti Jiu - Valea Porcului - Vâlcan pass (white triangle marking) - Buliga House, overnight stay - Poiana lui Mihai - Schela - Sâmbotin - Târgu-Jiu (blue circle marking);
3. Târgu-Jiu - Bârseşti - Stăneşti - Vaidei - Şuşiţei valley - Straja Ridge (blue triangle marking), overnight stay - Vâlcan crest - Muncelu peak (red strip marking) - Jaleş valley - Pătrunsa Gorges - Sohodolul Gorges - Runcu (red triangle marking);
4. Peştişani - Gureni - Bistriţa Gorges - Vâja lake - Oslea peak, overnight stay - Păltinişul ridge - Cioclovina II and Cioclovina I Monasteries - Tismana valley - Tismana Monastery (red triangle);
5. Padeş – Călugăreni – Cloşani – Motru Valley – Valea Mare Lake – Cernei Springs (marked with "red triangle") – Valea lui Iovan Lake, overnight – Corcoaia Gorges (marked with "red circle") – Balmezu Valley – Balmezu Ridge (marked with "red cross") – Godeanu Peak – Micuşa Peak – Cerna Pass (marked with "red band"), overnight – Cernei Springs (marked with "red circle") – Mehedinţi Mountains Ridge (marked with "red band") – Motrului Sec Valley – Motru Sec – Padeş (marked with "red triangle")
6. Padeș - Călugăreni - Cloșani - Motru Valley - Valea Mare Lake - Izvoarele Cernei (red triangle marking) - Cerna Pass (red circle marking), overnight stay - Vâlcan Mountains crest - Oslea Peak - Arcanu Peak - Jaleșului Springs, overnight stay - Micușa Peak - Straja Peak - Vîlcan Pass - Buliga House (red band marking), overnight stay - Poiana lui Mihai - Schela - Sâmbotin - Târgu-Jiu (blue circle marking).
Regarding the Parâng Mountains and Căpățânii, the valley routes take place in Gilortului Valley and Oltețului Valley, as more accessible areas, the rest being crest routes at over 2000 m altitude, of high difficulty, possible for the summer period.
1. Novaci - 67 C Alpine Road - Rânca tourist resort, overnight stay - Gilortului Valley - Gilortului Gorges - Novaci (red triangle marking);
2. Polovragi - Oltețului Gorges - Oltețului Meadow - Oltețului Pass (blue triangle marking), overnight stay - Parâng Mountains crest - Urdele Pass (red band marking) - Rânca tourist resort, overnight stay - 67 C Alpine Road - Cerbul Peak (red triangle marking) - Muierii Cave - Baia de Fier, (blue triangle marking);
3. Polovragi - Oltețului Gorges - Oltețului Meadow - Oltețului Pass (blue triangle marking), overnight stay - Parâng Mountains crest - Urdele Pass - Parâng Mountains crest - Urdele Peak - Parângul Mare Peak (red band marking), overnight stay - Piatra Argelelor Peak - Lainici (red triangle marking).
2. Polovragi - Oltețului Gorges - Oltețului Meadow - Oltețului Pass (blue triangle marking), overnight stay - Parâng Mountains crest - Urdele Pass (red band marking) - Rânca tourist resort, overnight stay - 67 C Alpine Road - Cerbul Peak (red triangle marking) - Muierii Cave - Baia de Fier, (blue triangle marking);
3. Polovragi - Oltețului Gorges - Oltețului Meadow - Oltețului Pass (blue triangle marking), overnight stay - Parâng Mountains crest - Urdele Pass - Parâng Mountains crest - Urdele Peak - Parângul Mare Peak (red band marking), overnight stay - Piatra Argelelor Peak - Lainici (red triangle marking).