Cheile Șugăului Munticelu

Cheile Șugăului-Munticelu forms a protected area of national interest (IUCN Category IV, mixed nature reserve), situated in the western part of Neamț County, on the border with Harghita County, in the Munții Hășmaș, on the territory of the communes of Bicaz-Chei and Bicazu Ardelean. The reserve is located at km 34 on road DN12C, right at the entrance to the commune of Bicaz-Chei, immediately after exiting Cheile Bicazului. As a Natura 2000 site (ROSCI0033, designated in 2007, special area of conservation since 2022) it covers 324.9 hectares, while the Cheile Șugăului nature reserve covers 90 hectares. The gorge area itself is approximately 3 hectares. The reserve partially overlaps with the Parcul Național Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș. The Șugău stream, a tributary of the Bicaz, has eroded the limestone rock over time, forming a spectacular gorge about 350 m long, the cleft between the massifs being extremely narrow, with sections only 1 metre wide. The site preserves elements of great value: accumulations of calcareous tufa and travertine, limestones of different ages, Mesozoic fossils, a relict Scots pine forest on a limestone substrate, and petrifying springs. It includes three caves: Izvorul Șugăului (a grotto in travertine), Peștera Tunel (Sura Glodului) and Peștera Munticelu (Ghiocelu), the latter being a speleological reserve with 120 m of development and a hibernation site for bats. The greatest attraction is the Via Ferrata "Astragalus", the longest in Romania, created in 2015-2016 by mountaineer Ticu Lăcătușu, the first Romanian to climb Everest, together with Radu Apetroaia and Claudiu Lungu, as a project of the Clubul Montan Român. The name comes from the rare plant Astragalus pseudopurpureus (cosașul bicăjean), which grows almost exclusively in this area. The complex comprises several interconnected routes of varying difficulty, set on the steep faces of Turnul Mare; the route starts from Cabana Ecolog (715 m) and climbs to Vârful Turnul Mare (1,000 m), with an elevation gain of approximately 285 m. In 2023, a sixth route was partially opened, featuring a 20 m suspension bridge. Mandatory equipment includes a harness, via ferrata set and helmet. The gorges can also be explored on foot along the tourist path, preferably with a guide. Access is via road DN12C Gheorgheni-Bicaz, with parking next to the bridge over the Șugău.