Seven Ladders Canyon from Brașov: Tickets, Hours and Getting There

All the prices, hours and rules on this page come from the people who run the canyon, the Săcele local forestry authority (Regia Publică Locală a Pădurilor Săcele), on canionul7scari.ro. We checked them on 10 October 2026, and the closure notice on 31 October 2026.

Is Seven Ladders Canyon worth it?

Yes, for half a day. The canyon itself is small: 160 m long, with 58 m from bottom to top, so you’ll be through it in under an hour. What makes the trip is the whole package. First an easy walk through the forest, then a cool gorge full of the sound of water, climbed on ladders, and afterwards, if you like, the zip line or a longer hike up Piatra Mare. Children can do it too, in a harness and helmet.

It’s a good choice if you fancy a break from museums, have a free morning and don’t mind steep metal ladders.

Give it a miss if you’re afraid of heights or feel uneasy in tight spaces, if it’s raining hard, or before May 2027, because the canyon is closed for the cold season.

Where it is (and where it isn’t)

The canyon is at Dâmbul Morii, part of Săcele, in the Piatra Mare mountains. It’s just off DN1 between Brașov and Predeal, near Timișu de Jos. That puts it south-east of Brașov, on the road to Predeal and Bucharest.

Some older guides, including an earlier version of this page, said Seven Ladders sits “just across the valley” from the Libearty Bear Sanctuary. It doesn’t. Libearty is in Zărnești, about 27 km south-west of Brașov, on the other side of the city. To see both in one day you have to go back through Brașov, so in practice you’ll need a car.

Getting there from Brașov

Bus 17B (cheapest)

RATBV bus 17B runs from Terminal Gară, outside Brașov railway station, to Dâmbul Morii in about 30 minutes. A ticket costs 5 lei and is valid for 90 minutes (fares from 1 June 2026). On weekdays there’s a bus roughly every 40 to 50 minutes. At weekends there are far fewer:

Saturday and Sunday	Times
Terminal Gară → Dâmbul Morii	06:17, 07:47, 09:12, 12:12, 13:37, 15:02, 16:37, 18:17, 19:47
Dâmbul Morii → Terminal Gară	07:12, 08:37, 10:02, 13:02, 14:27, 15:52, 17:27, 19:12, 20:37

This timetable has applied since 1 March 2025 (ratbv.ro, checked on 10 October 2026). At weekends, the 09:12 gets you to the canyon soon after it opens at 10:00, and the 07:47 gives you time to take the walk up slowly. Coming back, the last weekend buses leave Dâmbul Morii at 17:27, 19:12 and 20:37.

By car

Take DN1 from Brașov towards Predeal as far as Timișu de Jos. Coming from Brașov, the turn-off to Domeniul Dâmbu Morii is on your left. Don’t be thrown by the canyon website’s directions, which say turn right: they’re written for drivers coming from Bucharest. Cross the bridge over the Timiș river and park at the barrier. From there it’s an hour’s walk to the canyon, at most.

By train

Only a few Regio trains stop at the Timișu de Jos halt, 16–17 minutes from Brașov. On 10 October 2026 the Infofer timetable showed one in the morning, at 06:20, and then nothing until 14:15. For most people the bus is the easier option.

Taxi or ride-hailing

A taxi or Bolt can drop you at Dâmbul Morii. Sort out your ride back before you set off, though: there’s no mobile signal inside the canyon, and you can’t count on one at the barrier either. Our guide to getting around Brașov lists local taxi firms.

Tickets and opening hours

	Price
Canyon, adults	25 lei
Canyon, children and students	15 lei
Canyon, organised school groups (with a teacher and a group list)	10 lei per child
Zip line, full route	125 lei
Zip line, half route	75 lei
Children’s zip line	35 lei for 30 minutes

• Hours in season: the canyon is open daily 10:00–16:00, and 16:00 is the last entry, so don’t turn up later. In autumn 2026 the zip line ran only on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting, with the last descent at 16:00.
• Season: the canyon and zip line closed for the cold season on 26 October 2026, and the people who run them expect to reopen in May 2027, with no exact date yet. The closed months change from year to year: the canyon’s rules give December to February, while the FAQ on its website says it’s open from April to October. It can also close at short notice for storms, heavy rain or other dangers. Whenever the weather looks doubtful, ring the hut on 0746 772 274 before you go.
• Where to pay: at Cabana Șapte Scări, the hut at the canyon entrance. You can rent a harness and helmet there too, but you’ll need an ID document, so bring one.

The route: trailhead, canyon and back

Approach: about 1 hour, easy. From the Dâmbul Morii barrier, a forest trail follows the Șipoaia stream up to the canyon hut. It’s an easy walk of about an hour.

Photo: Amadeus Moga on Unsplash

The canyon: 15 to 45 minutes, moderate. Inside, the stream drops over seven rock steps between 2.5 m and 15 m high. They’re what gives the canyon its name, and when the water is high they turn into waterfalls. You climb up beside them on nine metal ladders and the walkways between them, first put in in 2013 and renovated since.

You don’t need any climbing gear, but some of the ladders are close to vertical. Getting through the canyon takes 15–30 minutes when it’s quiet and 30–45 minutes when it’s busy.

Photo: Tudor Olteanu on Unsplash

Back down. You can’t come back down through the canyon: it’s one way only, from the bottom up. From the top you have three ways back:

• the red-dot bypass trail, 10–15 minutes down to the entrance
• a longer forest loop back to the base, about 2 hours
• the zip line, if you’ve paid for it

Piatra Mare peak. If you’ve still got energy, a trail carries on from the top of the canyon to the summit of Piatra Mare, at 1,843 m. It’s about 3 hours of moderate hiking up from the canyon, so check the weather and the time before you set off.

All in, allow 3 to 4 hours from Dâmbul Morii and back for the canyon alone, and most of a day if you add the peak.

The zip line

The Seven Ladders zip line (Tiroliana 7 Scări) is billed as the longest in Romania: about 4 km of cable in 37 sections, from 47 m to 273 m long. The adult zip line has strict limits:

• over 18 only
• weight 50–95 kg
• height 1.50–1.95 m
• a safety briefing is compulsory, and you sign a form before you start
• one person per cable at a time, and no more than 3 people on a platform

Children have their own zip line, at 35 lei for 30 minutes. The zip line stops in bad weather. You don’t get your money back if that happens, but they can extend the validity of your access bracelet. All the rules are in the zip line regulations.

Safety and what to wear

The canyon rules are short and worth a read. The main points:

• Footwear and clothing: hiking boots or approach shoes and a waterproof jacket are required. In summer the canyon is about 10–15 °C cooler than outside, so bring a warm layer.
• Hands free: you can’t carry bags or anything else that keeps your hands busy on the ladders. A small backpack is best.
• One at a time: only one person on a ladder at a time, except an adult climbing right behind a child. No more than 10 people may stand on a connecting bridge.
• Children: minors must be with an adult. Children under 7 must wear a harness and helmet, which you can rent at the hut. Harnesses and helmets are also recommended for children under 14, people who are overweight or not very fit, and anyone afraid of heights. A helmet is recommended for adults too.
• Wet or icy ladders: don’t go in during heavy rain or storms. The ladders and rock get slippery, and stones and branches can fall. In winter you’re not allowed in at all, because of ice.
• No signal: there’s no mobile signal in the canyon. In an emergency, call 112, Salvamont (mountain rescue) on 0725 826 668, or the hut on 0746 772 274.
• Photos: don’t stop on the ladders or bridges to take pictures, because you’ll hold up everyone behind you.
• Alcohol: if you’ve been drinking, you won’t be let in.

Tips

• Go early on a weekday. The canyon opens at 10:00, and at weekends queues can build at the ladders, because only one person climbs at a time.
• Gloves help. The metal is cold and wet even in summer. This is our suggestion, not a rule.
• Protect your phone. It’s very damp in the canyon, and the humidity can get into phones and cameras.
• Check the weather on Piatra Mare. Summer thunderstorms often roll in over the Carpathians in the afternoon, so it’s safer to be done by early afternoon. Our Brașov weather guide covers the seasons.

Combine it with

• Brașov’s Old Town: the bus gets you back to the railway station in about 30 minutes, in time for an afternoon in the centre. See things to do in Brașov.
• More walks around Brașov: if you enjoyed the forest part, our guide to walks in and around Brașov has easier options closer to town.
• Peleș Castle: Sinaia is further along DN1, past Predeal, so with a car you could pair the canyon with Peleș Castle. Just remember the castle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Libearty Bear Sanctuary: it’s on the other side of Brașov, and its tours only run in the morning (09:45 and 11:00). So you’d need a car, with the sanctuary first and the canyon in the afternoon.

For more ideas, see day trips from Brașov.

FAQ

How much does Seven Ladders Canyon cost?

It’s 25 lei for adults and 15 lei for children and students. The zip line costs 125 lei for the full route or 75 lei for half.

Is Seven Ladders Canyon open in winter?

No, it’s closed because of ice. In 2026 it closed on 26 October and is due to reopen in May 2027. In other years the rules give December to February, and the FAQ on the canyon’s website gives April to October as the season, so phone 0746 772 274 before you go in the months either side.

How long does the visit take?

Allow 3 to 4 hours in total: about an hour’s walk from Dâmbul Morii to the canyon, 15–45 minutes inside it, then 10–15 minutes back down on the bypass trail.

Can children do Seven Ladders Canyon?

Yes, with an adult. Children under 7 must wear a harness and helmet, which you can rent at the hut. The adult zip line is for over-18s only, but there’s a separate one for children.

How do I get to Seven Ladders Canyon without a car?

Take bus 17B from Brașov railway station to Dâmbul Morii. It takes about 30 minutes and costs 5 lei. From there it’s about an hour’s walk to the canyon. Weekend buses are few and far between, so check the times back before you set off.

Can you climb down the ladders?

No, you can only go up through the canyon. To get back down, take the red-dot bypass trail (10–15 minutes) or, when it’s running, the zip line.

Do I need to book?

The canyon’s website doesn’t mention booking for individual visitors; you pay at the hut. Groups can get in touch on 0746 772 274 or contact@canionul7scari.ro.

Sources

• Canionul 7 Scări (Regia Publică Locală a Pădurilor Săcele): prices and hours, access and route, canyon rules, zip line rules
• RATBV: bus 17B timetable, fares
• Infofer: trains to Timișu de Jos