Usturoiul Valley – Poiana Mărului – Şaua Dia (Șaua Dia) – Firiza

Cycling style - Cross-country
Difficulty degree – intermediate
Route condition – to be tackled in dry weather
Minimal equipment – MTB hardtail bike
Water sources – Usturoiul  Valley springs

Route condition - most of the part and important sections of the route are composed of forest roads and paths, some in poor condition. The asphalt road goes from Firiza, through Ferneziu, to Baia Mare. 

The route starts from the Stadium area to the Usturoiul Valley, continuing on the asphalt to the last house. We go on the forest road that goes up, we pass by the abandoned Usturoiul 1 Chalet, and 200 m before reaching the barrier located near the Usturoiul 2 Chalet, we take it to the right, we cross the creek and start climbing the forest road. The forest road takes a left after the first climb, following the marking with the letter C and reaches Poiana Mărului. After entering Poiana Mărului, we cross it straight (on the right side you can see the refuge) and exit the glade crossing the tiny brook. We follow the forest road that climbs steeply, until we exit another ridge forest road (Route 66). We take it to the left and we continue the road until we reach  in Şaua Dia a forest road that descends to the right and exits in Poiana Vărateci, among the fir trees. We descend on the forest road, that takes us to the barrier, located near the Chalet at the Firiza Dam, from where we descend to Ferneziu.

*Map, text and video source: https://maramures-bike.ro/