Red Lake

<p>Red Lake is not red — it's a natural dam lake, formed in 1838 when a huge landslide blocked the Big Bicaz valley. The forest that was there stayed under water; petrified trunks still rise from the lake, ghostly. The name comes from the Red Stream feeding it, loaded with iron oxides (hence the brick-red tint in places).</p><p>It sits at 983 m altitude, surrounded by the spectacular cliffs of the Hășmaș Mountains. The water is cold year-round, boat trips weave between the trunks rising from the water — quite eerie, unforgettable. Rustic guesthouses, a small annual folk music festival, and the gateway to Bicaz Gorges (1 km north).</p><p>Tip: combine Red Lake with Bicaz Gorges. One of Romania's most dramatic defiles — 300 m limestone walls, winding road, photo stops at every corner. The gorges are 8 km long, drivable in 30 minutes, but worth stopping.</p><p>Good stays in Lacu Roșu village and in Gheorgheni (15 km). Come in late spring or autumn — summer weekends bring serious traffic on DN12C.</p>