The name is a mouthful, and a good one: the Ridge of the Wolf's Clearing, on the hill of Muncel, above the Someș valley north-east of Dej. Somewhere along this wooded crest the Romans kept a lookout on the northern border of Dacia, watching the valleys for movement from the free tribes beyond. Watchtowers like this one were the eyes of the frontier, signalling to the forts below, and the site is part of the Dacian frontier inscribed by UNESCO in 2024. On the ground, expect very little: perhaps a low mound, a ditch or scattered stones under the trees. It is a place for imagination and a walk rather than a monument.
The hills here form the edge of the Transylvanian basin, a rolling patchwork of pastures, hay meadows, beech and oak woods, and orchards of plums and apples. In late spring, the meadows are full of wildflowers, and in summer the hay is cut by hand in many places and stacked in tall ricks around wooden poles. Shepherds still move flocks across the hills, often accompanied by large, protective dogs that are best given a wide berth.
The villages nearby, Vad, Poiana Blenchii and Gâlgău, are small and scattered, with wooden and stone houses, churches and wells. Life follows the seasons and the rhythm of the farm, and visitors are rare enough to attract curious looks and, often, warm hospitality.
The roads are a mixed bag. The main road along the Someș valley is good but can be busy, while minor roads into the hills quickly become narrow, patched and steep, and some turn to gravel or dirt. A dual-sport bike is the right tool for exploring the higher tracks, and rain turns them into mud quickly. Further east, the mountains of Rodna and the Bârgău valley offer more dramatic scenery and excellent riding roads, including the pass towards Bucovina.
Dej, about thirteen kilometres away, is the nearest town, with fuel, supermarkets and restaurants. Village shops sell basics, bread, cheese and drinks. If you are invited into a home, expect generous food, perhaps polenta with cheese and sour cream, and a glass of homemade plum brandy offered with insistence; a polite refusal on account of riding is usually understood.