Assessment of Trail Erosion Under the Impact of Tourist Traffic in the Bucegi Mountains, Romanian Carpathians

Trail erosion is a global issue, particularly in mountainous regions, that is largely driven by increased tourist flows and uncontrolled trampling. Our study was conducted in the Bucegi Mountains, Southern Carpathians, Romania, along three of the most frequented hiking trails, each with varying levels of difficulty. Two of these trails cross both the forest and alpine zones, and the other crosses only the alpine zone: Jepii Mici, connecting the Bușteni resort (960 m a.s.l.) to Babele Chalet (2200 m a.s.l.); Jepii Mari, linking Bușteni resort to the National Sports Complex Piatra Arsă (1960 m a.s.l.); and the trail between Babele Chalet and Omu Peak (2505 m a.s.l.). Our analysis focused on morphometric parameters, the volume of displaced soil, and associated geohazards, serving as indicators for assessing the degradation state of hiking trails and their suitability for mountain biking and tourist traffic. The findings reveal a high degree of trail degradation, highlighted by increased trail width, the development of parallel trail sections due to dispersed tourist traffic, areas with abrupt gradient changes, and sections severely affected by erosion, resulting in significant volumes of displaced soil. These factors hinder effective tourist traffic, including hiking and mountain biking, and degrade the mountainous landscape. Conversely, the results can be useful for both monitoring annual trail erosion rates and facilitating tourist access, tailored to individual and group interests, as well as the physical readiness of each tourist, to offer a more pleasurable and sustainable experience.