Mestecăniș Pass (DN17), at an altitude of 1096 meters, provides an important link between two emblematic towns of Bucovina: Vatra Dornei and Câmpulung Moldovenesc. The road crosses the Mestecăniș Mountains, a branch of the Obcina range of Bucovina, and offers a picturesque alternative to the main road. The name of the pass derives from the birch trees that once covered the mountain slopes in the area.
The roughly 30-kilometer route passes through a mountain zone featuring mixed spruce and beech forests, mountain meadows, and traditional Bucovinian villages. Along the way, travelers can spot homesteads with the tall roofs characteristic of Bucovinian architecture and enjoy panoramic views over the deep surrounding valleys. The area is also renowned for its biodiversity, serving as habitat for bears, wolves, and lynx.
Mestecăniș Pass is open year-round and maintained in winter conditions. The road offers a shorter alternative for those traveling between Vatra Dornei and Câmpulung Moldovenesc, while also providing access to the nearby painted monasteries of Bucovina, a UNESCO World Heritage cluster.