Piatra Craiului Mountains, known for their breathtaking views, are a paradise for rock and adrenaline. They belong to the Southern Carpathians, located in their northeast. The Piatra Craiului massif is geologically and geomorphologically distinct from the surrounding massifs and mountain groups, the Leaota Mountains, the Bucegi Mountains, the Făgăraș Mountains and the Iezer-Păpușa Mountains. While these mountain groups are formed almost exclusively of crystalline rocks, the "Crai", as it is often affectionately called, is a sharp and steep "blade" of metamorphic rocks, especially limestone rocks of Jurassic age, approximately 24 - 26 km long, oriented from southwest to northeast, and approximately 6 - 8 km wide, in the corresponding perpendicular directions. The well-known vertical walls, 400–650 m high, between Padina Lăncii and Valea lui Ivan were created due to the horizontal stratification of limestones.

The vegetation here is less rich in species due to the almost absolute preponderance of limestone. Here are found unique species of flora and fauna in the world. The Piatra Craiului Carnation ( Dianthus callizonus ) is a flower endemic to the Piatra Craiului National Park, here being the only place in the world where we can find it. It lives mainly on the grassy and sunny rocks of the lower alpine zone, among scree or at the upper limit of alpine meadows.