This site is one of the wildest and best-preserved in the Apuseni Mountains.

With impressive landscapes, natural meadows, deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, it is also home to a rare plant – arnica.
This is a natural ecosystem inhabited by species such as the bear, wolf, lynx, wildcat, marten, squirrel, capercaillie, rock thrush, woodpecker, lesser spotted eagle, tit, and tawny owl.
The stunning scenery and the importance of preserving forests on steep slopes, along with the high value of the local game population, have led to the designation of the Valea Ierii area as a Site of Community Importance, as part of the Natura 2000 European Ecological Network, covering a total area of 6,194.1 hectares.

This site covers over 8,000 hectares.

Bird and animal species, as well as forests, pastures, and rare plants, are protected in this area. It stands out for its wide meadows and the beauty of the landscape.
Scattered seasonal hamlets can be found throughout. The site includes a large part of the territory of the commune Măguri Răcătău and a smaller portion of Valea Ierii, with a total area of over 8,000 hectares.

Porneşte din amonte de Valea Ierii şi ajunge pâna pe teritoriul judeţului Alba. Tufişuri, tufărişuri, pajişti naturale, stepe, păduri de conifere, alături de mai multe specii de păsări sunt protejate în acest areal. Situl se întinde pe o suprafaţa de 1659,2 ha şi se remarcă prin valoarea conservativă mare a habitatelor de pădure şi pajiştilor montane, dar şi prin prezenţa unor specii rare de păsări. 

În vederea conservării frumuseții și valorii cinegetice zona situată pe teritoriul comunei Valea Ierii a fost declarată prin Decizia 147/1994 a Consiliului Județean Cluj, arie naturală protejată de interes județean.

Astfel pe teritoriul comunei sunt interzise activitățile economice și recreaționale poluante și cele ce pot să afecteze valoarea peisagistică și cinegetică.

Pe teritoriul comunei Valea Ierii se găsesc trei astfel de arii naturale protejate de interes județean: Aria naturală protejată de interes județean Valea Ierii, Acumularea Bondureasa, Aria naturală protejată de interes județean Valea Șoimului.

Valea Șoimului – County-Level Protected Area
By Decision 147/1994 of the Cluj County Council, Valea Șoimului was declared a protected natural area of county interest due to its game and wildlife value.

Bondureasa Reservoir
Located downstream from the confluence of the Iara River with the Măruțiu stream. In this area, not far from its source, the Iara River forms a stunning amphitheater with rocky walls, crests, scree slopes, and crags where birches and stunted spruces dare to grow. The area is quite isolated, accessible by car on a forest road from Valea Ierii, and offers access to neighboring regions via forest roads.

This area was declared a county-level protected natural site for its scenic value.

Valea Ierii – County-Level Protected Area
This area stretches from downstream of the Bondureasa Reservoir toward the village of Valea Ierii and continues to the commune of Băișoara.

To preserve its beauty, the area, located in the communes of Valea Ierii and Băișoara, was declared a protected natural area of county importance, both for its landscape and wildlife value, by Decision 147/1994 of the Cluj County Council.

In 2025, as part of the Pilot Project titled: "Recognition of the thematic specialization of villages near local or national tourist resorts in Romania", organized by the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Valea Ierii was awarded the specialization "NATURE AND TRANQUILITY".