The ANP limits were set in the GD 230 published in the Official Gazette Part I no. 190 from 26 March 2003, specifying the delineation of biosphere reserves, national parks and nature parks and the establishment of their administrations. These limits are quoted below, (toponymy corrections were made, where necessary):

Northern limit. From Măgura Fericii peak (1106,1 m) the limit follows to NE the main summit between the Crişul Pietros [III-1.42.9] and Nimăieşti valleys basins [42.13], until Poienii  peak (1626,8 m). Continuing, the limit follows the main summit between the hydrographical basins of Crişul Repede [III.44] and Someşul Mic [II-1.31] (which from the spring down to the confluence with Someşul Rece is named Someşul Cald), through the elevation point of 1515,4 m, then Bohodei (1653,8 m), Fântâna Rece (1652,4 m), Cârligatele (1694,3 m) peaks, the elevation point 1650,3 m, Coasta Brăiesei (1692,4 m), Briţei (1758,6 m), Piatra Tâlharului, Micău (1639,9 m) and Nimăiasa (1588,9 m) peaks. From Nimăiasa peak the limit follows the watershed line between Stanciului [III.44.4.1] and Crăciun valleys [III-1.44.5.1] through „La Nimăiasa“ (1612,0 m), then through the elevation point 1584,0 m, and Vârfuraşu peak (1687,8 m) and continues to NE, through the pass Intre Munţi, until it reaches the Dealul Păltinişului peak (1785 m). From there, the limit has a general southern direction, on the whatershed line between Stanciului [III.44.4.1] and Seciu valleys [III.44.4.2], then it passes through Piatra Grăitoare (1557,1 m), and Iconii (1497,6 m) peaks and reaches the elevation point 1419,0 m. From there, the limit descends on a secondary watershed line through a pass situated at 1175,0 m in altitude, until it reaches the confluence of Stanciului and Arsă valleys, then it ascends on the right slope of Arsă valley through the elevation point 1265,0 m (in Răşinarilor hill), up to Cuciulata peak (1485,9 m). From Cuciulata peak (1485,9 m) the limit follows again the main watershed line between Crişul Repede and Someşul Mic basins, crosses the Prislop pass (1250 m), and then continues through Cuciulata peak (1267,2 m), the elevation point 1245,0 m, Măgura Călăţele peak (1403,9 m) and elevation points 1101,1 m, 1115,0 m, until it reaches the forest skirt (forestry landmark 162 UP V, Beliş Forest Administration). From the forest skirt the limit surrounds through the N the built area of the Bălceşti village (Beliş commune), then it follows the communal road between Bălceşti and Beliş (1,3 km), after which it changes its direction towards N, through the elevation points 1103,0 m, 1104,0 m, 1099,0 m (Negru Hill), and again the communal road until the elevation point 1136,6 m situated above Dealu Negru village.

Eastern limit. From the elevation point 1136,6 m, the limit descends until the confluence between Neagră and Someşul Cald valleys, then it follows upstream the right bank of Someşul Cald up to the dam of the Fântânele reservoir (Eastern extremity), from where it continues towards South on the secondary summit between Rea and Ghidurilor (Mestecăniş) valleys until Dâmbul Hâr peak (1311,5 m). From there, the limit follows the main watershed between Beliş basin on one side [II-1.31.5] and Răcătău [II-1.31.9.4] and Dobruş [II-1.31.9.4.1] on the other side, until it reaches the pass between Colţău Vârfului (1652,6 m) and Pietroasa (1564,0 m) peaks, and passing through Dealu Fântânele (1360,5 m), Dobruş (1413,0 m), Stânii (1461,0 m), Chicera Negrului (1496,8 m), Săştinii (1473,0 m) and Colţău Vârfului (1652,6 m) peaks. From the pass between Colţău Vârfului (1652,6 m) and Pietroasa (1564,0 m) peaks, the limit descends on Ploştini valley [IV-1.81.5.1] passing through forestry landmark 360/UP VIII (Gârda Forestry Administration) and follows the right bank of the Ploştini valley until the confluence with Albac valley [IV-1.81.5], which it then follows downstream until the confluence with Arieşul Mare [IV-1].

Southern limit.  From the confluence between Albac [IV-1.81.5] and Arieşul Mare [IV-1] valleys, the limit follows upstream the right bank of Arieşul Mare river up to its spring in Vârtop pass (1160 m). On its way it includes the Albac gorge and excludes the built areas of the localities Scărişoara, Gârda de Sus and Arieşeni. From Vârtop pass, the limit ascends towards South on the main watershed line between the Crişurilor [III] and Mureş [IV-1] basins until Gălişoaia (1395,5 m), then it continues on a general E-V direction on the Dealu Curbăluit summit (1181,8 m) descending towards the confluence between Hoanca Moţului and Corlatului valleys, and it continues downstream on the left bank of Crişul Băiţa valley [III.42.5] until Fânaţe village (Câmpani commune) until the confluence with Brusturi valley.

Western Limit. From the confluence between Crişul Băiţa and Brusturi valleys, the limit follows towards N the forest skirt (forestry landmarks 227 UP I, Vaşcău Forestry Administration and 228 PU IV, Sudrigiu – today Vaşcău Forestry Administration) towards the bridge situated near the Sighiştel village church, from where it ascends on the secodary summit of Dâmbul Osoiului, and continues on the watershed line between Sighiştel [III.42.5.1] and Neagră (Izbucului) [III.42.6] valleys passing through the elevation points 640,1 m and 606,0 m, then Brusturi (770,1 m) and Măgurii (741,3 m) peaks. From there, the limit crosses the Crăiasa valley through Chişcău village at the intersection with the road going on Dealu Chişu and then it heads towards the place called La Ogrăduţă (578,4 m). From here it ascends to Dealu Chişu, then descends in Mare (Pietroşiţa) valley reaching the forests skirt (forestry landmark 21 UP IV, Sudrigiu – today Vaşcău Forestry Administration) which it follows until Lazului valley (forestry landmark 229 UP IV, Sudrigiu – today Vaşcău Forestry Administration), then it ascends on Plopilor peak (723,8 m), from where it descends on an secondary summit until the confluence between Crişul Pietros [III.43.9] and Mare Cărpinoasă (Aleu) [III.42.9.2] valleys. From here it ascends on the Lazului hill (567 m) and then follows to the N the watershed line of the Mare Cărpinoasă (Aleu) hydrographical basin [III.42.9.2], then it passes through the elevation point 684,5 m, through Dealu Blidaru peak (800,2 m), and reaches Măgura Fericii peak (1106,1 m).

The ANP surface that was calculated in GIS is of 76 064 ha, from which 24 280 ha are on Bihor county territory, 30 545 are on Cluj county territory and 21 239 ha are on Alba county territory.

During the field delineation of ANP boundaries, the limits of private agricultural land were taken into account, so that these parcels are not fragmented. For the stipulations of the present Management Plan the following method was applied unitarily: Where the ANP limit intersects with such areas and comprises more than 50% of the relevant parcel, this is automatically included into the park. If the proportion of the private area within the park limit is below 50% of the total size of the parcel, it is taken out from the park land.