The GR20
The GR20 is one of the most famous and demanding hiking trails in Europe, crossing the island of Corsica from north to south. It connects the small town of Calenzana, in Cap Corse, to Conca, on the south-east coast of the island. 180 kilometres long and spread over 15 stages, this trail is renowned for its difficulty, its spectacular landscapes and its variations in terrain. Each stage of the GR20 is a challenge, mixing steep climbs, dizzying descents, technical passages with chains and ladders, but also moments of contemplation in the heart of the Corsican wilderness.
1. Calenzana - Ortu di u Piobbu
The hike begins in Calenzana, a historic village with charming alleys. The path begins on a mule track, gradually climbing through Mediterranean vegetation. Along the way, you will pass the only fountain of the first stage before climbing the slopes towards Bocca di U Ravalente, where the view of the village of Calvi and the Mediterranean Sea opens up. After leaving the communal forest of Sambuccu, the terrain becomes more uneven, with rocks and a more difficult path.
2. Ortu di u Piobbu - Carrozzu
From the Ortu di u Piobbu refuge, you start with a gentle climb to Bocca di Pisciaghja (1950 m). The path crosses scree and scree, creating technical terrain before reaching a ridge. The descent to the Carrozzu refuge is long and demanding, but the reward is worth it: breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
3. Carrozzu - Ascu Stagnu
After crossing the Spasimata suspension footbridge, this stage begins with a steep climb to the Muvrella lake, a little mountain gem. Then the trail climbs even steeper, leading you to Bocca di Stagnu (2020 m), the highest point of this stage. The descent to the Haut Asco refuge, a ski resort, is long but allows you to recover before tackling the next stage.
4. Ascu Stagnu - Tighjettu
The next stage is marked by one of the most feared passages of the GR20: the Cirque de la Solitude. A real challenge for inexperienced hikers, this passage requires the use of ladders and chains to cross vertiginous rock faces. Caution is advised, especially in case of rain, because rock falls can occur. After crossing the cirque at Bocca Minuta, you will begin a long descent, sometimes on scree, to the Tighjettu refuge.
5. Tighjettu - Ciottulu di i Mori
This stage begins with a descent towards the Vallone sheepfolds, followed by a long section on the mountainside under the shade of the trees. The path becomes steeper as it approaches the Bocca di Fuciale pass (1900 m). Once you have crossed the pass, there is still a short walk to reach the Ciottulu di i Mori refuge. This stage is relatively moderate, but the landscapes remain grandiose.
6. Ciottulu di i Mori - Manganu
A long but fairly easy stage. The path runs alongside the Golu river and crosses the E Radule sheepfolds, an ideal place for a break. The walk continues through the forest, offering shade, before arriving at the Castel de Vergio ski resort, the starting point for the passage to the Bocca San Pedru pass (1400 m). After passing near Lake Nino, a magnificent mountain lake, you will reach the Manganu refuge.
7. Manganu - Petra Piana
This stage is marked by the ascent to the Brèche de Capitellu, at an altitude of 2225 m, the highest point of the GR20. The climb is difficult, through rocks and scree, but the view of the Capitellu and Melo lakes rewards the effort. The stage becomes even more technical, with passages requiring ladders and ropes to advance on the steep walls. The descent is long and tiring, but you finally arrive at the Pietra Piana refuge.
8. Petra Piana - L'Onda
There are two routes available to hikers for this stage. The first, easier, follows the valley and passes through Ghajalgu before crossing the Manganellu stream. The path continues through a pine forest before reaching the Tolla footbridge, where it is possible to swim. After a final effort, you reach the L'Onda refuge. The second, more difficult route, follows the ridges, offering exceptional panoramas but without any water point, which makes it riskier at the beginning of the season.
9. L'Onda - Vizzavona
This stage combines a climb to the Punta Muratellu ridge (2020 m) and a long descent of almost 1000 m towards Vizzavona, a village located in an exceptional natural setting. The trail will take you past the magnificent Cascades des Anglais before reaching the Vizzavona train station, where you can stock up on supplies.
10. Vizzavona - Capanelle
You start with a fairly moderate climb up to the Bocca Palmente, offering spectacular views above the clouds if you leave early. Then, a long walk along the mountainside takes you to the Alzeta sheepfolds, then the E Scarpaceghje sheepfolds, before reaching the Capanelle refuge, an ideal place for a well-deserved break.
11. Capanelle - Prati
After leaving Capanelle, you cross pine and beech forests to reach the Col de Verde (1840 m). The climb is quite steep, but the view from the summit of the surrounding mountains, including Monte d'Oro and Monte Renoso, is spectacular. The descent takes you to the Prati refuge, where you can rest before tackling the next stage.
12. Prati - Usciolu
A panoramic and windy stage, which requires good control of the aerial passages. The path follows the ridge, with exceptional views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. This stage is more technical and requires particular vigilance, especially if the wind is strong.
13. Usciolu - Asinau
One of the most beautiful stages of the GR20, but also one of the most difficult. You will climb the summit of the Incudine, offering breathtaking panoramas. The effort is sustained, but the beauty of the landscapes is worth it.
14. Asinau - Paliri
This stage crosses the Coscione plateau, climbs slowly towards Monte Incudine, then descends towards the Paliri refuge. You will pass through tricky passages after the Aiguilles de Bavella, an impressive rocky group, before crossing the Foce Finosa pass.
15. Paliri - Conca
The last stage is much easier than the previous ones, with less rugged paths. You will pass by the ruins of Capeddu and the Bocca d'Usciolu pass, from where you can see the bay of Porto-Vecchio below. The descent to Conca, the last stage of the GR20, marks the end of this intense and rewarding adventure.
The GR20 is a huge physical challenge, but it offers unparalleled rewards: spectacular panoramas, wild landscapes, and a feeling of total freedom in the heart of nature. For mountain lovers, it is an unforgettable experience.
1. Calenzana - Ortu di u Piobbu
The hike begins in Calenzana, a historic village with charming alleys. The path begins on a mule track, gradually climbing through Mediterranean vegetation. Along the way, you will pass the only fountain of the first stage before climbing the slopes towards Bocca di U Ravalente, where the view of the village of Calvi and the Mediterranean Sea opens up. After leaving the communal forest of Sambuccu, the terrain becomes more uneven, with rocks and a more difficult path.
2. Ortu di u Piobbu - Carrozzu
From the Ortu di u Piobbu refuge, you start with a gentle climb to Bocca di Pisciaghja (1950 m). The path crosses scree and scree, creating technical terrain before reaching a ridge. The descent to the Carrozzu refuge is long and demanding, but the reward is worth it: breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
3. Carrozzu - Ascu Stagnu
After crossing the Spasimata suspension footbridge, this stage begins with a steep climb to the Muvrella lake, a little mountain gem. Then the trail climbs even steeper, leading you to Bocca di Stagnu (2020 m), the highest point of this stage. The descent to the Haut Asco refuge, a ski resort, is long but allows you to recover before tackling the next stage.
4. Ascu Stagnu - Tighjettu
The next stage is marked by one of the most feared passages of the GR20: the Cirque de la Solitude. A real challenge for inexperienced hikers, this passage requires the use of ladders and chains to cross vertiginous rock faces. Caution is advised, especially in case of rain, because rock falls can occur. After crossing the cirque at Bocca Minuta, you will begin a long descent, sometimes on scree, to the Tighjettu refuge.
5. Tighjettu - Ciottulu di i Mori
This stage begins with a descent towards the Vallone sheepfolds, followed by a long section on the mountainside under the shade of the trees. The path becomes steeper as it approaches the Bocca di Fuciale pass (1900 m). Once you have crossed the pass, there is still a short walk to reach the Ciottulu di i Mori refuge. This stage is relatively moderate, but the landscapes remain grandiose.
6. Ciottulu di i Mori - Manganu
A long but fairly easy stage. The path runs alongside the Golu river and crosses the E Radule sheepfolds, an ideal place for a break. The walk continues through the forest, offering shade, before arriving at the Castel de Vergio ski resort, the starting point for the passage to the Bocca San Pedru pass (1400 m). After passing near Lake Nino, a magnificent mountain lake, you will reach the Manganu refuge.
7. Manganu - Petra Piana
This stage is marked by the ascent to the Brèche de Capitellu, at an altitude of 2225 m, the highest point of the GR20. The climb is difficult, through rocks and scree, but the view of the Capitellu and Melo lakes rewards the effort. The stage becomes even more technical, with passages requiring ladders and ropes to advance on the steep walls. The descent is long and tiring, but you finally arrive at the Pietra Piana refuge.
8. Petra Piana - L'Onda
There are two routes available to hikers for this stage. The first, easier, follows the valley and passes through Ghajalgu before crossing the Manganellu stream. The path continues through a pine forest before reaching the Tolla footbridge, where it is possible to swim. After a final effort, you reach the L'Onda refuge. The second, more difficult route, follows the ridges, offering exceptional panoramas but without any water point, which makes it riskier at the beginning of the season.
9. L'Onda - Vizzavona
This stage combines a climb to the Punta Muratellu ridge (2020 m) and a long descent of almost 1000 m towards Vizzavona, a village located in an exceptional natural setting. The trail will take you past the magnificent Cascades des Anglais before reaching the Vizzavona train station, where you can stock up on supplies.
10. Vizzavona - Capanelle
You start with a fairly moderate climb up to the Bocca Palmente, offering spectacular views above the clouds if you leave early. Then, a long walk along the mountainside takes you to the Alzeta sheepfolds, then the E Scarpaceghje sheepfolds, before reaching the Capanelle refuge, an ideal place for a well-deserved break.
11. Capanelle - Prati
After leaving Capanelle, you cross pine and beech forests to reach the Col de Verde (1840 m). The climb is quite steep, but the view from the summit of the surrounding mountains, including Monte d'Oro and Monte Renoso, is spectacular. The descent takes you to the Prati refuge, where you can rest before tackling the next stage.
12. Prati - Usciolu
A panoramic and windy stage, which requires good control of the aerial passages. The path follows the ridge, with exceptional views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. This stage is more technical and requires particular vigilance, especially if the wind is strong.
13. Usciolu - Asinau
One of the most beautiful stages of the GR20, but also one of the most difficult. You will climb the summit of the Incudine, offering breathtaking panoramas. The effort is sustained, but the beauty of the landscapes is worth it.
14. Asinau - Paliri
This stage crosses the Coscione plateau, climbs slowly towards Monte Incudine, then descends towards the Paliri refuge. You will pass through tricky passages after the Aiguilles de Bavella, an impressive rocky group, before crossing the Foce Finosa pass.
15. Paliri - Conca
The last stage is much easier than the previous ones, with less rugged paths. You will pass by the ruins of Capeddu and the Bocca d'Usciolu pass, from where you can see the bay of Porto-Vecchio below. The descent to Conca, the last stage of the GR20, marks the end of this intense and rewarding adventure.
The GR20 is a huge physical challenge, but it offers unparalleled rewards: spectacular panoramas, wild landscapes, and a feeling of total freedom in the heart of nature. For mountain lovers, it is an unforgettable experience.
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