GR20 Corsica High Route
Corsica's granite spine technical nightmare
The GR20 parallel vehicle route cuts through Corsica’s granite spine from Calenzana to Conca, following shepherds’ tracks and forestry roads that shadow France’s most notorious hiking trail. You’ll navigate knife-edge ridges above the Restonica Valley, ford the Tavignano River at Bergeries de Grotelle, and tackle the infamous Cirque de la Solitude approach road—a rocky nightmare that’ll test your undercarriage and your nerve. Ancient Genoese bridges mark river crossings where maquis scrubland gives way to Laricio pine forests.
This is expert-level terrain demanding full armor, recovery gear, and a spotter for the technical sections. Stock vehicles won’t survive the boulder fields between Vizzavona and Capanelle. Best tackled May through October when snow clears the high passes, though July heat makes it brutal. No permits needed, but fuel up in Corte—it’s your last reliable stop. What you get is the raw essence of Corsica: vertical granite walls, eagle-eye views of the Mediterranean, and bragging rights to one of Europe’s gnarliest mountain drives.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 112 mi / 180.2 km |
| Duration | 4-6 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7546 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD with armor |
| Nearest town | Calenzana, Corsica |
| Land manager | Parc Naturel Régional de Corse |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | parc-corse.org |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum build needed to attempt the GR20 Corsica High Route?
A modified 4WD with full underbody armor, a locking differential, and at minimum 3 inches of lift. Stock or lightly modified rigs will get torn apart on the exposed granite sections — this isn't a trail where you find out mid-run that your skids aren't up to it.
When does the GR20 High Route actually open and close each year?
May through October is the viable window. Snow lingers on the high passes well into spring, and early October can bring rapid weather deterioration at altitude. July and August offer the most stable conditions but also the most foot traffic on shared sections.
Do you need a permit to drive the GR20 route through the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse?
Vehicle access through the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse requires authorization — this isn't open-access public land you can just roll into. Contact the park directly at parc-corse.org before your trip; enforcement exists and unauthorized vehicle use has resulted in fines and confiscation.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it brutal?
The central granite spine between Vizzavona and Corte is where the trail earns its reputation — sustained exposed rock with no line recovery room, severe camber, and drops that punish any mistake. The rock is unforgiving on tires and suspension, and there's no easy way out if something breaks mid-section.
How do you handle fuel logistics across 112 miles with no services on route?
Plan for full fuel capacity leaving Calenzana — there are no fuel stops on the route itself, and the nearest towns with stations are significant detours off the trail. Carry a minimum 20-liter jerry can on top of a full tank; the technical terrain burns fuel faster than flat-road calculations will tell you.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.