Corsica Alta Strada — Bonifacio to Bastia via the GR20 Spine Road and Col de Bavella (Island High-Altitude Traverse)
Granite needles, cliff roads, no guardrails. Pure island.
Corsica is not what most people picture when they think Europe. The interior is granite, maquis scrub, wild boar tracks, and narrow D-roads that drop off cliff edges without guardrails. The Alta Strada — combining the D268 through the Aiguilles de Bavella, the D69 across Col de Vergio, and the D84 through the Scala di Santa Regina gorge — links Bonifacio in the deep south to Bastia in the north through the island’s mountainous spine. Col de Bavella is the centerpiece: orange granite needles rising 2,000 feet above a pine forest, the road switchbacking through in tight, exposed hairpins. The Scala di Santa Regina gorge section, a narrow river-carved slot north of Corte, has been wrecking rental cars since paved roads arrived.
Any high-clearance vehicle handles this in dry conditions, but the road width demands confidence — passing a truck in the gorge section is a full commitment maneuver. The D-roads can be snow-closed from November through April above 3,000 feet. Fuel towns are spaced 50–80 km apart in the interior; don’t run low. No permits, no fees. Wild camping is technically restricted in the forests but widely practiced on the plateau terrain; leave no trace protocol is enforced by rangers in summer. If you run it south to north, Bavella hits you first while you’re fresh — do it that way.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 168 mi / 270 km |
| Duration | 3-4 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5623 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance vehicle, narrow vehicle preferred |
| Nearest town | Corte, Haute-Corse |
| Land manager | Parc Naturel Régional de Corse / Office National des Forêts |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Corsica Regional Park Corsica Tourism Road Info |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a full-size truck handle this route, or do I need a smaller rig?
Narrow is strongly preferred here. Many sections through the Col de Bavella area and the GR20 spine roads are single-track with cliff edges and no room to pass. A compact 4x4 or small overland build is the right call — a full-size truck will suffer and may not make it through some pinch points at all.
When does snow close the high passes, and is May really safe to start?
The Col de Bavella and upper passes can hold snow into late April, sometimes early May. Late May is generally safe but verify conditions before you go — the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse updates pass status at pnr-corse.fr. October is a solid exit window; after that, mountain weather turns fast and some tracks close.
Do I need any permits to drive or camp along this route?
No vehicle permit is required to drive the route, but you are passing through Parc Naturel Régional de Corse — fires are heavily restricted or banned depending on fire risk season, which in summer is almost always high. Dispersed camping is possible but keep it low-impact and check local fire ban status before you light anything.
What's actually the hardest section and what makes it sketchy?
The Col de Bavella descent is where most people pucker up — exposed switchbacks, no guardrails, sheer drop-offs on one side, and loose gravel on narrow road surface. It's rated moderate because it's not technically extreme, but one distracted moment or a soft edge in the wet and you're in serious trouble. Slow, methodical driving wins here.
Where do I fuel up, and can I run the whole route on one tank?
Corte is your best mid-route fuel stop and the last reliable option before some of the more remote high passes. At 168 miles total, most rigs can cover the distance, but factor in the elevation gain, low-gear mountain driving, and possible detours — carry a jerry can if your rig gets under 20 MPG in the mountains. Don't count on finding fuel in the small villages along the spine.
Trail track
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