A very scenic circular hike, but one on which you will rarely be travelling alone.
Lac de Nino is a shallow lake located in an idyllic high valley where numerous cows and horses graze in summer. As it lies on the GR 20 long-distance hiking trail and is relatively easy to reach from the Poppaghja forester's lodge, it is one of Corsica's most popular hiking destinations.
The summit of Capu a u Tozzu is an extension of the GR 20 and is therefore not climbed by all long-distance hikers. It offers a particularly beautiful panoramic view of the central mountain range in Corsica with the Paglia Orba and Monte Cinto.
Author’s recommendation
If you want to enjoy the idyllic surroundings of Lac de Nino in complete solitude, then you should climb the Capu a Curia opposite.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
This tour does not present any particular safety risks.
Tips and suggestions
Paglia OrbaRoadbook
A clearly marked footpath begins directly above the road bridge, which you follow along the stream and uphill. Sporadic yellow markings lead gently uphill through sparse mixed forest to a forest path, which you cross and then pick up the path on the opposite side. Shortly afterwards, this path bends to the left and you follow the yellow markings here (and not some red dots straight ahead). The path climbs gently in a large right-hand bend around a wooded ridge and then uphill on this ridge in a sparse stand of pine trees (cairns). You soon reach a signpost and thus also the GR 20, where you follow a yellow signpost "Lavu di Nino" uphill (red and white markings). At Bocca San Pedru, the path reaches the mountain ridge with a fork and numerous signposts. To the left ("Lavu di Nino"), a wide hiking trail leads along the ridge, initially uphill, later in a long traverse and then in hairpin bends to a saddle, after which another traverse leads to another saddle and, after a short third traverse, again to a small saddle. From there, the trail descends on a stone path in two short hairpin bends and then climbs again on the other side, also in hairpin bends, on the slopes of Capu a u Tozzu until the path bends to the right. Here you leave the GR 20 and climb steeply upwards on faint tracks along the ridge. Over rough boulder terrain in places, you reach a pre-summit and then a somewhat flatter ascent to a scree slope that forms the summit of Capu a u Tozzu.
From the summit, follow cairns downhill in a southerly direction and then turn left to reach a wide meadow saddle and thus the GR 20, which you follow to the left down to Lac de Nino.
At the upper end of the lake you reach a T-junction. While the GR 20 continues to the right, turn left here and walk northwards along a pasture and then right up to a rocky saddle (cairns). On the other side of this saddle, a clear path with yellow markings and numerous cairns leads downhill. The path descends steeply over rocks, later turning left into the cirque and then over rough boulder terrain and somewhat arduously further out of the valley. Further down, the path crosses the stream and reaches a signpost where you follow the centre path in the direction of "Poppaghja". Continue downhill along the left edge of the valley, following yellow markings. With great effort, you follow a stream bed for a while until you turn left and climb briefly out of it. Finally, you reach a forest track, which you follow to the left, leaving the yellow markings in the direction of Poppaghja. After a tight left-hand bend, follow the forest path for approx. 750 metres. The path crosses a stream bed and then leads slightly uphill, where you reach a fork in the path after a sharp right-hand bend. Here you turn onto a track that leads downhill to the right into the forest and downhill in hairpin bends to the D84 road, which you follow to the left back to the starting point.
Bocca di San Petru
Bocca a Stazzona
Quelle am lac de Ninu
Bergerie de Colga
Public transport
No connection
Directions
Coming from Porto on the D84 over the Col de Vergio, past the Castel de Vergio and the following (horseshoe-shaped) right-hand bend to the next narrow left-hand bend with a bridge.
From Corte on the D84 past Lac de Calacuccia and the Poppaghja forester's lodge in the direction of Col de Vergio until you reach a bend in the road with a bridge and a large car park on the right immediately before it.
Parking
One car park on each side of the valley immediately before and after the bridge in the bend in the road.
Coordinates
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
Hiking equipment.
Every rucksack should include: Rain, cold and sun protection, a first aid pack, plenty of fluids and a hiking map of the region.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

User Questions