Classic hut-to-hut routes · France

GR20

The length of Corsica along its granite spine, refuge to refuge for two weeks, with a reputation as the toughest waymarked trail in Europe.

Distance
~180 km
Days
15–16
Total ascent
not in our source
High point
Pointe des Éboulis, 2,607 m
Season
June to September

The GR20 runs the length of Corsica from Calenzana in the north to Conca in the south, along the island's mountain spine. The northern half is the hard one: rock slabs, chains, and long rough descents. The southern half is gentler, greener and faster, with the sea in view.

Its refuges are small, basic and state-run, with tent pitches around them, and in summer the bunks sell out months in advance on the national park's booking site. Many walkers carry a tent for that reason. Water and heat are the daily problems, not altitude.

Who it suits
Level: ExperiencedFit, experienced walkers who like rock underfoot and can carry a heavier pack; not a first hut route.
The nights
Park refuges with dormitories and tent pitches, a few bergeries selling food, and hotels only at Vizzavona and the ends.

Stage points and the shelters near them

Published path grades around the stage points run T1 to T6, from 11 of 15 stages. That describes the terrain there, not the exact line of the route.

28 shelters within 4 km of the stage points, from the shelter table. Distances are from the stage point, not walking distances.

  1. 01Calenzana

  2. 02Refuge d'Ortu di u Piobbu

  3. 03Refuge de Carrozzu

  4. 04Haut Asco

  5. 05Refuge de Tighjettu

  6. 06Castel di Vergio

  7. 07Refuge de Manganu

  8. 08Refuge de Petra Piana

  9. 09Refuge de l'Onda

  10. 10Vizzavona

  11. 11Refuge de Prati

  12. 12Refuge d'Usciolu

  13. 13Refuge d'Asinau

  14. 14Refuge de Paliri

  15. 15Conca

    No shelter in our table within 4 km of Conca; this stage usually ends in a village or a private inn.

Plan GR20 around my datesOpens the planner with this route's area and length filled in.

Common questions

Every answer below is counted from the 28 shelters our table holds along this route. Where a shelter does not state something, it is counted as not stated rather than assumed.

How long is GR20, and how many days does it take?
About 180 km, usually walked in 15–16 days. The highest point on the route is Pointe des Éboulis, at 2,607 m.
When can you walk it?
The season is June to September. Of the 28 shelters along the way, 2 publish when a warden is present, and the most common season among them is May to October, stated by 2 of them.
Where do you sleep?
In 28 shelters within 4 km of the stage points, of which 0 are run by an Alpine Club. 0 of them can be booked online through the clubs' own system; the rest take a phone call, and every number we hold is on the shelter's own page.
Do you need to book ahead?
0 of the 28 shelters state that a reservation is required and 0 that it is recommended. The other 28 do not say either way, which is not the same as saying no.
What if you arrive out of season?
2 of the 28 shelters state that a winter room is left open. That is a room, not a service: no warden, no meals, and you carry what you need.
What is the highest place you sleep?
The highest shelter we hold on this route is Abri Helbronner, at 2,617 m.

Other classic routes

Distance, days, ascent, high point and season are approximate and taken from Wikipedia, GR 20. Shelters from refuges.info (©Les contributeurs de Refuges.info, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR) and OpenStreetMap (ODbL).