Bavella hiking trails
Bavella hikes
The Coscione plateau hike:
- Hiking time: 4 hours
- Open: All year round
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Price: 200€ / Group
Located close to the Bavella peaks, the Coscione plateau is a 30-minute drive from the village of Quenza.
The Coscione plateau is a unique site in Corsica. Located at an altitude of 1,500 meters, it is a verdant mountain plateau. The plateau is criss-crossed by numerous streams that form waterholes on its surface. These waterholes have given the Coscione plateau its nickname, “La pelouse aux 1000 trous” (“The 1000-hole lawn”).
The presence of numerous waterholes makes the Coscione plateau a paradise for the island’s flora and fauna. Wild horses, nustrale pigs, mouflons… the Coscione plateau is a concentration of Corsican mountains.
Corse.
Getting to the Coscione plateau
From Porto-Vecchio, take the T10 towards Solenzara. On leaving Solenzara, take the Bavella pass road towards the village of Quenza. From Quenza, the Coscione plateau is signposted. Be careful, however, as the roads on the Bavella mountain range are winding and sometimes very narrow.
At the end of the road, you’ll arrive at the Bucchinera refuge parking lot. The hiking trail starts from the refuge parking lot.
Our thoughts:
If you love the mountains, the Coscione plateau is a must for your stay in Corsica. The hiking trail to the Coscione plateau is accessible to the whole family. From the plateau, the view of the Bavella peaks and the entire Alta Rocca region is incredible.
The plateau is at a high altitude. Make sure you cover up well.
Hiking around the Bavella crests.
- Hiking time: 6 hours
- Open: April to November
- Difficulty: Experienced hikers
- Elevation gain: 785 meters
- Descents: 794 meters
- Price: 200 € / group
The tour of the Bavella Needles starts at 6am. The hiking trail winds between the peaks of the Bavella Needles and the rocky walls of the mountain range.
You’ll spend the day in the heart of Corsica’s regional nature park and its wilderness. The contrast between the rocks of the peaks and the deep green of the pine forests gives this hiking trail a unique fragrance.
The panorama from the Bavella terrace is incredible. The view over the Punta de Bavella and the entire Alta Rocca region is majestic.
How to get to the Bavella crests tour:
From Solenzara, head for the Bavella pass. When you arrive at the pass, you can park your car in the Bavella parking lot, which is located at the same level as the pass. Please note that the parking lot fills up quickly in summer.
Our opinion:
The Bavella crest tour is not for everyone. The gradient is considerable and the trail has some very technical sections. A good level of fitness is essential for this hike. The panorama of the Bavella peaks is unique on the island.
Be careful, however, as the trail rises to a considerable altitude, and it can be very cold on the way, even in summer.
The Ospedale forest hike
- Hiking time: 4 hours
- Open: April to November
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Elevation gain: 200 meters
- Price:
Your mountain guide will show you the various hiking trails that criss-cross the forest. Along the way, numerous belvederes offer incredible views of the bay of Porto-Vecchio and the Punta de Bavella.
Access to the Ospedale forest.
The hike to the forest starts from the village of Ospedale. Parking is free and the trailhead is close to the parking lot.
Without doubt the best hike for enjoying the sunset over the Bavella peaks. At the end of the day, the setting sun gives the Bavella mountains and the bay of Porto vecchio a magical color.
If you wish, there are many other walks in the Bavella range.
It would be a shame to visit the Bavella peaks without taking a dip in the natural pools of the range.
Looking for a place to swim in the Bavella mountains? Don’t miss the jewel of Corsica’s mountains: The Purcaraccia waterfalls
