Restonica Gorge

The Restonica runs down from the high peaks to Corte through a granite gorge of pools, slabs and Laricio pine, and the road up it ends at the Bergeries de Grotelle at about fourteen hundred metres. From there a stony path climbs roughly an hour to Lac de Melo at nineteen hundred and eleven metres, with chains and a ladder on the steepest section, and another forty-five minutes to Lac de Capitello at seventeen hundred and thirty, deeper and often frozen into May. The road is narrow and vehicle numbers are now capped daily with booking in summer, after years of congestion damaged the valley.

What you actually see

• Lac de Melo - a glacial lake reached by a chained path from the road end.
• Lac de Capitello - a deeper lake above, frozen well into spring.
• The river pools - granite basins and slabs along the gorge.
• The Laricio pines - tall Corsican pines on the valley sides.

When to go

June to September; snow can block the upper path into June and Capitello stays frozen late. The road access is capped and must be booked ahead in summer.

Honest expectations

Vehicle numbers up the valley are limited daily and turning up without a booking in season can mean no access. The path to the lakes is rough with chains and a ladder. Weather changes fast.

Nearby

Corte lies below; the GR20 passes above the lakes.