Fumicosa Pass or Bocca di Fumicosa

This is a hike off the beaten track where you are unlikely to meet many other walkers.
The name Fumicosa in the Corsican language evokes a smoky place, a metaphor here for a place where fog is quite common.

Details

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Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.92 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 365 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 364 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,357 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,000 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Zonza (20124|20144)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 41.768379° / E 9.207796°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4253ET, 4253ETR
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is on the Bavella road, the D268, shortly after Zonza and its racecourse, after a hairpin bend on the road up to Bavella at about 250 m. Park on the opposite side.

(S/E) Take the forest path that climbs to the right of the road (when climbing to the Col de Bavella) and turn onto the small path that climbs immediately to the left just after the barrier. You will reach a crossroads of tracks and paths at the Fontaine d'Argazavu.

(1) Continue along the path on the left and reach the Velaco stream.

(2) Cross it, then turn right at 180° and follow a good blue-marked trail, but be careful as the markings on the rocks are very sparse. You will come to another river, which is not shown on the IGN map but is clearly marked on the OSM map.

(3) Cross the river and head right (maze of dead trees and rocks). The direction is a little confusing at first, but follow the bed of the same stream without crossing it, keeping a north-east direction. You will come out at the Col de Fumicosa.

(4) Follow the same route in reverse to return to the car park on the D268 (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,000 m - Car park D268
  2. 1 : km 1.14 - alt. 1,085 m - Argazavu fountain
  3. 2 : km 1.7 - alt. 1,118 m - Velaco stream
  4. 3 : km 2.74 - alt. 1,147 m - River
  5. 4 : km 3.39 - alt. 1,321 m - Bocca di Fumicosa
  6. S/E : km 6.92 - alt. 1,000 m - Car park D268

Notes

After the second river, there is a fountain on your right.

Worth a visit

(4) Bocca de Fumicosa: enjoy the view of the wild, rocky ravines and the Campanile di Santa Lucia (a rocky finger pointing towards the sky, visible in the distance on the left), which was first climbed in September 1960 by a German rope team.
If you continue along the trail, you will climb the large rock on your right. Be careful, it's quite a climb.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 28420998

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Easy hike at the start, then becomes difficult. Difficult to follow the route on a fairly steep slope.
I'm doing it for the second time, mainly for the peace and quiet and the scenery at the end. Strongly not recommended for families, especially in summer.

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pvittet
pvittet

True.
With a small mobile charger, you can get through the day with a smartphone.

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User 14641146

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike is very easy at first, and the path is easy to follow, but then it becomes impossible. You arrive in a dead forest, with trees littering the ground everywhere.
Without the marked trail, it is impossible to find the right path.
Make sure you have enough battery power, otherwise you will find yourself stuck in this forest.

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jpg13490
jpg13490

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb route in a wild setting of characteristic rock faces and deep valleys
On the climb up to the pass, the path is congested and requires some caution as there are several tracks
Please note that the description after point 3 is inaccurate: after crossing the stream, you should leave the path on the left, not the right

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pvittet
pvittet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very fine walk, especially the wild finish with its superb views and remarkable tranquillity.

Following the last section is made difficult by all the dead trees littering the ground. But it is made easier by the many cairns.

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User 25796162

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with a magnificent view from the top of the pass that is definitely worth the effort. It's a good climb to reach the summit but very doable. The route in the last section is not very visible but if you follow the signs, you can't get lost.

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Alex2a30
Alex2a30

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route
Also, you really need to follow the GPS on the climb, which turns out to be quite a steep one with hardly any signposts, although there is another route possible on the right.
The view from the top of the pass is simply magnificent.

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LoloXav
LoloXav

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is an exceptional walk! Much of it is shaded, which is a real bonus in summer. The descriptions are good, but I would add one or two things: when you start the last section, you need to keep to the right of the small river (the one not marked on the IGN map), otherwise you risk ending up (as we did) on another path further to the right that leads higher up to the ridge (which offers breathtaking views), but is MUCH MORE DIFFICULT! We stumbled around among the rocks and fallen trees and even did a bit of climbing! There were a few cairns that drew us towards this route (black dots on the map).
So, by following the small river, 1: you can't go wrong, 2: you quickly find a spring to fill your water bottle with fresh, delicious water!
As a result, the descent via the correct path seemed easy!
Definitely worth doing, but wear trousers to avoid getting scratched by the scrub.

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THISIS2B
THISIS2B

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Directions are a little confusing from point No. 3 (the stream crossing is not marked on the IGN map).
There are cairns scattered everywhere in a maze of dead trees and no more paths.
The Bocca di Fumicosa is a beautiful site with breathtaking views.
It is not easy to find the stream crossing (point 3) on the way back.
In conclusion, the description is accurate and reflects the reality on the ground.

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Charlotte LD
Charlotte LD

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. Beautiful views from start to finish. Be aware that the hike is almost flat for three quarters of the way, with all the elevation gain coming at the end. The slope is steep, but the view at the top is definitely worth it! (The trail is almost non-existent at the end, but it's difficult to get lost.)

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Antonia Filippi
Antonia Filippi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The end of the trail is not marked, but at the same time, there is little risk of getting lost. A hike far from the world and breathtaking scenery.

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