The old mule track from Piana to Ota

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This paved path, supported by a magnificent dry stone wall, can be considered exceptional for the quality of its construction. It was the only route available to those travelling by mule from Piana to Porto and Ota in the early19th century. The Piana-Porto road was only opened in 1850 by Napoleon III. From then on, this route was used for communication. Source: Piana Town Hall.
The return journey is via the Calanche di Piana.

Details

n°1695218
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 158 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 156 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 547 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 426 m
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Photos

Panoramic view from the highest point of the trail
Descent towards the road
The Lion's Head
The Heart or Lovers' Rock

Description of the walk

Coming from Porto, take the path on the left before the Mezzanu Bridge and park in the municipal stadium car park. If you are coming from Piana, the path is on your right.
Please note: the car park is quite large but in high season spaces are limited and you need to arrive early. The road to Calanche di Piana (Calanques de Piana) is very congested with tourist buses, camper vans, etc., and there are also narrow passages.

(S/E) From the municipal stadium car park, head south-west. There are also signposts.
Head towards the municipal stadium, walk along it to reach the wooden footbridge and cross the Ruisseau de Dardo.

(1) At the end of the footbridge, turn left (old Piana-Ota road: Palani). Shortly afterwards, cross a firebreak with a large pile of cairns and head towards the wall you can see opposite, supporting the path.

(2) Ignore the path (Palani) on your right and continue straight ahead (yellow markings for the Piana-Ota path) to reach the D81 road at the statue of the Virgin Mary (oratory).

(3) From here, you have two options:
- return to the car park (S/E).
- continue on the D81 to visit the Calanche di Piana and reach the Cavallaghiu bridge (option shown on the map).

(4) Cross the bridge, leave the road by turning left shortly afterwards to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 480 m - Parking at the municipal stadium
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 486 m - Footbridge (follow the old path from Pian to Ota)
  3. 2 : km 0.73 - alt. 526 m - Chemin de Palani crossroads
  4. 3 : km 1.66 - alt. 445 m - D81 Statue of the Virgin Santa Maria (oratory)
  5. 4 : km 2.64 - alt. 463 m - Cavallaghiu Bridge
  6. S/E : km 3.14 - alt. 480 m - Parking at the municipal stadium

Notes

During the summer: it is recommended to set off early in the morning. Avoid days when it is very hot or windy. Don't forget to take water with you on your hikes, as it is scarce on some routes. Please follow the instructions you find along the way.

Note on the route described between (3) and (S/E) In my opinion, it is better to choose this route. Knowing the area well, I can assure you that it is the best way to take beautiful photos (it is not easy to stop by car). You can also choose to do the route in the opposite direction.

Good walking shoes and walking sticks are necessary (the path is stony), and it is also important to bring water. There is a fountain on the D81 towards Porto for those who need water.

Bring an IGN map: 4150OT.

Route mapped using a TwonavSportiva 2 GPS device

Worth a visit

The Calanques de Piana (calanche di Piana in Corsican, calanca in the singular), located about ten kilometres south of Porto, are considered one of the wonders of Corsica. Slow erosion has given these jagged granite rocks, overlooking a deep blue sea 300 metres below, strange and sometimes fantastical shapes: spikes, columns and figures eroded by the wind and sea. They have been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1983.
On the way back along the D81, you can admire rocks with fantastical shapes that are left to your imagination.

See here https://racines-corses.fr/wp-content/upl...

The village of Piana: listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France in January 2012. It is home to the Calanche di Piana, one of three remarkable sites listed as World Heritage Sites in the Gulf of Porto, a new name approved by UNESCO in 2006.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 30 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
zabooFcqr
zabooFcqr

Very nice hike, magnificent scenery.
The route on Visiorando is reliable, but make sure you wear good walking shoes as the trail is not suitable for people with walking difficulties.

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Blp69
Blp69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with magnificent views and a surprising path. The return journey by road is unavoidable, but obviously you have to dodge around cars and coaches that honk their horns loudly.

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zabooFcqr
zabooFcqr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, superb scenery. You need to wear good shoes as the path is stony.

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User 2719163

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Importing the GPX track into the Garmin is remarkably accurate. The additional information and recommendations relating to the hike are excellent.
We completed a total of five hikes in Corsica.

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C64
C64
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent views of the calanques. We returned in the evening to watch the sunset with a picnic (bring headlamps for the return trip)

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Nad54000
Nad54000

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike with magnificent landscapes

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Thiech
Thiech

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike in the calanques, with superb views and beautiful colours. This short walk (3.2 km, 1 hour 20 minutes) has everything you could want. We did a round trip to make the most of the view, as the descent through the forest to the road didn't seem very interesting (and even dangerous on the road).

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VDH Sophie
VDH Sophie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk with magnificent scenery.
The trail is easy to follow. Good walking shoes are recommended as the path is very steep in places.

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Teddy 67
Teddy 67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk with magnificent views. The alternative route, which climbs up to the chestnut grove and passes through Les Roches Bleues, is preferable: it is longer but more interesting.

The descents and ascents at Les Roches Bleues and La Vierge are not that difficult: they are steep but the rocks form steps that are easy to follow. We did it with two children aged 5 and 6 without encountering any major difficulties.

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celliez
celliez

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The descent is quite technical, which means that this hike should be classified as moderately difficult rather than easy, despite its short duration.
People who are not used to hiking may encounter difficulties on this descent

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Mayette
Mayette

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A short hike offering beautiful views of the calanques
I thought we would see more
The famous heart of Piana is on the hiking trail and not in the woods; it is at the end of the hike when you return to the starting point. The trail is safe at the end of September despite the traffic, as drivers are careful around pedestrians
Worth doing for the view of the calanques from above, but there are probably better and longer walks

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Marylen
Marylen

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk, but not very easy. You need to wear good shoes. Very beautiful views of the calanques

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Didinette63
Didinette63

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

There are few people on this trail, even in the middle of August. However, there are many people as soon as you start the road if you do the loop to see the famous "heart of Piana" and return to the starting point.
For your information, once you reach the bottom of the trail, turn left, and that's where the Virgin Mary statue is located. You can't see it at first glance. Walk along the road to reach the heart.

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Saubert
Saubert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk through the Calanques de Piana. The mule track is very easy to follow on the first section, which is slightly uphill, then the return journey is along the departmental road, with beautiful views of the sea. You just need to watch out for traffic, but it's nothing dangerous.

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BIBIjuju
BIBIjuju

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike if you want to see the calanques from higher up. The view is magical
the return journey by road is a little dangerous, so watch out for motorcycles and cars

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