The Tolla sheepfold and the Meli waterfall

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Waterfall hikes in a magical mountain setting. This beautiful and varied hike through the Manganello Valley is suitable for all.

Details

n°813470
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 335 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 331 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,011 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 689 m
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Photos

the starting point for the Bergerie de Tolla hike...
Hello girls
La Bergerie de Tolla
Tolla footbridge

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park at the Mulinello bridge. See access details in Practical information.

(S/E) Take the D23 road to the village of Canaglia. Then take the gravel road marked in red (towards Refuge de l'Onda) and stay on the Mare à Mare Nord variant (see IGN map 4251OT). Reach the bridge (openwork gate).

(1) Cross it.Please close the gate behind you. Continue and reach the fork.

(2) Continue straight ahead to reach the Manganello stream in about 15 minutes.
Follow this stream with its beautiful pools to the Tolla footbridge, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. You will reach the Meli waterfall.

(3) Continue west, still on the Mare a Mare Nord variant, to reach the Tolla footbridge, which is the junction with theGR®20.

(4) Take it on the right to quickly reach the Bergeries de Tolla (1011m).

(5) Retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 689 m - Mulinello bridge - Vecchio (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 1.43 - alt. 733 m - Bridge and openwork gate
  3. 2 : km 1.83 - alt. 733 m - At the fork, go straight ahead
  4. 3 : km 4.54 - alt. 915 m - Meli waterfall
  5. 4 : km 4.83 - alt. 946 m - GR20 junction
  6. 5 : km 5.34 - alt. 1,011 m - Tolla sheepfolds
  7. S/E : km 10.68 - alt. 690 m - Mulinello bridge

Notes

Starting point: the village of Canaglia (720m). Please do not venture beyond the Mulinello bridge by car, as there is no parking available.

There are no water sources along the route, except at the sheepfolds in Tolla.

Worth a visit

(3) Photos at the Meli waterfall. The most beautiful pools are located below the bridge.
(5) Cheese sold directly at the sheepfold, with the option of eating and enjoying Corsican charcuterie.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 30 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 3458349

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike done in September 2025. The route to the Tolla sheepfolds is magnificent, sometimes through forests of tall pine trees and sometimes over rocky ground, with opportunities for swimming. We really enjoyed this. The Meli waterfall is a must-see. At the Tolla sheepfolds, you can enjoy lunch in an excellent atmosphere with good food. The natural pools are more interesting before the sheepfolds than after.

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User 26302703

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. Lots of asphalt at the start, but there isn't really any other option if you want to be respectful of the locals (which isn't the case for everyone). No major difficulties. However, hiking boots are essential. The pools are very beautiful. We bathed in the last pool (at the bridge where the route joins the GR20). The sheepfold is a place to eat, drink and fill your water bottles with spring water.

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Luckway
Luckway

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Lots of water at this time of year, very pleasant and particularly beautiful, under the trees so well protected from the sun.

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PIM
PIM

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It is very important to park well in advance as the car park is full.

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PIM
PIM

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

CLEAR

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Nicolas C
Nicolas C

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a lot of people, but a very easy and straightforward walk in terms of itinerary. swimming in the natural pools is great.
the sheepfold on the GR20 for a drink or something to eat is VERY nice!

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Thierry 86
Thierry 86

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A good walk to start your stay, easy and pleasant.
The setting is magnificent.
We even took a dip afterwards ....

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OJY
OJY

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk to discover a beautiful waterfall. The "managers" of the sheepfold are exceptional and remarkably kind.

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Sebcheuss
Sebcheuss

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really nice walk with no major difficulties
Along the water's edge and shaded for most of the way, it's a great way to avoid the heat.
The gourmet stop at the sheepfold before turning back is very welcome.

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libeccio20
libeccio20
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hello
superb hike on Wednesday 28 December 2022. At this time of year, we were able to park right at the entrance to the hamlet, which consists of just a few houses. At the end of the hamlet you can't go far wrong. Just take the footpath at the bottom, on the right, with the no-go signs. ORANGE route. You pass a sheepfold, high up, then walk alongside the river. The path is fairly flat, often very stony, and only rises at times.
The scenery is beautiful, with pine, holly and holm oak trees.
The Meli waterfall is very beautiful (45-minute to 1-hour walk). It then climbs a little to reach the Tolla footbridge, but nothing too serious. At the Tolla footbridge, take the GR 20 to Les Bergeries. It's a good climb up the rocks, but not for long.
There's a lovely rest area at these sheepfolds, surrounded by tall pine trees, which are closed at this time of year (about 2 hours' walk in all).
I followed the advice of a hiker given here in a comment and continued along the GR20 to reach the Manganolu waterfalls. It's very easy (1h walk and just a short climb at the end) and sumptuous! You have to deviate slightly from the red and white route to get to the waterfalls and pools. Well worth doing. Just outside the hamlet of Canaglia, you'll find the Osteria de Mimi Costa, a very welcoming place. It was closed in December but some hunters were there and the owner invited us in for coffee and frappes! Depending on the season, he sells cheese and charcuterie from his farm.

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efao45
efao45

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A family route with no difficulties and superb scenery.

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1964BB
1964BB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An excellent walk in the shade along a stream, which gave us a chance to cool off on the way back.

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Chanal115
Chanal115

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

From the sheepfold, you can climb the meadow on the right, perpendicular to the GR 20, and enjoy a magnificent view of Rotondo. A very warm welcome at the sheepfold

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basque33
basque33

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This day's walk was not too difficult.
Don't hesitate to walk an extra 45 minutes after the sheepfold to reach the magnificent pools and waterfalls (certainly the most beautiful on this walk). This extra walk is on very gently sloping ground and in an impressive forest.

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Huerga
Huerga

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a magnificent site along the river with continuous pools for swimming from the hamlet to the GR footbridge. But it's a very busy bathing walk (the beach is a long way away) in summer and not a real hike. It's accessible to everyone.

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