The Bughja Waterfall

de fr

At a height of 100 metres, the Buja waterfall (Piscia di a Bughja) is one of the highest in Corsica. At its base is a pool where you can enjoy a refreshing dip, and you can relax on the rocks. If you look carefully, this waterfall is visible from a distance, particularly from the road leading to the village. The long white trail it leaves on the mountainside is particularly impressive in winter, when the water flows in abundance.
Bughja (from the word ‘Bughju’: darkness).

Details

n°862846
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.67 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 784 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 797 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,398 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,588 ft
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Photos

Buja Waterfall
After all that effort, a quick dip is in order.
The waterfall seen from the path
At the foot of the waterfall

Description of the walk

Park near the cemetery in San-Gavino-di-Fiumorbo.

(S/E) Opposite the cemetery, follow the D245 road towards the hamlet of Bruschiccia. Pass a reservoir on the right and head for the car park in the hamlet of Bruschiccia.

(1) Take care. Continue straight on along the road to the new starting point for the Bughja Waterfall, on the left, 20 metres after the bridge over the Buja Stream.

(2) Leave the road and follow the path on the left.

(3) A sign and yellow markings have been placed here to guide walkers.

(4) Cross the ford.

(5) Walk through the chestnut grove; the path climbs very steeply. You’ll reach a shepherd’s shelter.

(6) Continue to follow the yellow markings towards the Bughja Waterfall.

(7) Start the return journey along the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,614 ft - Parking near the cemetery
  2. 1 : mi 0.64 - alt. 1,765 ft - The hamlet of Bruschiccia
  3. 2 : mi 0.74 - alt. 1,768 ft - T-junction
  4. 3 : mi 0.78 - alt. 1,798 ft - Signpost and yellow markings
  5. 4 : mi 0.9 - alt. 1,896 ft - Ford
  6. 5 : mi 1.1 - alt. 2,182 ft - Chestnut grove
  7. 6 : mi 1.25 - alt. 2,349 ft - Yellow signposting
  8. 7 : mi 1.33 - alt. 2,398 ft - Start the return journey by taking the same route back
  9. S/E : mi 2.67 - alt. 1,614 ft - Parking near the cemetery

Notes

Good walking boots, a packed lunch and water. Although… there is a water source at the Fontaine de Vaccina between (1) and (2).

Route plotted using a GPS. To avoid getting lost, it is strongly recommended that you bring the IGN map: 4253 ET.

Please note! It is best to park near the cemetery at the starting GPS point or in the village of San-Gavino-di-Fiumorbo. Whilst this does significantly lengthen the walk, it helps to preserve the peace and quiet of the hamlet’s residents. The two car parks in the hamlet fill up quickly, and there is no point in continuing along the road leading to Isolaccio-di-Fiumorbo – the road is very narrow and the situation is even worse there. You have been warned!

Worth a visit

This waterfall is visible from a distance, particularly from the road leading to the village.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 23438907
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Beautiful waterfall and beautiful hike

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xav25
xav25
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

hello, beautiful hike, but when leaving the paved road, there is a clearer path 20 metres after the bridge. The sign is damaged. I am posting this GPX track, which I took on the way back: https://xaviera.pagesperso-orange.fr/con...

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thegreg71
thegreg71
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely little walk suitable for families. Quite short and fairly steep but not very difficult. The waterfall is pretty and relaxing but still attracts quite a few people. The site is not very big. Most of the route is in the shade.
Please note that the starting point no longer corresponds to the old Visorando trail. It has been moved a little past the small bridge, on the left.

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cyr0726
cyr0726
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It is better to park after the hamlet of Bruschicciu, which brings you closer and leaves only a 1 km climb.
Easy route.
Beautiful waterfall in a pleasant setting.

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charmi
charmi
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent waterfall that is well worth the effort required to reach it.
For someone familiar with the Vosges, the signposting leaves something to be desired; it looks as if it was done on the way down. On the way back down, I had to advise people who were feeling uneasy or even a little lost.
A superb route, but one that I would not recommend for novice hikers.

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Elo79
Elo79
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A walk suitable for families. We took the old path on the way there (not really marked and the description was not precise enough at times) and then the new path on the way back, which was better marked. The second part of the trail is common to both paths.
When we arrived at the waterfall, we were surprised by its height: it's a very large waterfall. It's magnificent. We had a picnic there.
You can park at the cemetery, on the side of the road, but there aren't many spaces. Alternatively, a little further on at the start of the hike, it is also possible to park along the road.
There weren't many people there in October (All Saints' Day holidays).

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helene18
helene18
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Please note that when you reach the hamlet of Bruschiccia, the trailhead has changed. You must now cross the small bridge over the river. A few metres further on, there is a yellow sign indicating the trail to follow. The path is well cleared, so you can't go wrong. There are few parking spaces, so it is advisable to park well before this sign at the start of the village. If you have not done so, turn around because after this point the road is narrow and you will not find a space.

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Alice R
Alice R
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is poorly marked, making it difficult to follow, but this improves as you hike along.
However, the waterfall is truly magnificent!

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jr2bghiso
jr2bghiso
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful forest with magnificent chestnut trees. Very beautiful waterfall. Very well-shaded route that can be enjoyed even in hot weather. The only drawback is that it is very short. Half an hour to climb up, 20 minutes to climb down. It is more of a stroll to go for a picnic than a real hike.

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GillesJFK
GillesJFK
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, well shaded, but not very well marked.
Very beautiful waterfall

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EIDER
EIDER
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

Several remarks:
1- You can park after the Bruschiccia bridge at the side of the road and therefore start directly from point (2) where there is a sign for "waterfall"
2- The yellow markings are difficult to find at the start of the hike and then at the point where you have to cross after a large square "tank" and a pipe (do not take the obvious path that climbs steeply up the left-hand side)
3- You have to walk along a fence at the start of the walk and climb over some rocks
4- There is no pig pen
4- When there is too much water, it is impossible to cross to the other side of the Buja (unless you cross barefoot!)

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BrigitteDenis
BrigitteDenis
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Please note that the description needs to be clarified:

When fording the stream, you cannot see the yellow markings on the other side of the stream, as they are hidden by vegetation. It should be specified that you must "pass under a black water pipe and look for the yellow markings on the other side of the stream". The path that seems logical at this point climbs up the mountainside, is very steep and leads nowhere

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lysiamel95
lysiamel95
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A nice little hike
But be careful, the markings are not very visible!
After crossing the river, you have to climb up through the forest to a stone wall, which you have to follow along and then turn left at the end. Then follow the yellow markings...
The waterfall is worth the effort...
After a quick dip (invigorating!), the descent is along the same very shady path!

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Stellie79
Stellie79
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A somewhat challenging route, but your efforts will be rewarded!

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GERLING
GERLING
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent waterfall that is well worth the detour. The trail is barely marked and difficult to follow at times, but if you follow the river, you can't go wrong. The trail is shaded, making it pleasant even in hot weather.

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