From Col de Vergio to Lac Nino

de fr

A very beautiful hike that allows you to walk along the ridges and discover Lake Nino in a beautiful valley surrounded by stone mountains.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Corsica between the mountains and the sea

Details

n°48956
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.17 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 934 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 934 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,882 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,323 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Albertacce (20224)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.286493° / E 8.893284°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4150OT, 4250OT, 4250OTR, 4251OT, 4251OTR
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Photos

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Horses roam freely at Lake Nino
Lake Nino from Bocca a Retta
Lake Nino

Description of the walk

(S/E) Take the path that starts below the station on the right of the road (signpost) and follow theGR®20markings. The path descends quite steeply at first, then continues along the contour line.
Leave a slightly more direct path coming from the road on your left and continue to Bocca San Pedru. The path begins to climb and you are less in the forest.

(1) From the pass, the path is rocky (with a few steep sections on the side).
Continue along the ridges and past the Bocca â Reta.

(2) You will see Lake Nino at the bottom of the valley.

(3) Descend towards the lake. TheGR®20continues on the left and runs alongside the lake (not shown on the IGN map). A path arrives opposite, which is the one coming from the forest house.

(4) You can walk around the lake (be careful of the pozzines, which are quite fragile, or you can admire the horses grazing there).
Return by the same route.
Climb back up the path to the Bocca à Reta ridge.

(2) You will also find the source of the Tavagnano. Follow the path, admiring the beech trees shaped by the wind.

(1) After Bocca San Pedru, take the path on the left and come out via the steep climb to the road (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,404 m - Hotel-Refuge du Col de Vergio
  2. 1 : km 3.98 - alt. 1,452 m - Bocca San Pedru
  3. 2 : km 7.62 - alt. 1,879 m - Bocca â Reta
  4. 3 : km 8.54 - alt. 1,772 m - Fork
  5. 4 : km 9.03 - alt. 1,748 m - Lac de Nino
  6. S/E : km 18.17 - alt. 1,404 m - Hotel-Refuge du Col de Vergio

Notes

No shelter.
You can refill your water bottles at the fountain at Lac Nino (be patient, the flow is quite slow and it is very busy).

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Souhaly
Souhaly

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We are average hikers. It took us 7 hours without breaks.
The conditions were ideal, and the difficulty level was progressive, as indicated.
The landscapes are varied and all wonderful. A must-see

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Cc B
Cc B
• Edited:

From the Hotel du Vergio, we followed a pleasant route through pine forests, mountains and plateaus, encountering cows 🐮 🐄 and finally the lake. This route is longer but ultimately less difficult, taking 6½ hours. A big storm forced us to return more quickly. The app is really good in terms of following directions, and the route map is also very helpful. Beautiful scenery and hike.

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Louise.w
Louise.w
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 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 with a gradual, easy climb and varied landscapes all along the way. Longer in kilometres than the return route from Poppaghia, but less technical as you don't have the steep, rocky section.

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Cc B
Cc B

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

From the Hotel du Vergio, we followed a pleasant route through pine forests, mountains and plateaus, encountering cows 🐮 🐄 and finally the lake. This route is longer but ultimately less difficult, taking 6½ hours. A big storm forced us to return more quickly. The app is really good in terms of following directions, and the route map is also very helpful. Beautiful scenery and hike.

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Jean Marc 06
Jean Marc 06
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is one of the most beautiful in southern Corsica, offering exceptional panoramic views from the ridge and close to Lake Pozzini and wild horses.
It is not particularly difficult and there are no exposed areas (which I am afraid of), but it takes six hours there and back without breaks, and it can be very windy on the ridges. So you need to set off early with plenty of water and a good fleece.

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Jerome Rouzier
Jerome Rouzier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hiking, magnificent, nothing negative to report, everything went perfectly.

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Lulu 76
Lulu 76
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike, which takes place every year, leaves no one indifferent. It is magnificent.
There are some very beautiful and varied sections, culminating in a high vantage point overlooking the lake and the pozzis!
And there's an almost constant view of the peaks, with Paglia Orba in the foreground.
Very few people on this Sunday. Minimum 6 hours of walking.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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Océane01
Océane01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike that leads to Lake Nino. I did this hike in August, so the lake was a little dry and not as blue as in the photos. However, I did see wild horses and cows. The trail is not too difficult.
You can buy a sandwich or have a drink at the start of the hike.

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mikelitos
mikelitos

Hello,
Thank you for your comment and for enjoying the hike.
Happy hiking!

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cemoi62
cemoi62

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, the route is as beautiful as the destination. There are many places along the way that will take your breath away, and the return trip is never boring because you rediscover the route from a different perspective. The only difficulty is the length; technically, everything is accessible. Thank you!

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valou2504
valou2504

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike accessible to all.
Magnificent views all along the way.
And a big surprise at the end: Nino Lake covered in snow.
Take your picnic to the lakeside, with a horse coming to feed just 10 metres away at the same time as you – pure bliss.
I highly recommend it.

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celine21310
celine21310
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We covered more kilometres than advertised. Closer to 20 km, but perhaps that's because we went to see the wild horses at the tip of the lake. The trail is pleasant but not very shaded. You can fill your water bottles next to the lake. We did this hike with my 16-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. No problems!
The site is just beautiful!

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Conte-Macle
Conte-Macle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with no difficulties, but be aware of the length. The beauty of the site and Lake Nino are well worth the effort

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hauvespre
hauvespre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is the first time since 1952 that I have set off from the Vergio Pass rather than from the forest house. It's much, much better despite the extra kilometres: the long stretch along the ridges is so beautiful!
And although the path that leaves the forest house and crosses the forest is also magnificent, you avoid the rocks and stones by staying up high.
And the arrival at the lake is, as usual, of course, splendid.

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JDML
JDML

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike to Lake Nino. We recommend starting from Col de Verghio rather than the forest house. The distance is longer, but at least there are no technical difficulties.
The Garmin watch indicated 18.27 km and 5 hours 45 minutes of walking.
Be careful, in May (we did the hike on the 18th) there may be snow. In some places we sank up to mid-thigh, so make sure you check the conditions. In addition, some signs were hidden by snow, so you need to be extra careful.
In the middle of summer, take plenty of water, a hat and sun cream, and set off very early, as part of the walk is in direct sunlight.
We had a picnic on the heights above the lake (partly frozen) with a magnificent view of the pozzi and all the surrounding mountains.

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