Towers of red granite above the Alta Rocca, a pass you can drive to and the best short hikes in the south of the island.
The Bavella Needles (aiguilles de Bavella) tower over the pass of the same name, at 1,218 m, on the road linking the Alta Rocca with the east coast. The massif is a line of red granite towers, great rock walls and laricio pines twisted by the wind. Its highest points, at 1,899 m, are the Punta di u Furnellu and the Punta Muvrareccia, according to the Agence du tourisme de la Corse.
Photo : SlimMars 13 / Pexels
The GR20 reaches the pass from the Asinau refuge, at the foot of the Incudine. A so-called ‘alpine’ variant, waymarked in yellow, leaves the main route to pass as close as possible to the needles, then rejoins it near Paliri. Of the seven towers of Asinau, only the Punta di a Vacca (1,611 m) is open to walkers. At the pass, a statue of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges (Our Lady of the Snows) watches over the car park.
Because this is the most spectacular mountain scenery in the south, and you can reach it by car. Even without walking, the view from the pass is worth the detour. With two hours to spare, the Trou de la Bombe is the best short walk. In July and August, arrive before 9am: the car park fills up fast and storms threaten in the afternoon. The canyons of the massif, including the Purcaraccia, are done with an instructor.
Updated 30 October 2026
On the D268: 9 km, about 15 minutes, outside summer and without stops (OSRM calculation).
On the D268, climbing up from the east coast: 31 km, about 30 minutes.
Through the Ospedale forest (D368, then D268): about 1 hour. See visit Porto-Vecchio.
You park at the pass, where spaces fill up quickly in summer. Arrive early, and check the season’s parking arrangements with the Zonza town council.
Ascent and walking times are taken from the hiking brochure of the *Porto-Vecchio* tourist office, published by the *Agence du tourisme de la Corse* (the Corsican tourist board).
From the car park at the pass, a path waymarked in red and with cairns climbs through laricio pines to an arch pierced through the ridge. This is the busiest walk from the pass.
Source: Porto-Vecchio tourist office, brochure ‘Randonner dans le sud Corse’
The yellow-waymarked path runs along the foot of the needles and climbs to the Bocca di u Pargulu (1,662 m). There are steep, exposed sections: wear mountain boots, and only go if you have a head for heights.
Source: Porto-Vecchio tourist office
From the Cannone fountain, the GR20 (red and white waymarks) heads south down to the Paliri refuge, facing the needles.
Source: Porto-Vecchio tourist office
Canyoning in Corse-du-Sud is regulated by prefectural order, and access to the Purcaraccia canyon is controlled in season. Check the prefecture’s website and go with a qualified instructor.
Do not light fires, and do not camp outside the refuges and designated areas. The massif lies within the Parc naturel régional de Corse (Corsica’s regional nature park).
In summer, storms often break over the massif in the early afternoon. Set off early and be back down before then.
A storm upstream can raise the water in the canyons within minutes, even when the sky is blue where you are. Never go canyoning without a guide or without checking the forecast.
The paths are exposed and have no reliable spring. Carry at least one and a half litres per person.
The D268 is narrow and winding, with pigs roaming free. Drive slowly, especially on the way down to Solenzara.
Well-rated trips to the pass and the needles: by 4x4 from Porto-Vecchio, or on foot with a mountain leader.
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