Gorges de la Restonica to Lac de Melo

The Gorges de la Restonica trail leads from the end of the toll road above Corte into one of Corsica's most photographed glacial landscapes, following the Restonica river upstream through Laricio pine forest and open granite terrain to reach Lac de Melo at 1,711 metres. This classic glacially carved lake is flanked by smooth rock slabs and framed by pale granite walls rising above the waterline. A further 45 minutes of steeper boulder-hopping leads to the higher Lac de Capitello at 1,930 metres, ringed by near-vertical cliffs and often retaining a snow patch into July. The trailhead sits at the top of the Route des Gorges de la Restonica, a narrow single-lane road winding 15 kilometres from Corte; a vehicle access toll of approximately €4.50 per car applies from July through early September, and the road closes when the end car park fills — arriving before 08:00 avoids queues. From the car park, yellow trail blazes mark the path clearly through boulder fields above the gorge; a short fixed-chain section assists on a steeper rocky step below Lac de Melo. The lake offers views across polished granite to the central Corsican peaks and serves as a popular lunch stop. The extension to Lac de Capitello adds roughly 220 metres of additional ascent on loose rock and scree and is worthwhile on a clear day but should be skipped in poor visibility. The entire Gorges de la Restonica area sits inside the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse; camping and fires are prohibited, and swimmers are discouraged as the upper catchment supplies Corte's drinking water. A snack bar operates near the car park in July and August. For visitors without a vehicle, a taxi from Corte train station to the trailhead costs approximately €30–€40.