One of the most popular mountain treks in Corsica takes you to the beautiful mountain lakes of Lac de Melu and Lac de Capitello (sometimes spelled Capitello) below the Monte Rotondo massif.
These mountain lakes lie at an altitude of around 1 800 metres and offer some of the most beautiful views in all of Corsica.
Melu i Capitellu
The two lakes are just 300 metres apart, so you're sure to visit both Lac di Melu and Lac de Capitello at the same time when you wander into the area. Their typical glacial circular shape is as captivating as the monumental surroundings of jagged rock massifs that reach heights of over 2,600 metres.
The lower Lac di Melu (1 710 m above sea level) is also the source of the Restonica River, which forms the popular hiking canyon of the same name.
The surroundings of Lac de Melu are covered with green scrub growing between granite boulders and the whole scenery invites picnics and relaxation.
The higher Lac de Capitello (1 930 m above sea level) is surrounded by almost perpendicular rock walls, with only the northern part of the canyon being accessed from Lac di Melu.
Hike to the lakes
The trek to the lakes is popular, but after more than 6 kilometres of road were destroyed by floods and landslides, the trek is quite long.
The furthest you can drive is to the Tuani campsite, where a shuttle minibus also runs from Corte (4 eur for a return ticket). Information about the minibus and a link to the mobile app can be found on this page: isula.corsica/Navetta-Restonica-C13.
From the final minibus stop, you can follow the yellow marked hiking trail to the end of the former road where the real trek to Lake Mel begins.
- Total distance: 10.5 to 15 km depending on the route chosen
- Time: approx. 4-7 hours
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Corsica.
