GR20: Vizzavona to Capannelle

Landmarks along the walk

Leave the station towards the southern GR20. The path reaches the forestry house area before climbing through the forest. At intersections with tracks, keep to the red-and-white waymarks rather than automatically taking the widest route.

Bocca Palmente is the major opening in this first section. The pass is also a useful place to assess the sky and your group’s condition before moving further from Vizzavona. If progress has been much slower than expected, reassess the day here instead of waiting until you are committed to the next traverses.

Beyond the pass, the route continues towards the Alzeta shepherds’ huts and the terrain of U Cardu. It follows the hillside, with changes in elevation that the difference between start and finish alone cannot describe. This is now a mountain stage: save energy for the end, even when the gradient seems to ease.

The route then reaches the E Scarpaceghje shepherds’ huts area and the final passages towards Capannelle. The day does not end on a platform where you can wait for a train home: it is the end of a trekking stage. Find your accommodation, confirm resupply options and prepare the next stage according to the conditions you encounter.

Do not treat fountains along the way as a guarantee of flowing or drinkable water. Set off with your supply and use suitable treatment if you intend to refill en route. A light meal that you can reach without unpacking the whole bag also helps maintain a steady rhythm.

A separate connection must be organised to return to the railway. Do not assume a shuttle will be waiting for hikers at Capannelle. Bookings, possible transfers and timetables must be confirmed before your stay; seasonal accommodation information is not a permanent commitment.

Planning this stage begins before your first step. Confirm your night at Capannelle and ask about meals, water and payment options, as a late arrival leaves few alternatives. The train makes reaching the start easier but does not solve the return from the finish. Bring a map covering the whole stage, not just the area around the station, and a way to consult the route offline. The stated duration includes neither a long break at Bocca Palmente nor photography stops: allow real time for them rather than trying to make it up by rushing at the end.