This is the last stage of the GR20, which will take you downhill to Conca! You might be surprised at the meters of elevation that you will still climb on this stage before delivery !
| From Paliri to the Conca refuge | From the Conca refuge to Paliri |
| GR20 North > South (stage 16) | GR20 South > North (stage 1) |
| 13.5 km | 370 m D | 1100 m D – | 13.5 km | 1100 m D | 370 m D – |
| GPX trail for the North > South stage | GPX trail for the South > North stage |
| Download PDF topo | Download PDF topo |
| See details of the North > South stage | See details of the South > North stage |
| Points of interest: Bocca d’Usciolu, gateway to the GR20 | a bar and restaurant in Conca | the I Paliri refuge at the start of the route | the village of Conca with 2 overnight accommodations | |
| Highest point: 1060 m (Bocca di U Sordu) | Lowest point: 280 m (Conca) | |
| Sources: xxx (km5) | xxxx (km8) | |
| Accommodation and food: Gîte la Tonnelle | Hôtel San Pasquale | Auberge du Col de Bavella | Gîte Les Aiguilles | Refuge d’I Paliri | Refuge de Conca | |
| IGN map : Consult here | Download all the GR20 maps | |
| Following stage NS : | Following stage SN: from I Paliri to Asinau |
| Previous stage NS: from Asinau to I Paliri | Previous stage SN : |
Stage 16 of the GR20 North > South | Paliri > Conca
Here’s the profile of the stage between the Paliri refuge and the village at the end of the stage : Conca!
Printable summary and topo of stage 16 of the GR20 North South
1 – On this final stage of the GR20 North-South, as on the 15th stage, you’ll be treated to a fine array of remarkable points along the way. Head south-east from the Refuge d’i Paliri. On your way, you’ll see the Punta di l’Anima Damnata on your left and the Furcone di i Paliri on your right.
2 – Continuing eastwards, you will see the Bocca di Monte Bracciutu and the Monte di Bracciutu on your right. Reach the Foca di u Bracciu before the 2.5-kilometre walk and admire the view of Monte Bracciutu on your left. A short climb of 100 metres awaits you as you head south until you reach Bocca Villaghello. Take a break here, overlooked by the Punta di Monte Sordu.
3 – You’ll soon be on the4th kilometre of this stage, when a descent begins with a little over 450 metres of ascent to the Punta Pinzuta waterfall at around the 8-kilometre mark. By then, you’ll have passed by the Cabanes de Capellu. Crossing the Niffro Valley, you’ll see Punta Balardia, Punta Batarchione and Punta Tanella on your left.
4 – Continue south-eastwards for two kilometres, passing the Conca at an altitude of 809 metres, Punta Radichella and Punta di Pusu on your right. And don’t miss Femina Morte on your left, at an altitude of 585 metres. At the 11th kilometre, you’ll reach the Bocca d’Usciolu at an altitude of 587 metres.
5 – From here, you can head back up the Rivière de Conca, with the Punta d’Ortu on your left, taking you directly to the Refuge de Conca, in the heart of the Forêt de Valdu, thus returning to below 250 metres altitude. The end of a great adventure!
Reports and tips for stage 16 of the GR20 North > South
This is the last stage of the GR20. You leave Paliri with the joy of finding a comfortable bed and a hot shower, but also with all the sadness that can be felt at the end of an adventure! Here’s the profile of this last stage of the GR20
As you’d expect, there’s more downhill than uphill on this stage, and you’ll be almost back to sea level, as you were at Calenzana (280 metres above sea level). Just yesterday, you had already descended a long way from Asinau!
At the start of the stage, take the Bocca di u sordu ridge, before reaching the Capeddu ruins. At the end of the stage, you’ll need to take a break at the gateway to the GR20: Bocca d’Usciolu, which marks the last descent before reaching the final sign “You have reached the end of your GR20 odyssey” at Conca!
Don’t be fooled into thinking that this will be an easy stage: you never seem to reach the end, and there’s always a little bump, a little climb, a little difficulty, which makes this stage just as testing!
Warning: the GR20 is a trail with high mountain sections, so don’t take this hike lightly: use appropriate hiking equipment for the GR20, be at least reasonably trained and don’t set off without IGN maps or the Topoguide
Field videos between Paliri and Conca:
Here is the latest video posted online by “GR20 I had a dream”. He didn’t exactly set off from Paliri, but a little earlier, sleeping on the Col de Bavella!
Stage 1 of the GR20 South > North | Conca > Paliri
Here’s the profile of the stage between Paliri and Conca:
Printable summary of the topo for stage 1 of the GR20 South North
1 – To start your adventure on the GR20 South to North, head north-west from the Refuge de Conca at an altitude of around 250 metres. You will cross the Rivière de Conca, with the Punta d’Ortu on your right.
2 – After 2.5 kilometres, you’ll reach the Bocca d’Usciolu at an altitude of 587 metres. Continue for 3 kilometres to reach the Punta Punzuta waterfall not far from Punta Pinzuta. By this time, you will have passed La Conca, Punta Radichella and Punta di Pusu on your left and Femina Morte on your right.
3 – From here, head uphill through the Niffro valley to the Cabanes de Capellu, not far from the Source des 3 Fontaines. From here, look out for Punta Tanella, Punta Batarchione and Punta Balardia on your right.
4 – Continue north-west to Bocca Villaghello, one of the highest points on this stage at 1,065 metres above sea level. Enjoy a break here, overlooked by the Punta di Monte Sordu.
5 – Head north with a slight descent and you’ll reach the Foca di u Bracciu on the 11th kilometre of the stage. Admire the view of Monte Bracciutu on your left.
6 – Head west, passing the Bocca di Monte Bracciutu, then near the Punta di l’Anima Damnata on your right and the Furcone di i Paliri on your left before arriving at the Refuge d’i Paliri, marking the end of this beautiful first stage of the GR20 at an altitude of 1,054 metres.
IGN map between Paliri and Conca
Here is the IGN map of stage 16 of the GR20 between the I Paliri refuge and the village of Conca, which corresponds to stage 1 of the GR20 South > North. Go to this page to download all the IGN maps of the GR20. Move your mouse over the map to zoom in
