Monte San Petrone
1,766 m
France
Also known as San PetroneAlso known as
San Petrone
- Elevation
- 1,766 m
- Prominence
- 1,208 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: Moyen (medium) (Outdooractive) · 3/5 (Villages de Corse) · Ski/snowshoe: F (Camptocamp)
The standard ascent of the highest point of the Castagniccia: about 800 m of ascent from the Col de Prato (985 m) on a forest track and an orange-marked path through beech woods to an open plateau at about 1,510 m, then a steeper, rocky final climb with a short easy scramble on the summit ridge. About 2¼–3 hours up, 6.5 km one way.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 6.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +794 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,766 m
- Time Up
- 3h 29m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 27m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Park at the Col de Prato (Bocca di u Pratu, 985 m) on the D71, about 3 km beyond Morosaglia coming from Ponte Leccia; there are only a few spaces. Pass between the houses and follow the wide forest track south-west (sign San Petrone, orange marks) for about 3 km through ferns, beech and pine to its end at about 1,210 m, where a path forks off to the left. The path climbs steadily through beech forest past a spring with a small basin (about 1,365 m); a short detour right leads to a viewpoint at about 1,430 m looking west to Monte Cinto and Paglia Orba. At about 1,510 m you emerge on an open plateau with signposts; turn sharp left for the final 250 m. The ground becomes rockier and steeper; at the ridge (about 1,720 m) skirt right to the cross, orientation table and San Petru sculpture at about 1,750 m, then scramble easily along the ridge to the true summit (1,767 m). Return the same way (about 1½–2 hours). The view on clear days runs from Cap Corse to the southern mountains and east across the Tyrrhenian Sea to Elba, Montecristo and the Italian coast. A longer loop via Campodonico (Pied'Orezza) is possible. The grade is our estimate: sources describe an easy, well-marked path with a short, steep and slightly exposed rocky finish.
Start
Col de Prato986 m
- No public transport to the Col de Prato was confirmed.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Col de Prato → Monte San Petrone | 6.5 | 794 | 16 | 3h 29m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Col de Prato986 m
- Summit: Monte San Petrone1,766 m
Key Passages
- Forest track to about 1,210 m
- Beech forest path past the spring
- Plateau at about 1,510 m
- Steep rocky final slope and short summit ridge scramble
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The highest point (1,766 m) of the Castagniccia in north-eastern Corsica: a flat-topped schist summit above chestnut and beech forest, reached by a half-day forest walk from the Col de Prato with a short rocky finish and a view over both coasts and the Tuscan islands.
Monte San Petrone rises at the centre of the Castagniccia, the 'chestnut country' of north-eastern Corsica, a region of steep schist ridges, old chestnut groves gone back to forest and medieval villages perched on spurs. The mountain is broad and wooded on its lower slopes, with protected beech forest on its northern flanks, and ends in a rocky, roughly tabular summit ridge carrying a metal cross, an orientation table and a small image of Saint Peter (San Petru), after whom it is named.
With more than 1,200 m of prominence it stands well clear of its surroundings. On a clear day the view takes in Cap Corse, the eastern plain and the Biguglia lagoon, Monte Cinto and Paglia Orba to the west, and across the Tyrrhenian Sea to Elba, Montecristo and the Italian coast.
The usual ascent from the Col de Prato is an easy-to-moderate half-day walk of about 800 m, mostly shaded by beech and pine, which makes it a good summer outing when the coast is hot. Only the last section is steep and rocky, with a short, slightly exposed scramble on the ridge. In winter the summit often holds snow and is a snowshoe objective.
Climbing Notes
A fit walker needs about 2½ hours up and 1½–2 hours down from the Col de Prato; allow 4–6 hours with breaks. The path is clear and orange-marked, and the only difficulty is the steep rocky finish, where a few easy scrambling moves on the ridge lead to the true summit; children under about eight may find it tiring. Carry water (there is one small spring at about 1,365 m), and keep an eye on afternoon storms and low cloud, which can hide the summit ridge. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons; in winter the upper forest is often snowy and snowshoes are useful.
History
The name refers to Saint Peter. In 596 Pope Gregory the Great instructed Bishop Peter of Aléria to build a basilica and baptistery dedicated to Saint Peter on the mountain; it is identified with San Petru d'Accia on the north side at about 1,070 m, where ruins and a 17th-century chapel remain. The summit statuette of San Petru was stolen around 2010–2011, replaced on 5 July 2013 and damaged again in February 2015; a new bas-relief was flown up by helicopter in 2017.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow likely above about 1,300 m; snowshoes
- Feb
- Snow likely; snowshoes
- Mar
- Late snow in the upper forest
- Apr
- Snow patches possible near the summit
- Jul
- Hot; forest shade helps; start early
- Aug
- Hot; afternoon storms possible
- Oct
- Autumn colours in the beech forest
- Nov
- Shorter days; first snow possible
- Dec
- Snow likely in the upper forest
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Morosaglia; Ponte Leccia; Corte
Bastia Poretta (BIA)
- Car: from Ponte Leccia take the D71 through Morosaglia and continue about 3 km to the Col de Prato (985 m); a few parking spaces at the col
- Alternative starts from Campodonico (Pied'Orezza) or Loriani (Cambia)
- No public transport to the Col de Prato was confirmed
Hazards
- Weather
- Exposure