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Extreme fire risk shuts the Bonifatu massif on the GR20's northern end, storms add to the mix
What happened
On 16 August 2026 the Haute-Corse prefecture announced that the Fangu, Bonifatu and western Agriates forest massifs would be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles on Monday 17 August, citing an extreme ("très sévère") wildfire risk driven by a warm, gusty libeccio wind, plus a yellow storm warning for the afternoon. The Bonifatu valley is not a side-trip — it's where refuges like Ortu di u Piobbu and Carrozzu sit, right at the GR20's northern end near Calenzana, so this directly affects hikers finishing or starting the trail in that zone.
Why it matters for GR20 hikers
This is a good example of how fast conditions can flip in high summer: a single prefectural bulletin, issued the evening before, can shut a section of trail for the following day, with campers at Saleccia even being evacuated as a precaution. Paper topo guides and offline GPX tracks won't show this — only the daily préfecture and PNRC bulletins will.
Practical takeaway
If you're on or near the northern GR20 in the coming weeks, check the Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud prefecture vigilance pages every evening before setting off, not just the weather forecast. Fire-risk closures are typically lifted as soon as conditions ease, but they can also extend if the libeccio persists. Our planner's daily weather briefing flags these prefecture-level closures alongside the forecast so you're not caught out mid-stage.
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