Stage 7: Manganu → Petra Piana
8 km from Refuge de Manganu (1601 m) to Refuge de Petra Piana (1842 m), with 800 m of ascent and 560 m of descent.
Walking time by fitness profile
| Fitness profile | Walking time |
|---|---|
| Trail runner (fast & light, long days) | 3h27 |
| Fit / sportive (strong hiker, big days) | 4h56 |
| Multiday hiker (classic GR20 pace) | 6h30 |
| Relaxed (steady, shorter days) | 7h47 |
Times computed with the RandoNav planning algorithm. Breaks not included.
On the trail
Stage 7 gets serious again, and quickly. From Manganu the trail climbs a steep, rocky corridor toward the crest of the island, gaining 800 m to a narrow breach in the ridge above 2,200 m — for many hikers the airiest moment of the whole traverse. Pause in the gap and look back: the glacial lakes of Capitello and Melo lie far below like two dark eyes set in granite cirques, one of the most photographed views on the GR20, and one that no photograph quite manages.
What follows is a long, high rollercoaster along the ridgeline, with cables at the odd exposed step and the Rotondo massif filling the southern sky. Snow can cling to the shaded couloirs here well into early summer, so check conditions before you commit. The day ends with a rough descent to Refuge de Petra Piana at 1,842 m, its terrace hanging over the Manganellu valley. It's a short stage on paper and a proper alpine day in the legs — start early, and keep some chocolate in reserve for the ridge.
Start / end
Gateway to the dramatic high-ridge crossing via Breche de Capitello (2225 m).
The oldest refuge on the GR20, perched at 1842 m with sweeping views of the central ridge.
About this stage
Stage 7 links Refuge de Manganu (1601 m) with Refuge de Petra Piana (1842 m) over 8 km, climbing 800 m and descending 560 m. This stage lies in the northern half of the GR20 (before Vizzavona), the rockier and more technical part of the trail. Water is available at every stop on this stage.
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