The trail system is very prominent in La Reunion, has helped boost the reputation of the island beyond its natural limits. Few places are as richly endowed with such a heritage trail. One community, the Department of La Reunion and a manager, the ONF decided to unite their efforts to preserve its existence and make the broad line of 850 km open to the public.

  A great choice for exploring the island

• 300 km of roads for forestry and tourism provide access to major attractions Senior (Business Analysis: Regional Council)
• 850 km of trails maintained and marked by the ONF with the participation of the General Council, to discover exceptional sites
• various publications have different routes to go walking in the best conditions and satisfy your curiosity and historical, geological, flora ...
• for children and to facilitate your desire for family outings, the NFB has produced the guide Marmaille trails offering walks accessible to all. You can check online at the website of the General Council of La Reunion.

Les programmes forestiers et touristiques sont majoritairement co-financés par la Région et le Département (sur fonds européens). The forestry and tourism programs are largely co-funded by the Region and the Department (of EU funds).

A strong attendance

The number of trips on the trail is estimated to 1,200,000 per year. Getting mixed: the families who prefer small walks in the immediate vicinity of home sites before or after a picnic, representing 300,000 visits annually and hikers who prefer to walk several hours, 900,000 annual visits .

Among the hikers, two thirds of residents, or about 600,000 visits annually and one third are tourists, or about 300,000 annual visits.

According to the investigations:

• until 2005, among the 430,000 annual visitors, about 300,000 said they had made at least one excursion during their stay.
• 120,000 people, 800,000 on account of that island, reported regularly to the hike of about 5 per person on average.

Travel Guides & Maps

One must not set off hiking before fully informing oneself here is a selection of guides and maps.

Hikes tried and tested by the Runweb team

Grand Bassin, La Nouvelle par le Col des Boeufs, Bassin des Hirondelles, Grand Etang, Sentier des Calumets, Sentier Mouton, Oratoire Sainte Thérèse, Cascade Biberon, Piton de l'eau... all of them have been tried and tested by our team Articles and photographs.

Hiking on the island

Books to read: « Balades faciles » and « Les plus beaux paysages de La Réunion en 80 randonnées » by Luc Reynaud:  the must-do Reunion island hikes.