The three reservoirs

Since 2002, Malheur, Aigrettes and Cormoran, the three reservoirs situated above Saint-Gilles and used for Saint-Paul water supplies, have been closed to public. The catch basin was suffering from an excess of visitors.

La Roche Ecrite from le Brûlé

Carte I.G.N. 1 : 25 000 4402 Saint-Denis. Difficulty : moderate. Hiking time : 6.5 hours return. Access : Go up to Bellepierre from Saint-Denis towards Le Brûlé, then take the forest path.

La Roche Ecrite is a must. The objective : Salazie viewpoint. It is advisable to reach it early in the morning, since the clouds form rapidly. To save time one can even spend the night in la Roche Ecrite gite.

Les Bassins de la Ravine Divon

Carte I.G.N. 1 : 25000 4401 RT Saint-Paul. Difficulty : moderate. Hiking time : 2 hours loop. Access : drive towards Saint-Gilles les hauts. Go Follow signs to the Parc du Maïdo (10 kilometres from Le Guillaume) and park your car 150 metres after the Parc carpark.

Ravine Divon is the gemstone of the Forêt des Tamarins. Among centenary tamarins, lie four stunning « bassins » (lakes).
WARNING : THIS HIKING TRAIL IS CLOSED TO PUBLIC

The natural arch from l’Entre-Deux

Carte I.G.N. 1 : 25 000 4405. Difficulty : easy. Hiking time : 2 hours. Access : On the RN 1 between Saint-Louis and Saint-Pierre, take Pierrefonds exit and drive up to l’Entre-Deux. 400 metres after the church turn right and go to the carpark on the right hand side of the road.

The natural arch is part of a tunnel in which the lava flows. Walking by the river is quite pleasant. It is An ideal spot to picnic.

The Col du Taïbit

Carte I.G.N. 1 :25000 4401 RT Saint-Paul. Difficulty : moderate. Hiking time : 5 hours. Access : Once in the village of Cilaos continue on go up for 4 kilometres towards the Ilet à Cordes, to until you reach the departure point for the Col du Taibit.

The Col du Taïbit, which can be spotted from Cilaos, is shaped like a chicken's crest. You can reach Mafate from this crest.

Grand Sable

Carte I.G.N. 1 : 25000 4402 RT Cirque de Salazie. Difficulty : easy. Access : go to Salazie, then head for to Hell-Bourg. Go through the village of Hell Bourg up to Ilet à Vidot.

Grand Sable loop will make you discover the most remote areas of Salazie. Thanks to the trail, many houses have become visible.

La Chapelle

Carte I.G.N. 1 : 25000 4405 RT Saint-Pierre, Cirque de Cilaos. Difficulty : moderate. Hiking time : 4 hours. Access : Once in the village of Cilaos, park your car at the end of the grand’rue.

Discover a cave made of incredibly high rockfaces. Be careful : when it is raining, the path becomes muddy and the water rises quickly in the cave.

The Morne Langevin

Carte I.G.N. 1 : 25000 4406 RT Piton de la Fournaise. Difficulty : easy. Hiking time : 3 hours. Access : go follow signs to Bourg-Murat via the route des Plaines. Once you reach the Maison du Volcan, follow the route du volcan for 18 km up to the Pas des Sables, nearby the cliff top.

Another way to discover the Piton de la Fournaise volcano is by hiking through Morne Langevin. From the summit, one can see the different stages of various eruptions and landslides.
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Piton Bébour

Carte I.G.N. 1 : 25000 4402 RT Saint-Denis. Difficulty : easy. Hiking time :1.5 hour loop. Access : once at the Plaine des Palmistes drive towards the Petite Plaine then towards the forest of Bébour.

And park your car on the little bridge at Bras Canot little bridge.

Bassin Pilon

Carte I.G.N. 1:25000 4402 RT Saint Denis. Difficulty : moderate. Hiking time : 1.5 hour. Access : from Saint-Denis, take the RN 2 to Sainte-Suzanne. At the « gendarmerie », turn right and go up to Bagatelle. Then take the route des hauts and drive up for 4 kilometres.

The Bassin Pilon trail is a walk during which one can admire beautiful lakes and waterfalls. The Bassin Pilon is surrounded by the cliffs. The return walk follows the same path.
Le retour s'effectue par le même itinéraire.

Sentier des Tamarins

Carte I.G.N. 1:25000 4404 RT Saint Leu, l'Etang Salé. Difficulty : easy. Hiking time :2.5 hours loop. Access : from the Avirons, go drive up towards le Tévelave. Once you reach the church, take the route des tamarins for 10.5 kilometres up to the camp du Tévelave.

This hiking trail will lead you through a young plantation of tamarinds. The Ravine des Avirons marks the end of the trail.

Piton Plaine des Fougères

Carte I.G.N. 1:25000 4402 RT Saint Denis. Difficulty : moderate. Hiking time : 4.5 loop. Access : Follow the old route of Sainte Marie and turn right at Bois Rouge and at La Ressource. Continue on for 13km and then turn right onto a dirt track and follow it for 1km. Stop when you come to the fence.

Sentier du Trou de Fer

Carte I.G.N. 1:25000 4402 RT Saint Denis. Difficulty : easy. Hiking time : 3 hours. Access : From Hell-Bourg, take the hiking trail n°16. From the Plaine des Palmistes, take the Bébour forest road for 2.8 kilometres until you reach the fence.

The cryptomerias, just below the Gite de Belouve, indicate the beginning of the trail for the Trou de Fer. You will go through a magnificent forest of tamarinds. Watch out for the mud !

Ilet à Guillaume

Carte I.G.N. 1:25000 4402 RT Saint Denis. Difficulty : easy. Hiking time : 3.5 hours. Access : from Saint-Denis, take the route de la montagne for 15 kilometres. The trail lies on the right hand side of the Saint-Bernard road.

This trail is bordered with guavas, rose apples and casuarinas. A small god-like statue indicates the beginning of the trail. A metal bridge gives one access to the Bras de Guillaume.