From the Plateau des Chênes to La Roche Merveilleuse

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La Roche Merveilleuse offers a beautiful view of the Cirque de Cilaos. It would be a shame to miss it. There are a few trails here and there that allow you to hike peacefully around the viewpoint. There is even a discovery trail. The proposed hike is not particularly difficult.

Details

n°328894
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 261 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 254 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,497 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,312 m
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Photos

Spider
from the promontory
Cilaos
la Roche Merveilleuse platform

Description of the walk

Access:
From Cilaos: Take the D241 towards Bras-Sec. Continue to the Cryptoméria lodge. Take the path on the left that passes in front of the lodge. Go to the end of the path, which leads to the Plateau des Chênes picnic area.
From Bras-Sec: Drive towards Cilaos on the D241. Continue to the Cryptoméria lodge. Take the path on the right just after the lodge. Go to the end of the path which leads to the Plateau des Chênes picnic area.

(S/E) Enjoy the view of Cilaos from the starting point. Then go through the barrier and continue on Route Forestière 10 de la Roche Merveilleuse. This road climbs gently with long hairpin bends. The climb is pleasant and the path is easy to follow. You will be treated to panoramic views of Piton des Neiges and Cirque de Cilaos!

(1) Stay on Route Forestière 10 de la Roche Merveilleuse, ignoring any side roads.

(2) Stay on Route Forestière 10 de la Roche Merveilleuse, ignoring any side roads.

(3) After a 30-minute walk, you will reach another picnic area. After this, the road branches off to the east. You will then begin the descent towards La Roche Merveilleuse, with more splendid panoramic views of the cirque.

(4) The track ends after an hour's walk. Go through the barrier and continue along the road for about 200 metres, then look for the stairs on the left leading to Roche Merveilleuse (there is a sign saying Roche Merveilleuse followed by an arrow).

(5) Enjoy the splendid panorama before returning to the end of the track (at the barrier) via the same route.

(4) Then take the path that starts to the left of the barrier. The narrow, slippery and slightly uphill path winds through a forest of coloured woods. A few rare clearings offer beautiful views of Cilaos. After 1 hour and 15 minutes of walking, the path begins its descent towards the Plateau des Chênes.

(2) At the end of the trail, turn left and then immediately right. The trail once again skirts the forest road taken on the way there. Do not take the two trails that join the track; keep to the right.

(6) At the next junction, you can extend the hike by 10 minutes (there and back) by turning right to the Bassin Bleu (caution: dangerous and vertiginous path). Otherwise, turn left and then right at the next junction. Then continue to the Plateau des Chênes picnic area (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,313 m - Plateau des Chênes
  2. 1 : km 0.89 - alt. 1,385 m - Turn right
  3. 2 : km 1.68 - alt. 1,436 m - Stay on the forest road
  4. 3 : km 2.01 - alt. 1,462 m - Picnic area
  5. 4 : km 3.24 - alt. 1,430 m - End of the forest road
  6. 5 : km 3.41 - alt. 1,438 m - Roche Merveilleuse
  7. 6 : km 4.91 - alt. 1,349 m - Take the trail to the left of the barrier
  8. S/E : km 5.06 - alt. 1,313 m - Plateau des Chênes

Notes

Wear sturdy walking shoes.
Water available at the starting point.
Picnic areas available at the starting point, at La Roche Merveilleuse and on the forest road.

Worth a visit

See the viewpoint at La Roche Merveilleuse.
Take the fitness trail, the mountain bike route or the discovery trail
You can extend the walk by 10 minutes (there and back) by going to the blue pool (turn right at (6)) . Please note, however, that this is a dangerous and vertiginous trail!

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 17 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
VAN DEN BERGHE Christian
VAN DEN BERGHE Christian

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful circular walk. The walk starts from a car park in a lovely picnic area. The first part of the loop is on a gently sloping path with beautiful views of Cilaos (in good weather) and is suitable for young children. The end of the loop is in the forest and is a little more technical but still easy and very pleasant.

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User 3626762

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy and quick hike, consistent with the description.
Not very busy. Some viewpoints are obscured by vegetation, but others are very beautiful.

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davidelea38
davidelea38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Partly along a "wide" path, ending at the Roche Merveilleuse viewpoint, which is crowded because you can get there by car... but hey, the view is great! And the return trip takes a very nice little path.

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sagitaire50
sagitaire50

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

on that day, the route was not very busy but well frequented. When we set off, we passed a large group that was finishing their hike, and along the way we met several couples. At the start, on the Plateau des Chênes, there is a view of Cilaos. This hike is very pleasant, as most of it is in the shade of the forest. Some of the viewpoints described are no longer visible due to the growth of vegetation. Upon arrival at the Roche Merveilleuse platform, we discovered the magnificent view of Cilaos and the cirque surrounding it, a geological depression created by the Piton des Neiges, which impresses and dominates Cilaos to the north.

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catal33
catal33
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful scenery.

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Fara1
Fara1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk with a view of Cilaos from the start, without any particular difficulty
The forest trail is also very good, and the nearby Python des Neiges is simply impressive

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Kikinette
Kikinette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice hike in the forest, very pleasant and fairly easy
The view over Cilaos is beautiful

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Kidcreole
Kidcreole

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Plan to leave early in the morning to enjoy the view from the Belvédère de La Roche Merveilleuse, as clouds cover the peaks and sometimes the cirque of Cilaos from 10:00 am onwards.

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Happy Walker
Happy Walker

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. At this time of year, there is no one on the trails. Be sure to do the route in the direction indicated, as the marked path takes you up a very steep climb (it is better to take it on the way down).

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cpollin
cpollin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike.
If you're starting from Cilaos, it's probably better to walk from the village rather than drive up to the plateau des chênes. It adds 20 to 30 minutes to the walk.
Otherwise, it's perfect. Don't hesitate to take the detour to the blue pool.

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DIGUET
DIGUET

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Restricted tagging!

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marine.m30
marine.m30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

During the first part of the walk (on the forest road), there are few people. The climb is gentle, and the views of the cirque and the Piton des Neiges are incredible. Choosing this route allows you to climb gently to La Roche, avoiding the steep ascent (which most people take). A very beautiful walk

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docteurpierron
docteurpierron

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on a day of heavy rain, so not much to say about the views, but a route without difficulty and a pleasant walk

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Dooky
Dooky

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Fairly short hike with little elevation gain.
Blue pool 5 minutes into the route.
Lovely views

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PAPICO66
PAPICO66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Family hike, good explanations, impeccable timing.
Papico.

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