The Bras Rouge Circular from Cilaos

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A magnificent hike in the Cirque de Cilaos, with numerous streams and waterfalls, including Bras Rouge, Fouquet and Alfred. The hike sometimes follows a balcony path at the foot of the three Salazes and Piton des Neiges. You can take the time to relax in the Alfred pools and its small waterfall.

Details

n°26769540
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.17 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 904 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 902 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,380 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 894 m
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Photos

Waterfalls - viewpoint number 4
Alfred Waterfall
Notre Dame des Neiges Church
Cilaos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park in front of the magnificent Catholic church of Cilaos, Notre Dame des Neiges.

(S/E) Take the Route des Thermes, then theGR® 2R trail which descends to the bottom of the Vallon Bras des Étangs, towards the old spa, and then back up to the D242 road.

(1) Turn left onto this road and walk for about 250 metres until you see theGR® 2R trail descending to the left.

(2) Continue along this pleasant trail with a view of the Vallon du Bras des Étangs. You will pass under a large rock, forming a small tunnel. You will also see the Piton de Sucre. TheGR® leads to the impressive Bras Rouge waterfall. Be extremely careful: the rock is very slippery.

(3) There is a short detour to Bassin Fouquet and its eponymous waterfall.
To do this, before crossing the Bras Rouge riverbed, walk up the riverbed, sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right, climbing over large boulders.
After about 1 km, you will come to the beautiful Fouquet waterfall and its pool.

(4) Retrace your steps to the previous fork.

(3) Cross the ford and begin the ascent ofthe GR® towards the Route de l'Îlet à Cordes to the altitude of 1161, keeping Piton de Sucre in your sights.

(5) You will then alternate between ascents and descents. This entire section is a balcony overlooking the Bras Rouge and requires the utmost attention. Below, you will see the Fouquet Waterfall, as well as the Trois Salazes, Piton des Neiges and Gros Morne. Arrive at the bottom of the Gobert ravine.

(6) Walk a few metres up the riverbed on the left to see a small waterfall.
After several ascents and descents under the Filaos, you will arrive at the junction ofthe GR® 1R andGR® 2R, which leads to Col Taïbit, the passage to the Cirque de Mafate.

(7) Continue right on theGR® 1R. The descent is quite steep until you reach the Bras Rouge ford, a few steps from the Alfred waterfall and its pools where you can cool off.

(8) Take the path that climbs steeply towards the Îlet à Cordes road (D242).

(9) Cross the road and take the path that climbs steeply above the balcony gardens towards Îlet du Bois Rouge. Continue along the path, where you can enjoy the view on the other side of the valley, to reach the highest point of this hike. After a few rocky areas, you will come to a more pleasant section through a wood.
The path descends steeply to the departmental road, which you follow to the right for a few metres.

(10) Turn right onto theGR® to reach the thermal baths.

(11) Continue the end of this hike to the right on Route du Bras Sec, then Chemin du Séminaire. Pass behind the church and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,196 m - Parking in front of the church.
  2. 1 : km 0.79 - alt. 1,135 m - D242, on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.09 - alt. 1,175 m - Fork in the road, left, GR
  4. 3 : km 3.25 - alt. 905 m - Fork in the road. Return trip to Bassin Fouquet. - Cascade du Bras Rouge
  5. 4 : km 3.84 - alt. 948 m - Bassin Fouquet and its waterfall
  6. 5 : km 5.21 - alt. 1,157 m - Altitude 1161
  7. 6 : km 6.37 - alt. 1,166 m - Ravine Gobert. Small waterfall on the left
  8. 7 : km 6.57 - alt. 1,180 m - Fork in the road, to the right, GR1R
  9. 8 : km 7.11 - alt. 1,015 m - Alfred Waterfall and its pools
  10. 9 : km 7.83 - alt. 1,199 m - D242, opposite
  11. 10 : km 11.16 - alt. 1,313 m - Fork in the road, turn right, GR
  12. 11 : km 11.63 - alt. 1,246 m - Turn right at the junction onto Route du Bras Sec. - Plateau des Chênes
  13. S/E : km 12.17 - alt. 1,196 m - Parking in front of the church.

Notes

As with all hikes on Réunion Island, wear good walking shoes.
Take enough water, as it can get very hot on this route.

Worth a visit

Visit Cilaos: https://www.france-voyage.com/tourisme/c...
Nestled in the heart of a magnificent cirque, at an altitude of around 1,200 metres, the spa town of Cilaos not only enjoys an exceptional environment but also a pleasant climate and plenty of sunshine. Accessible via a narrow, winding road with no fewer than 400 bends, this pretty little town in the island's highlands lies at the foot of the famous Piton des Neiges, at an altitude of over 3,000 metres.

An ideal starting point for hikes to nearby natural sites, Cilaos also has many shops, restaurants and accommodation options, making it a popular stopover for visitors and hiking enthusiasts.

With its thermal spa offering wellness and fitness treatments, Réunion's only spa resort is also a delight for relaxation enthusiasts and hikers looking for a moment of relaxation after a long walk such as the difficult ascent of Piton des Neiges! Specialising in the prevention and treatment of rheumatism and digestive disorders, the Cilaos thermal baths offer, in addition to their hydrotherapy services, complementary treatments such as sauna, hammam, manual relaxation and seaweed wraps.

Not far from there, on your way back to the town centre, you can stop off at the beautiful Notre-Dame-des-Neiges church and its charming flower garden, before strolling along Rue du Père Boiteau, a lively street lined with shops and restaurants. For shopping, head to the small covered market, which not only sells the island's flagship specialities, such as wine, sparkling water and Cilaos lentils, but also spices and flavoured rums. For fresh fruit and vegetables, local produce and other handicrafts, there is a lovely market every Sunday morning on Rue des Écoles.

Before setting off on a hike around the town, you can also visit the Chai de Cilaos and its Maison des Vins, a must-see place to learn more about this vineyard and its production, or discover the Maison de la Broderie, where you can admire beautiful traditional embroidery, a skill passed down from generation to generation.

Those visiting the area in October should not miss the lentil festival, which is held every year at harvest time. During this festive event, the famous dried vegetable from the Cirque de Cilaos is celebrated through exhibitions, conferences, entertainment, tastings and a gastronomic competition.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Mbeaup
Mbeaup

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route in the Cirque de Cilaos. It can get a bit crowded near the waterfall, but that's to be expected as it's easily accessible from the road (outside the hiking trail).
The path is very well maintained and marked, with beautiful views; special care should be taken by those prone to vertigo as there are a few tricky sections. The route is suitable for hikers who are sure-footed and well equipped with shoes and walking sticks. The route took 6 hours to complete as fatigue was setting in after 6 days of trekking in the 3 cirques (at over 60 years of age).

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User 27674208

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Done today under beautiful sunshine! We wanted to venture to point 4 to see the waterfall, but it was impossible to get past certain rocks... despite being adventurous, we couldn't see anything.
Otherwise, the rest of the route is very well marked, with magnificent hikes offering views and various waterfalls. We stopped for lunch at Alfred's Basin, which was quite busy. The hike can be quite intense if, like us, you do it the day after climbing Piton des Neiges 🥲 (ouch, our legs!). Apart from these two beautiful climbs, it is not particularly difficult, the path is quite hilly (ideal for trail running).

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Les marcheurs angevins
Les marcheurs angevins

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in the opposite direction to the one indicated (on the advice of our local host, who said that although the elevation gain is the same, the route is less difficult).
Of particular note is the Gobert waterfall, which is rarely mentioned but very beautiful (secluded and with magnificent rock colours).

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Kenimo
Kenimo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, well marked. Magnificent landscapes and views. Not too crowded on the trails, but when we arrived at Bassin Bleu, it was packed—it felt like we were on the Côte d'Azur . It must be said that it's easily accessible via a path that quickly leads to the road without having to hike . Anyway, once past this pool, the hike continues at a leisurely pace.

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Ludo10
Ludo10

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, magnificent scenery, opportunity to swim in the pools,
Fairly shaded trail.
The trail that goes up the river is more or less difficult, easily accessible when the water level is fairly low, but the view of the waterfall is magnificent. (The descent is very easy.)
Complete trail. A must-do!
Time: 5 hours 10 minutes

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Didier Magnet
Didier Magnet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views of the Cirque de Cilaos. Alternating between forest passages and other much more open areas. Several opportunities to swim in rivers and natural pools (don't forget your swimsuit!).
The actual elevation gain is closer to 660 m (rather than 1,059 m as stated in the description).
There are some nice climbs but no particular difficulties.

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Didier Magnet
Didier Magnet

A beautiful hike with magnificent views of the Cirque de Cilaos. There are several opportunities to swim in rivers and natural pools (don't forget your swimsuit!).
The actual elevation gain is closer to 660 m (rather than 1,059 m as stated in the description).

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Ferry Jean Luc
Ferry Jean Luc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike with waterfalls to see, well-designed route, there are some nice climbs.

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Olympel
Olympel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. The climbs are not difficult, the scenery is magnificent, and the hike is well paced with various waterfalls. The Alfred waterfall/pool is better known as Fouquet. The route is well marked, so there is no need for an app to find your way.
It takes about 5 hours without the detour to the first optional waterfall.

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Philippe Chargy
Philippe Chargy
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike! The hike begins on a path surrounded by trees on the mountainside with splendid views of the valley. The red-armed waterfall is the lowest point. After that, it's uphill. The path is still just as beautiful. When you reach point 9, you start climbing again after crossing the road. This is the least enjoyable part, but it's still very pleasant. The final section is not as steep as the elevation profile suggests. It's actually quite easy going. If this is your first hike (as it was for us), it will make you want to do more.

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Jasminewafaa
Jasminewafaa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wonderful hike!!! We couldn't make it to marker 4 because the rocky path was impassable and it had rained in the previous days, so there was a lot of water. The section leading up to marker 5 is quite difficult, with an elevation gain of about 30 minutes, but it's worth it once you get to the top!
The circular is really nice, but be careful if it has rained beforehand as some areas can be slippery.

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