The climb up Ravine Barrage

Avoid this route during or after heavy rain. Allow around 4 hours for the round trip!

Access: take the N1 towards Saint-Louis and exit at the Usine du Gol junction. At the roundabout, take the second exit towards Saint-Louis town centre. Pass the petrol station and take the second road on the left. Do not go past the bridge over the Ravine du Gol; if you do, turn back and take the first road on the right. At the roundabout, take the first exit. Pass a culvert, then turn onto the first track on the left and park immediately on the right at the next track.

(S/E) Follow the track. It allows you to warm up on flat ground whilst passing close to some ruins. Continue straight on at every junction and ignore the tracks branching off on either side, which lead to private property.

However, the track soon ends in a dead end: head down to the ravine. This marks the start of 7 kilometres of pebbles! It couldn’t be simpler from here: just follow the ravine to the quarry. The sun can be quite intense when it’s at its zenith, though: it’s best to do this hike in winter. Rock enthusiasts will be in their element on this route. The rocks are smaller at the start before growing larger as you progress.

A drainage channel runs along the right bank of the ravine. However, it has been damaged in places following the recent cyclones. The subsequent floods have turned the ravine into a veritable highway of pebbles. You walk alongside high rock faces which, however, will soon be overrun by butterfly vine if nothing is done. The vegetation is not exceptional, but there are a few remarkable trees on the right bank. The cliff face becomes increasingly imposing as you proceed. The same is true of the pebbles.

The first pool is reached in just over an hour. You will need to wade across several times after that, but the water flow is generally low. This pool is situated halfway up the ascent.

(1) Shortly after passing the first pool, look out for a cave on the right bank. It is, however, nothing special. The pools follow one after another. The flow is very low most of the time, but it is always a relief to see water in this dry ravine.

Pass close to the remains of an old low wall, then close to a water intake on the right bank.

(2) You’ll reach the Source Barrage. It’s easy to spot thanks to the water seeping from the rock faces on the left bank. You might come across a few ducks and goats during the climb. The broken-up section isn’t far now. Butterfly vine has taken over everything, and there is no way to get past it. Then step over a massive orange pipe on a concrete structure. It climbs vertiginously up the walls on either side of the ravine.

(3) The break is visible two bends after the Source Barrage. It is impossible to go any higher. This break is situated at the confluence of the Ravine du Mouchoir Gris and the Bras Montplaisir, which form the Ravine Barrage at this point. You may see two waterfalls here, but most of the time they are not flowing.

Take a few minutes to rest and return to the starting point via the same route (S/E).

Route to avoid during or after heavy rain.
The route mainly follows the bottom of a ravine.
Allow around 4 hours for the round trip!
There is a bakery on the left-hand side of the road on the way to the starting point.

Places of interest:

The Ravine du Gol aqueduct (on the right-hand side of the road on the way to the starting point
The oratory shortly after the start, continuing uphill towards Maison Rouge (continue uphill on the road at the (S/E)).
(1) The cave.
(2) The Barrage Spring.
(3) The quarry.

Places to visit:

L'Usine du Gol: more info

The MADOI (Museum of Decorative Arts of the Indian Ocean) or Maison Rouge Estate. Continue up the path towards Maison Rouge from the (S/E). The museum is on the right-hand side of the road.
The MADOI.