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Access: From Saint-Louis, head towards Les Makes, then La Fenêtre. Park at the Plateau de Montplaisir picnic area at the start of the trail, indicated by an ONF sign on the right.
(S/E) The trail descends gently. Leave the trail on the right that leads to a table and turn left. Then continue straight ahead at each junction. The trail descends slightly and runs alongside the picnic area, sometimes passing through the undergrowth.
(1) Then pass by an old track on the right. From here, you can enjoy a view of the Plaine du Bois de Nèfles and the mountain range of the same name. The trail is generally wide but sometimes muddy on this section.
(2) At the first crossroads, turn left and enter the beautiful Bras Patate valley. The path climbs steadily but gently. The forest is lush everywhere and you can sometimes hear the sound of the stream. Of course, try to spot the plant species endemic to Réunion, but it is mainly the island's endemic birds that put on a show. You may see papangues diving from the high rocky cliffs of the region. The fact that you can see the Fenêtre antenna means that the climb is coming to an end.
After about 45 minutes of climbing, you will reach the Bras Patate viewpoint, which offers a breathtaking view of the Cirque de Cilaos.
(3) Note: This viewpoint is slightly less well known than La Fenêtre, which can be reached in 20 minutes by taking a left turn for a challenging climb.
Enjoy the view and return to the starting point via the same route (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Difficult 
