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Start from the picnic area in front of the forest house.
(S/E) Follow the road on the left for 150m to reach the start ofthe GR® R1, where you can also park.
Take theGR® to the right, heading towards the Belouve Lodge. It starts as a concrete path that quickly turns into a gently sloping trail at first, then climbs increasingly steeply in switchbacks. Several wayside shrines along the way and beautiful views of Hell-Bourg and the Cirque de Salazie.
(1) The climb ends with concrete steps and the remains of an old cable car. A short descent into a ravine, followed by a climb up the other side, leads to the Bélouve lodge site.
Magnificent views of the Cirque de Salazie, a water tap and picnic tables.
(2) Take the path eastwards for about fifty metres until you come to a sign with a hiking map and the start of the path marked "Trou de Fer". The path, which is very muddy, winds through the forest. Once you reach the Fleurs Jaunes forest road, follow it to the left for a good hundred metres, then leave it to take the Trou du Fer path on the right. Join the bridle path, a wide stony track.
(3) Follow the bridle path to the left towards the north-east.
(4) After 850m, the Trou de Fer path branching off to the left was closed for renovation. We therefore had to continue along the bridle path for 1.3km, until the junction with the École Normale path.
(5) Take this path to the left, heading north, to reach the Trou de Fer viewpoint.
(6) Return along the same path to the junction with the bridle path.
(5) Continue straight on southwards towards Plateau Cochons, ignoring the path that branches off to the left 80m further on.
(7) The path runs alongside a depression in the forest, the Grande Mare, which was completely dry in early November. Continue to the junction with a forest track.
(8) Follow the track southwards towards Coteau Monique and the Bébour-Bélouve forest road.
(9) Pass a picnic area. At the end of the forest track, continue along the path heading south-west, still towards the forest road.
(10) When you reach the Bébour-Bélouve road, follow it to the right for about 100m, then turn left onto the Vierge track, which is closed off by a barrier.
(11) After 250m, take the path on the right, signposted “Lodge de Belouve”. Follow it until you rejoin the La Vierge forest track.
(12) Do not take the forest track opposite, but head left instead. After a second hairpin bend, there is a viewpoint overlooking the forest.
(13) Shortly after the viewpoint, take the Tamarinaie path on the right to reach the rim of the Cirque de Salazie.
(14) Turn onto the path on the right towards the Belouve Lodge, following the edge of the rim with lovely views of the Cirque de Salazie in places.
(15) On reaching the pylon, a viewpoint offers a stunning view of the cirque. Then take the track back to the Belouve Lodge.
(2) Then take the same path as on the way up to descend to Hell-Bourg and the forest house (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Very difficult 
Easy 
