Le Trou de Fer via the École Normale trail

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The trail given by Visorando is closed. I took it anyway because I didn't have a network connection to download another route when I arrived at the "trail closed" sign. It is closed because it is no longer maintained, but it is still passable despite some difficult sections where the vegetation is very dense and the planks that make up the trail are badly damaged in places. It's a shame because this trail is truly magnificent.
The iron hole is magical! It was my favourite hike because it's so breathtaking!

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Date of your route : Jul 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hiking made very difficult due to the school's decision to stop maintaining the trail. It is still possible, but vegetation has taken over in many places and the wooden walkways are unfortunately badly damaged along most of the route. It's a shame because the Bélouve forest is extraordinary in this area!

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Date of your route : Dec 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The school path was closed, but we were able to get through. You have to follow the wooden path when you can and walk on the beams as much as possible. Don't do this after it rains. We came back via the bridle path and were disappointed: more people and mud, less attractive and less pretty too.

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Date of your route : Nov 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The Ecole Normale trail is closed. We passed through without any problems. Advantage: no one else on the trail. On the way back, we took the normal trail, which was crowded and muddy.

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Date of your route : Feb 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The L'École Normale trail is closed due to bad weather, according to the forest rangers on patrol.
We took the Cavaliers trail in the opposite direction and after the 9, we followed the sign to the left that indicates Sentier du trou, but on the way back, we took the Visiorando trail, which is not slippery, less walking and less crowded. 3 hours
Thank you for the blue dot, which is a great guide!

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Date of your route : Nov 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The path to the teacher training college is closed. But we met some people who had taken it and had no problems apart from some damage to the path, which slowed them down a little. The spectacle at Trou de Fer is not to be missed... as is a cat waiting for something to nibble on from the walkers.

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Date of your route : Oct 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike from the Belouve refuge to enjoy the view of Salazie. We took the Trou de Fer trail all the way as it had just been rebuilt, greeting the Queen of Tamarins (and the ONF staff) along the way. The view was completely clear when we arrived at the lookout point! Between two helicopter flyovers, it felt like we were in a Greystoke landscape... We didn't linger because the trail is closed by prefectural order from August 2021. We returned via the teacher training college trail, where the wooden floor is in very poor condition in places: it is sometimes safer to walk on the sides, especially as the drought (yes, here too, unfortunately...) has left only a few traces of mud. From the Monique hillside to the Belouve lodge (starting point), the Virgin's Path is the most 'natural' part: few wooden floors, river crossings, lush vegetation and magnificent aromas to welcome you on arrival. The detour was really worth it.

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Date of your route : Dec 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Please note that due to rockfalls near the platform, the route is closed by prefectural order.
We still took the Cavalière trail (return from the normal route) to reach the end of the hike.
Do not stay too long on the platform and do not go there in large groups.
The site is magnificent and very impressive. Do not go too late because of the fog from 10 a.m. onwards.
We returned via the Bélouve lodge trail, which is magnificent but a little longer.
At the lodge, enjoy the view of Salazie and Hell Bourg.
This is a walk to do if you don't want to take a helicopter to Trou de Fer.

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Date of your route : Dec 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We set off from HELL BOURG via the Belouve lodge and headed for Trou de FER.
A magnificent, unobstructed view despite the weather forecast.
The BELOUVE lodge plateau is worth a stop for its unobstructed view of HELL BOURG and the SALAZIE cirque.

The climb is quite steep. We used walking sticks.
We are good walkers and took a little less time than indicated on the sign.

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Date of your route : Sep 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

At the end of the route, there is a long walk along the road to return to the starting point, but otherwise it is a beautiful hike.

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Date of your route : Oct 27, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike along the École Normale trail, which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to complete and 1 hour 30 minutes to return, with wooden walkways and steps along the entire route. Magnificent views upon arrival.

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Date of your route : Oct 06, 2017
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this hike starting from the Belouve lodge, which is marked on site as the access point to the Trou de Fer (don't miss the view of the Cirque de Salazie). After a slightly steep descent, we reached the forest track and soon turned right onto the path that joins the bridle path. We didn't see the queen of the tamarins, but perhaps the easy and fast walk made us less attentive. At the next intersection, we turned right to avoid the path in poor condition (marked by a small sign). The walk is easy on the bridle path and you quickly reach the school path that leads to the viewpoint. For the return trip, we made a circular route around the large pond and then rejoined the bridle path, first on the left and then on the right to return to the lodge.We weren't bothered by the mud as almost the entire route is on footbridges or logs. However, along the way, we never saw any signs for the teacher training college path, only for Coteau Monique.
A beautiful walk for everyone in a forest worthy of Jurassic Park. Contrary to what the photos suggest, the view of the waterfall is a little distant (don't forget your binoculars to enjoy it). After the very dense forest, the walk around the pond (very muddy in places) has the merit of opening up the view and transporting us... to the savannah.

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Date of your route : Dec 22, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

We did this hike on 15 December.
The trail is interesting but muddy up to your ankles!
For the less adventurous, it is possible to continue along the forest road.
The trail is less picturesque, as it is paved along the entire length, but your feet will stay dry!
In fact, once you reach the viewpoint, this route is recommended!
Personally, I found the view a little disappointing.

Enjoy your walk, everyone!

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Looking forward to seeing you I wish you a wonderful hike at Trou de Fer!

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Thank you for your reply.

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