Saint-Denis (La Réunion) walks

Located a short walk from Saint-Denis, this short trail allows you to discover some of the island’s endemic plants. It winds through one of the first forests to have been altered by humans. This trail is easily manageable with young children and offers beautiful views of Saint-Denis during the first part of the walk. It is also the starting point ofthe GR® R2. This walk shares a section with the Sentier Mercure, one of the island’s most popular trails.

The Mercure Trail is one of the island’s most popular trails. It connects La Providence to Le Brulé. It is also the first stage of the GRR2, or the last, depending on which direction you take it. The first part of the trail shares a section with the botanical trail. It runs the entire length through the beautiful Providence Departmental Forest, one of the first forests to be modified by humans and a true green lung just a stone’s throw from the town.

This itinerary offers a tour of Saint-Denis (Reunion Island), allowing you to visit the prefecture and see the main sights: colonial houses, the market and the jetty, in particular. In Saint-Denis, avoid travelling during ‘rush hour’; opt for off-peak times instead to avoid wasting time in traffic jams.

Here’s a short walk offering splendid views of the largest city in the French overseas territories! You can also visit the town of Saint-Denis with its many historic monuments. This walk follows the Sentier des Rampes and its cobbled sections. It can, however, get very hot when the sun is at its highest! This walk is suitable for families, as long as you enjoy walking!

The Chemin Crémont is an old track dating back to the 17th century which linked Saint-Denis to La Possession; it is now known as the Chemin des Anglais following the passage of the English, who used this route to capture Saint-Denis. The best-known section is the one between La Possession and Saint-Bernard, but there are many other short sections in the vicinity of La Montagne. This walk takes you along three sections that remain intact, starting from the Stade de la Redoute.

A distinctive feature of this walk is that it follows roads for long stretches. However, these are quiet during the week and are pleasant to walk along. It takes in little-known paths, including the Sentier Laverdure, which is nevertheless marked on maps. This will be an opportunity to enjoy stunning views in the area around Morne Saint-François. On the way back, don’t miss the Bassin Pilon Marianne, well known to locals, and its long water slide.

Pic Adam is named after one of the island’s botanists. Its western flank is criss-crossed by numerous small streams that often carry water. Several catchments were subsequently created and are linked by a pipeline designed to supply water to the homes downstream. It is possible to follow this pipeline on a walk that presents no major difficulties, but which does include some tricky sections for children, particularly on the way to the beautiful waterfall on the Ravine Blanche.

Pic Adam is a peak in the north of the island that is visible for several kilometres around due to its distinctive shape. There are two ways to reach it, both of which are described in this guide. This hike allows you to explore a small section of the trail linking La Roche Écrite to Bois de Nèfles. From its vantage point, there is a breathtaking panorama of the entire north. Its name comes from one of the island's first botanists.

Located at an altitude of around 1,400 metres, the Plaine d’Affouche overlooks Îlet à Guillaume and forms an integral part of the Roche Écrite Reserve. Keep your ears and eyes peeled, as you may spot or hear the tuit-tuit, a bird found only on Réunion and exclusively in this part of the island. Please note: this hike can be completed in under 8 hours. The elevation gain is overestimated: there is approximately 1,500 metres of ascent and descent, not 2,375.

The eleventh stage of the walk takes you right alongside the railway line. This stage is short and very easy. It is also the only section where you’ll follow the entire route of the railway line. This section is regularly used by joggers. The path runs fairly close to the coast and occasionally offers some lovely views of the sea. There are also numerous railway remains along this section.

Roche Écrite offers a beautiful view of the Cirque de Salazie, Gros Morne, Piton des Neiges, Col des Boeufs (access to Mafate) and beautiful views of the Cirque de Mafate, Grand Bénare and Maido. From Camp Mamode, access is less difficult than from Grand Ilet and shorter than from Dos d'Âne.

This family-friendly circular walk is situated in the hills above Saint-Denis. It can be completed in under an hour but does feature steep slopes with very high steps! This walk offers the chance to spot species endemic to the island, and much of the path is shaded. The path is regularly maintained by a local charity. The southernmost section, however, is in the open and offers magnificent views of the north of the island.

The title of this walk forms part of the route along the former TiTrain de la Réunion line: 126.2 km between Saint-Benoît and Saint-Pierre. This route runs parallel to the TiTrain route, which passes through a tunnel between Ravine à Jaques and Saint-Denis. Further on, the railway line passes through two other tunnels: one between Ravine à Jacques and La Grande Chaloupe, and another between La Grande Chaloupe and La Possession. The main attraction of this route is that it provides a continuous link along the railway route. The route is a return route that can be completed on foot or by bike along the old cliff-top road, which is now closed to motor vehicles. This walk can be complemented by a visit to La Grande Chaloupe, the headquarters of the TiTrain association, which works to preserve and promote Réunion’s railway heritage.

The Cirque de Salazie is dominated by several peaks, including Piton Plaine des Fougères. Two trails, starting from the Plaine des Fougères, lead to the eponymous peak and form a circular route. The plain is home to countless tamarind trees, each as remarkable as the next. The return trail features a few information boards. The southernmost section runs alongside an imposing escarpment, offering magnificent views of the Cirque de Salazie.

The Sainte-Suzanne River is teeming with remarkable pools and waterfalls. This walk takes in all the waterfalls between Bassin Cannes and Bassin Pilon. Most of the walk consists of a constant succession of fairly steep ascents and descents, some of which are quite dizzying. No fewer than ten waterfalls and pools can be seen on this walk, which is fairly short in terms of kilometres but will leave you with unforgettable memories.

La Roche Écrite rises to 2,276 metres and is accessible from several points. The route via Dos d'Ane is one of the longest, but also one of the most beautiful, with frequent views of the Cirque de Mafate in the first section. Some sections along the ridge are vertiginous and offer unique views. The detour via the Mare aux Cerfs and the Caverne Soldat adds an extra dimension to this long, challenging route.

This short hike offers magnificent views of the Mafate cirque on one side and the coast of La Possession on the other, with the Dos-d'Àne islet in the foreground. This is the easiest place to get a spectacular, unobstructed view of Mafate.