Salazie · Salazie
Trou de Fer
With a 725-metre drop, the highest waterfall in France and among the highest in the world
Duration
5h
Distance
9 km
Elevation gain
450 m
Route
Out-and-back
The viewpoint over the highest waterfall in France, a 725-metre drop in the heart of a green cirque — reached from the Bélouve plateau.
The route
A forest route from the Bélouve gîte to the Trou de Fer viewpoint, through one of the densest tropical rainforests on the island. The Trou de Fer is a spectacular chasm several hundred metres deep, carved out by the Rivière des Marsouins. 8.6 km out-and-back, about 4 h. The wet terrain — boardwalks, mud, slippery passages — can make walking tricky even in normal conditions.
Step by step
- D
Start · Maison de la Forêt car park (Bélouve)
Stage 1
Bélouve gîte
Stage 2
Trou de Fer viewpoint
Stage 3
High-altitude tropical rainforest
Trailhead
Wildlife and plants
High-altitude cloud forest: fanjans (tree ferns), highland tamarinds (tamarins des Hauts), mosses, endemic orchids. A habitat protected by Réunion National Park.
Photo: App photo library · Internal use
Sources (3)
- https://www.reunion.fr/organisez/vos-activites/les-randonnees-faciles/?listpage=2
- https://www.reunion.fr/organisez/conseils-de-voyage/conseils-pour-vos-vacances/conseils-pratiques-pour-la-randonnee/les-arretes-prefectoraux/arrete-n2026-591/
- ONF — arrêté n°2026-1657 du 22 septembre 2026
