Refuge de la Caverne Dufour (Piton des Neiges)
HIKING GÎTE
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Hell Bourg - Cap Anglais - Gite du Piton Des Neiges
Walking/pedestrian
in Salazie
6.7
km
One-way
Walking/pedestrian
3h 55min
Hard
-
The Cap Anglais Trail is a challenge. It involves on the one hand a considerable difference in altitude, but with a little training, you can reach Cap Anglais in less than 3 hours without too much trouble. It passes through Terre Plate where lots of stones and wooden planks are slippery. The real surprise is climbing the rampart between Terre Plate and Cap Anglais in a beautiful and very typical humid tropical rainforest.Be careful: this trail is one of the most difficult paths in Reunion Island. The height gain is considerable and the end of the ascent of Cap Anglais is often completed in mist. The first part of this path merges with the path leading to Source Manouilh (Manouilh Spring). Set off very early in the morning. Leaving very early is important because the mist very quickly rises up the ramparts around 10.00 am. Bring warm clothes and a waterproof jacket.
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- Points of interest
1
How to reach the start
Head for Salazie by the D48, then one kilometre after the village, at the junction shortly after the Voile de la Mariée waterfall, continue straight ahead towards Hell-Bourg. Pass through Hell-Bourg and turn left towards Ilet à Vidot. At the end of this road, don’t turn right towards Ilet à Vidot, but left towards Bé Mahot, the stadium. A panel also indicates Terre Plate and Cap Anglais. Continue ahead through the right hairpin turn, then take the road on the right. It leads to the stadium and fish farm where you can park your vehicle. To find the start of the path, walk along the stadium to the right and take the alley between the stadium and the shacks.
Steps
0 km: After passing the stadium (panel 01), start climbing the concrete steps and then the stony path surrounded by filaos (panel 02).
0.5 km: Reach a first fork (panel 03). Go straight ahead, the path on the left coming from a small hamlet outside Hell Bourg: Bé Mahot.
0.8 km: The gentle slope gives way to a slightly steeper zigzag climb, but this ascent is made easier by its beautiful views of Cirque of Salazie (panel 05).
1.2 km: After a straight line, the trail turns to the right and you reach the plateau of Terre Plate. On the right below the trail, you can take a break at the shelter (panel 06) and admire the beautiful view at the viewpoint located near the shelter (panel 07).
1.6 km: You come across a forest track, which you follow to the right (panel 08). Then take the trail to your left.
1.8 km: The trail is relatively flat on this plateau of cryptomeria, but progress is made difficult on the very slippery roots and pebbles covered with moss (panel 09).
2.2 km: You reach the junction, where the two paths separate (panel 10). To the right, the path goes to Manouilh spring and Ilet à Vidot, and to the left it goes to Cap Anglais.
2.6 km: You come out of the forest of cryptomeria and pass Bras Sec ravine. The path continues with a climb up steps on the left (panel 11).
2.7 km: Climb towards the rampart, and the vegetation changes. It’s now a humid tropical forest composed of tamarinds, coloured wood and tree ferns, making you think you’re in Bélouve (panels 12 and 13).
3.0 km: A small plateau lets you get your breath back and the white cross of Cap Anglais is visible at the top of the rampart (panel 14).
3.3 km: The climb becomes very steep and lush vegetation surrounds you. You often have to use your hands to climb the tallest steps.
3.8 km: After a short section that’s less steep, too short to catch your breath, the climb resumes (panel 15), and the top of the rampart is near.
4.2 km: The last part of the ascent is rough and seemingly endless, and you’re at Cap Anglais (panel 16).
4.3 km: The trail now gently rises among the thickets.
4.6 km: Now the trail moves right away from the edge of the rampart and the vegetation, made up of thickets, falls away more and more.
6.6 km: The slope becomes very gentle and the thickets become smaller and smaller (panels 17 and 18), and you see in the distance the Piton des Neiges gite.
7.1 km: You’ve reached the gite (panel 19).
0.5 km: Reach a first fork (panel 03). Go straight ahead, the path on the left coming from a small hamlet outside Hell Bourg: Bé Mahot.
0.8 km: The gentle slope gives way to a slightly steeper zigzag climb, but this ascent is made easier by its beautiful views of Cirque of Salazie (panel 05).
1.2 km: After a straight line, the trail turns to the right and you reach the plateau of Terre Plate. On the right below the trail, you can take a break at the shelter (panel 06) and admire the beautiful view at the viewpoint located near the shelter (panel 07).
1.6 km: You come across a forest track, which you follow to the right (panel 08). Then take the trail to your left.
1.8 km: The trail is relatively flat on this plateau of cryptomeria, but progress is made difficult on the very slippery roots and pebbles covered with moss (panel 09).
2.2 km: You reach the junction, where the two paths separate (panel 10). To the right, the path goes to Manouilh spring and Ilet à Vidot, and to the left it goes to Cap Anglais.
2.6 km: You come out of the forest of cryptomeria and pass Bras Sec ravine. The path continues with a climb up steps on the left (panel 11).
2.7 km: Climb towards the rampart, and the vegetation changes. It’s now a humid tropical forest composed of tamarinds, coloured wood and tree ferns, making you think you’re in Bélouve (panels 12 and 13).
3.0 km: A small plateau lets you get your breath back and the white cross of Cap Anglais is visible at the top of the rampart (panel 14).
3.3 km: The climb becomes very steep and lush vegetation surrounds you. You often have to use your hands to climb the tallest steps.
3.8 km: After a short section that’s less steep, too short to catch your breath, the climb resumes (panel 15), and the top of the rampart is near.
4.2 km: The last part of the ascent is rough and seemingly endless, and you’re at Cap Anglais (panel 16).
4.3 km: The trail now gently rises among the thickets.
4.6 km: Now the trail moves right away from the edge of the rampart and the vegetation, made up of thickets, falls away more and more.
6.6 km: The slope becomes very gentle and the thickets become smaller and smaller (panels 17 and 18), and you see in the distance the Piton des Neiges gite.
7.1 km: You’ve reached the gite (panel 19).
- 1486 meters of difference in height
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- Start altitude : 1004 m
- End altitude : 2478 m
- Maximum altitude : 2481 m
- Minimum altitude : 1004 m
- Total positive elevation : 1486 m
- Total negative elevation : -11 m
- Max positive elevation : 455 m
- Min positive elevation : -4 m
