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Hell-Bourg: Manouilh Spring
Walking/pedestrian
in Salazie
3.9
km
One-way
Walking/pedestrian
2h
Medium
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Manouilh, from his real name Lucien Emmanuel Lucilly, died in 1977. First a poacher and then part vagrant, part herbal tea maker, it was in 1916, during a walk in the forest, that he discovered, at the foot of a wall, several hot springs surrounded by deposits of an ochre colour. These waters are heavily laden with dissolved limestone and petrify the nearest plants, thus fossilising the vegetable matter. These waters rise from the depths through fractures visible on the wall at a temperature...
Manouilh, from his real name Lucien Emmanuel Lucilly, died in 1977. First a poacher and then part vagrant, part herbal tea maker, it was in 1916, during a walk in the forest, that he discovered, at the foot of a wall, several hot springs surrounded by deposits of an ochre colour. These waters are heavily laden with dissolved limestone and petrify the nearest plants, thus fossilising the vegetable matter. These waters rise from the depths through fractures visible on the wall at a temperature of approximately 31°C. Also containing iron, the water deposits this iron on the limestone concretions, producing this ochre colour when the iron oxidises.You may prefer to do this walk from Ilet à Vidot, which avoids the very slippery sections in the forest of Terre Plate. Also note that starting from Ilet à Vidot shortens this hike.
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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. You can also take the trail from Ilet à Vidot which joins this one at Terre Plate.
Steps
0 km: After walking past the stadium, start climbing the concrete steps and then the stony path surrounded by filaos.
0.5 km: You reach a first fork. 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 more enjoyable by magnificent views of the Cirque of Salazie.
1.2 km: After a straight line, the trail turns to the right and you reach the plateau of Terre Plate. To the right below the trail, you can take a break at the shelter and admire the beautiful view at the viewpoint located near the shelter.
1.6 km: You come across a forest track, which you follow to the right. Then take the trail to your left.
1.8 km: The trail is a slight slope on this plateau of cryptomerias, but progress is made difficult on the very slippery roots and pebbles covered with moss.
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.
2.5 km: You leave the forest of cryptomerias and cross the ravine on a wooden footbridge. The trail goes back into the undergrowth of the forest of cryptomerias.
2.7 km: The trail continues on a gentle slope to the junction. To the right, the path descends to Ilet à Vidot. Continue on the path to the left, signed Source Manouilh. The climb resumes under the cryptomerias.
3.0 km: The trail gets closer to the ravine of the Rivière du Mât and continues to climb. You start to see the slopes of Piton des Neiges up close.
3.3 km: The trail begins to descend into the ravine of the Rivière du Mât and the cryptomeria forest gives way to traditional vegetation of the humid highlands.
3.7 km: During the descent, you can admire the many waterfalls of the Rivière du Mât, then you arrive at a rustic wooden 2-metre ladder which helps you get down.
3.9 km: You arrive at the Rivière du Mât which takes its source on Piton des Neiges. An information panel provides some explanation about these springs. Cross the Rivière du Mât; the springs are on the other bank.
0.5 km: You reach a first fork. 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 more enjoyable by magnificent views of the Cirque of Salazie.
1.2 km: After a straight line, the trail turns to the right and you reach the plateau of Terre Plate. To the right below the trail, you can take a break at the shelter and admire the beautiful view at the viewpoint located near the shelter.
1.6 km: You come across a forest track, which you follow to the right. Then take the trail to your left.
1.8 km: The trail is a slight slope on this plateau of cryptomerias, but progress is made difficult on the very slippery roots and pebbles covered with moss.
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.
2.5 km: You leave the forest of cryptomerias and cross the ravine on a wooden footbridge. The trail goes back into the undergrowth of the forest of cryptomerias.
2.7 km: The trail continues on a gentle slope to the junction. To the right, the path descends to Ilet à Vidot. Continue on the path to the left, signed Source Manouilh. The climb resumes under the cryptomerias.
3.0 km: The trail gets closer to the ravine of the Rivière du Mât and continues to climb. You start to see the slopes of Piton des Neiges up close.
3.3 km: The trail begins to descend into the ravine of the Rivière du Mât and the cryptomeria forest gives way to traditional vegetation of the humid highlands.
3.7 km: During the descent, you can admire the many waterfalls of the Rivière du Mât, then you arrive at a rustic wooden 2-metre ladder which helps you get down.
3.9 km: You arrive at the Rivière du Mât which takes its source on Piton des Neiges. An information panel provides some explanation about these springs. Cross the Rivière du Mât; the springs are on the other bank.
- 510 meters of difference in height
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- Start altitude : 1004 m
- End altitude : 1332 m
- Maximum altitude : 1471 m
- Minimum altitude : 1004 m
- Total positive elevation : 510 m
- Total negative elevation : -181 m
- Max positive elevation : 121 m
- Min positive elevation : -114 m
