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La Nouvelle - Trois Roches - Roche Plate
Walking/pedestrian
in La Possession
8.0
km
One-way
Walking/pedestrian
4h 25min
Hard
-
Reunion Island is simply teeming with beautiful places and two of the most beautiful are undoubtedly Trois Roches and Plaine aux Sables. Trois Roches is known for being the most beautiful place in Mafate. It's where extremely hard and polished lava covers the basalt in the bed of la Rivière des Galets. The river then flows through a deep rift into a beautiful waterfall, in front of which sit three huge blocks of basalt: Trois Roches. As for Plaine aux Sables, it's hard to describe its beauty...
Reunion Island is simply teeming with beautiful places and two of the most beautiful are undoubtedly Trois Roches and Plaine aux Sables. Trois Roches is known for being the most beautiful place in Mafate. It's where extremely hard and polished lava covers the basalt in the bed of la Rivière des Galets. The river then flows through a deep rift into a beautiful waterfall, in front of which sit three huge blocks of basalt: Trois Roches. As for Plaine aux Sables, it's hard to describe its beauty in a few words. These two places where solitude, beauty and romance prevail make this hike a must if you decide to visit Mafate.
As you cross the sumptuous Plaine Aux Sables, you can stop at the tomb of Luçay and his son Vincent where there are always flowers. They represent the heavy price (165 dead) paid by Reunion Island during the cyclone of 1948.Take caps or hats and sun cream because you will leave the oasis of Trois Roches to cross several dry plateaux at the foot of the Maïdo rampart under a blazing sun. The river bed near the filao pines is is a great place to go for a pleasant swim and at no risk between 11am and 2pm when it's picnic time, but make sure you don't get too close to the edge of the waterfall. It's very slippery because the rock has been polished by the water. One reckless hiker has already suffered a non fatal fall in this rift.
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Steps
0 km - Leave La Nouvelle climbing in the direction of Marla and Trois Roches passing alongside Relais de Mafate (Panel 01).
0.3 km - Pass in front of the La Nouvelle sign and go downhill (Panel 02).
0.9 km - The end of the descent, the path begins to climb gently
1.3 km - The path gets steeper in the second half to finish at this junction (Panel 03). The path turns to the left towards Marla and goes straight down towards Trois Roches (Panel 04). Bear right.
1.5 km - You will reach a new junction (Panel 05). To the left is Marla and the Gravina refuge. Continue straight down.
1.6 km - The descent ends with a very small ladder (Panel 06).
1.9 km - Cross ravine aux Sables (Panel 07), and then climb the steep path as far as the bend before reaching Plaine aux Sables (Panel 08).
2.0 km - You quickly reach Plaine aux Sables (Panel 09), and Luçay and Vincent's tomb (Panel 10). This is a magical place, but don't hang around for too long because it's still a long way to Roche Plate.
2.3 km - The end of Plaine aux Sables with a magnificent panorama behind you (Panel 11).
2.5 km - The path passes alongside a field of lentils to the left and a wooden Creole house with a tin roof to right (Panel 12).
2.6 km - Now you have reached the oratory. The descent which follows is a bit steep as the path drops by 200 metres in altitude (Panel 13).
3.1 km - The descent ends in scree (Panel 14). At this junction, the path to the left goes to Marla and to the right towards Trois Roches. Turn right and in the distance you will see Trois Roches and all the filao palms.
3.7 km - You reach Trois Roches, which is just as extraordinary as Plaine aux Sables (Panels 15, 16 and 17). This is a beautiful place for a picnic. Then you leave Trois Roches by following the left bank of la Rivière des Galets downstream.
3.9 km - After 150 metres you will walk alongside a property on your left (Panel 18).
4.9 km - After a small descent (Panel 19), the path climbs back to the rampart following the Chevaquine ravine (Panel 20).
5.3 km - The path goes down again (Panel 21) then goes closer to the rampart (Panel 22).
6.2 km - The path climbs again and moves away from the rampart (Panel 23). The view becomes a panorama over the west and south of Mafate. There is a succession of false flats and climbs (Panels 24 and 25).
6.6 km - Now you've reached the long descent on this path to Roche Plate (Panel 26).
7.2 km - When you get to the junction (Panel 27), take the path on the left. The path on the right is a short cut to reach Roche Plate les Hauts and Le Bronchard.
7.8 km - In front of you is an extremely beautiful view of Roche Plate and the descent becomes steeper (Panels 28 and 29). You will soon reach a junction. To the right the path goes to Roche Plate les Hauts and straight ahead to Roche Plate school.
8.0 km - After descending gently for 150 metres, you will arrive at Roche Plate school (Panel 30).
0.3 km - Pass in front of the La Nouvelle sign and go downhill (Panel 02).
0.9 km - The end of the descent, the path begins to climb gently
1.3 km - The path gets steeper in the second half to finish at this junction (Panel 03). The path turns to the left towards Marla and goes straight down towards Trois Roches (Panel 04). Bear right.
1.5 km - You will reach a new junction (Panel 05). To the left is Marla and the Gravina refuge. Continue straight down.
1.6 km - The descent ends with a very small ladder (Panel 06).
1.9 km - Cross ravine aux Sables (Panel 07), and then climb the steep path as far as the bend before reaching Plaine aux Sables (Panel 08).
2.0 km - You quickly reach Plaine aux Sables (Panel 09), and Luçay and Vincent's tomb (Panel 10). This is a magical place, but don't hang around for too long because it's still a long way to Roche Plate.
2.3 km - The end of Plaine aux Sables with a magnificent panorama behind you (Panel 11).
2.5 km - The path passes alongside a field of lentils to the left and a wooden Creole house with a tin roof to right (Panel 12).
2.6 km - Now you have reached the oratory. The descent which follows is a bit steep as the path drops by 200 metres in altitude (Panel 13).
3.1 km - The descent ends in scree (Panel 14). At this junction, the path to the left goes to Marla and to the right towards Trois Roches. Turn right and in the distance you will see Trois Roches and all the filao palms.
3.7 km - You reach Trois Roches, which is just as extraordinary as Plaine aux Sables (Panels 15, 16 and 17). This is a beautiful place for a picnic. Then you leave Trois Roches by following the left bank of la Rivière des Galets downstream.
3.9 km - After 150 metres you will walk alongside a property on your left (Panel 18).
4.9 km - After a small descent (Panel 19), the path climbs back to the rampart following the Chevaquine ravine (Panel 20).
5.3 km - The path goes down again (Panel 21) then goes closer to the rampart (Panel 22).
6.2 km - The path climbs again and moves away from the rampart (Panel 23). The view becomes a panorama over the west and south of Mafate. There is a succession of false flats and climbs (Panels 24 and 25).
6.6 km - Now you've reached the long descent on this path to Roche Plate (Panel 26).
7.2 km - When you get to the junction (Panel 27), take the path on the left. The path on the right is a short cut to reach Roche Plate les Hauts and Le Bronchard.
7.8 km - In front of you is an extremely beautiful view of Roche Plate and the descent becomes steeper (Panels 28 and 29). You will soon reach a junction. To the right the path goes to Roche Plate les Hauts and straight ahead to Roche Plate school.
8.0 km - After descending gently for 150 metres, you will arrive at Roche Plate school (Panel 30).
- 475 meters of difference in height
-
- Start altitude : 1426 m
- End altitude : 1080 m
- Maximum altitude : 1482 m
- Minimum altitude : 1079 m
- Total positive elevation : 475 m
- Total negative elevation : -821 m
- Max positive elevation : 155 m
- Min positive elevation : -205 m
