RandoMafate

South of Réunion Island

Nez Coupé de Sainte-Rose from Pas de Bellecombe

Moderate
Distance4.9km
Ascent90m
Estimated time1 h 40
One way2,038 – 2,356 m−370 m of descentStart Pas de Bellecombe – Jacob
  • Enclos rampart
  • Piton Partage
  • View of the Fournaise
  • Rivière de l'Est
  • Highland tamarinds
  • Close to the drop
  • Climb on the way back
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The Nez Coupé de Sainte-Rose, at 2,075 m, is the tip of the rampart between the north of the Enclos Fouqué and the upper Rivière de l'Est valley. From Pas de Bellecombe, a path follows this rampart past the Piton Partage and drops through tamarind forest to the Nez Coupé platform, facing the north side of Piton de la Fournaise. Allow 4.9 km out, mostly downhill, and the same way back, where most of the climbing is.

Map and profile

Hover over the profile or the trace: the marker follows on both.

Nez coupé de Sainte-Rose Start 1 km
2,100 m2,200 m2,300 m2,400 m Pas de Bellecombe – JacobNez coupé de Sainte-Rose 02 km4 km 2,100 m2,200 m2,300 m2,400 m 02 km4 km
One way, 4.9 km · +90 m / −370 m
Stops: markers on the trace and on the profile

Stops

  1. Pas de Bellecombe – JacobPlacekm 0.0 2,334 m
  2. Nez coupé de Sainte-RosePlacekm 4.9 2,070 m

In pictures

Pas de Bellecombe – Jacob
On the trail · km 0.2
On the trail · km 0.6
Trail statusNo known closure on this route
Checked on 7 October 2026 · ONF ordersClosed trails in the south of the island →

The route

The start is at Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob, at the end of the Volcano road, 25 km from Bourg-Murat. From the car park, walk to the viewpoint and then the Enclos gate, which overlooks the Formica Léo and the staircase down into the Enclos. The Nez Coupé path does not go down: it follows the rampart eastwards, marked in white, first over rubble and lava, in full sun among the heather.

It climbs gently to the Piton Partage, at about 2,355 m, topped by masts closed to the public. A fenced viewpoint overlooks the Enclos and the top of the Grandes Pentes. This is the high point of the hike. The path then drops for a long way, down big steps and log-held ruts, into an ever thicker forest of highland tamarinds. It narrows and often runs less than a metre from the edge of the rampart, hidden by the vegetation. To the left opens the upper Rivière de l'Est valley as far as the Cassé, to the right the Enclos.

A short climb leads to the Nez Coupé de Sainte-Rose platform and its viewpoint indicator. The view takes in the north side of Piton de la Fournaise, the Plaine des Osmondes, the Grandes Pentes and the coast from Saint-Benoît to Sainte-Rose. The turn to the platform is easy to miss: the path carrying on towards the savanna is the Savane Cimetière, closed since a large rockslide at the Cassé de la Rivière de l'Est. The way back is the same, with the climb back up to the Piton Partage, the hardest part of the day.

Good to know

The path runs along the rampart, outside the Enclos: the Enclos access restrictions do not apply to it, but an eruption can close the Volcano road. There is no water on the way, only a snack bar at the start. October is the driest month at Bellecombe, but clouds rise early on the Rivière de l'Est side: set off around 7 am. Keep children close, as the drop is right next to the path, and take care on the steps, slippery after rain. RandoMafate shows the ONF trail closures and the forecast for the hike before you leave, keeps the map offline when fog hides the waymarks, and your close ones follow your outing on a simple web page.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to reach the Nez Coupé de Sainte-Rose?

Allow about three and a half to four hours there and back from the Pas de Bellecombe car park, two and a quarter of them on the way out. RandoMafate estimates 1 h 40 of walking for the way out, without breaks.

Can you go with children?

As far as the Piton Partage, yes: the out-and-back is about 5 km, almost flat, and takes an hour and a half. To the Nez Coupé, the long descent down the steps and the climb back make it harder for young children.

Can you watch an eruption from the Piton Partage or the Nez Coupé?

Yes, when the eruption is in the north of the Enclos: the Piton Partage is a good viewing spot, and the August 2015 eruption was watched from the Nez Coupé. Most eruptions, though, happen on the other side or towards the Grandes Pentes, better seen from the Piton de Bert.

Can you combine it with the Dolomieu crater?

Both start from the same car park, but doing both makes a day of over 20 km. You can also add just the out-and-back to the Piton Partage to the Dolomieu, about an hour more.

More hikes in the south of the island