Hiking in Black River Gorges
Over 60 km of free trails through the island's last great native forest — from a ten-minute viewpoint to a seven-hour traverse.
What does it cost, and where do you start?
Entry to the national park is completely free. This deserves repeating: several websites advertise "trail fees" of over a thousand rupees — those are private guiding rates, not an entrance ticket. You can hike here without paying anything and without booking.
Three gateways depending on what you are after: the Black River visitor centre on the west side, at sea level, to climb up into the forest; Pétrin on the plateau, to start high; and the gorges viewpoint on the Chamarel road, for the view without the effort. Trails range from 2.5 to 7.5 hours of walking.
Which trail to choose
The Macchabée trail is the great classic: some ten kilometres through shaded highland forest, ending at a viewpoint that opens onto the whole valley. It offers the park's best effort-to-reward ratio and is the longest entirely free route on the island.
The Pétrin to Black River traverse is the sporty option: you drop from the plateau to the sea, around 800 metres of descent. Do it in that direction, never the reverse, and arrange a car at the far end.
For a short or family outing, the viewpoints on the plateau side and the Colophanes loop are more than enough: one to two hours, broad paths, interpretation panels.
Whatever you choose, keep your eyes open: these forests shelter the Mauritius kestrel and the echo parakeet, two species that survive nowhere else on Earth and came within a hair's breadth of extinction in the 1970s.
Opening hours, access and parking
Coordinates of the Pétrin entrance: -20.40848 / 57.47178. The park is open 7am to 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm at weekends. The barriers close on the dot — vehicles included. That is not a figure of speech: every year visitors find themselves locked inside, car stuck behind a padlocked gate.
A trail map is sold at the visitor centre for a few dozen rupees; it is worth the money, as signage on the ground remains sparse in places.
When to go
May to November for walking: less mud, pleasant temperatures at altitude. That said, if you come for the waterfalls and dripping vegetation, the austral summer puts on a far greener show — at the cost of mud and sudden downpours. The plateau is markedly cooler than the coast: bring one more layer than you would in Black River.
⚠️ The costly mistake: starting the traverse late in the morning. Seven hours of walking from Pétrin, a barrier that closes at 5pm and nightfall without twilight: the arithmetic does not work. Leave before 9am, or pick a short loop.
Around the hike
The park covers 6,574 hectares created in 1994 and borders almost all our western areas: from Black River the lower entrance is a quarter of an hour away; from Tamarin, allow twenty-five minutes. Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire, the island's highest point, lies in the same massif, as do the viewpoints on the Chamarel road.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance fee for Black River Gorges National Park?
No, entry is completely free and requires no booking. The fees of over a thousand rupees you may see quoted are private guiding services, not an entrance ticket.
What are the opening hours of Black River Gorges?
7am to 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm at weekends. The barriers close on the dot, including for vehicles left inside.
Which trail should you choose in Black River Gorges?
The Macchabée trail for a fine day in the forest, the Pétrin to Black River traverse for a sporty downhill outing, and the plateau viewpoints for a short family walk.