GR R2 Grand Traverse of Réunion
GR R2 Grande traversée de La Réunion
A north-to-south crossing of Réunion from Saint-Denis to the south-east coast, over Piton des Neiges and past the active Piton de la Fournaise.
At a glance
- Starts in
- La Providence, Saint-Denis
- Ends in
- Basse-Vallée, Saint-Philippe
- Length
- 130 km
- On foot
- 9–10 days
- Countries
Réunion- Best months
- May–November
About the trail
The GR R2 crosses Réunion from the edge of Saint-Denis on the north coast to Basse-Vallée in the commune of Saint-Philippe, linking the island's two volcanic massifs. It is a demanding route, with huge cumulative climbs on muddy, rooty paths and frequent changes in weather.
From the Roche Écrite above Salazie the route drops into the roadless cirque of Mafate, climbs to Cilaos, then goes up to the Caverne Dufour refuge and the summit of Piton des Neiges. It then crosses the high Plaine des Cafres to the Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, before descending through forest to the south-east coast.
The GR network's official site gives about 130 km and around ten days, while the French hiking federation gives 134 km over nine days with 7,500 m of ascent. The trail is open all year, with a dry season from May to November and a rainy season from December to April; nights are spent in gîtes and mountain refuges.