Black River Gorges and Peak Trails

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Trail guide: gorges, summit and mountain

Three walks stand out in Black River District. Each is described below as a short card with distance, time and what to watch for. Trail lengths are approximate, since published figures differ. There is no public bus to any of the trailheads, so book a taxi or arrange a lift.

Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire

  • Height: 828 m, the highest point in Mauritius.
  • Start: the B103 Plaine Champagne road, close to the Petrin entrance of Black River Gorges National Park.
  • Distance and time: about 6 to 7.5 km there and back, in 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
  • Terrain: a shaded forest track first, then a steep final ridge where ropes help you up wet roots and rock.
  • Cost: free. A guide is optional if you hike regularly.
  • Bring: boots with deep tread, water and a rain layer, as the path stays muddy.

Macchabee forest trail

  • Route: Petrin visitor centre (high) to the Black River visitor centre (near the coast).
  • Distance and time: roughly 8 to 10 km one way, 3 to 4 hours downhill.
  • Highlights: the Macchabee viewpoint, and forest where echo parakeets and pink pigeons live.
  • Cost: free entry to the national park.
  • Logistics: visitor centres keep short hours, and Petrin closes early afternoon on weekdays and around 11:00 on Saturdays. Leave early and ask a taxi to wait at the lower end.

Book a guided gorge walk through Viator if you prefer company.

Gorge hazards

  • Rain on the Plaine Champagne plateau sends streams up within minutes. Turn back rather than ford a swollen river.
  • Macaques along the trails and lookouts are not to be fed.
  • Pack at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water each.

Le Morne Brabant

This 556 m mountain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a memorial to the Maroons, enslaved people who found refuge on its slopes. Hike it with that in mind, and keep voices low on the plateau.

  • Distance and time: about 7 km return, 3.5 to 4 hours.
  • Lower section: a graded path through acacia forest to a plateau near 250 m. Anyone of moderate fitness can manage it.
  • Upper section: an exposed climb up steep basalt. A licensed guide is strongly advised, and group hikes cost roughly Rs 1,000 to 1,500 each.
  • Timing: start at 06:00 or 06:30, before the sun reaches the bare rock.
  • Conditions: the trail shuts in wet weather. After a landslide in 2023 it closed and reopened in July 2023 on a new route, so check access before you go.
  • Water: carry at least 2 litres.

Footwear and clothing

Wear closed shoes with grip on all three walks. Sandals and reef shoes suit the lagoon but are unsafe on wet rock and root.

Read more: Sightseeing in Black River and Day trips from Black River .

Official sources: Black River Gorges National Park and UNESCO on Le Morne .