The Route du Volcan crosses the Plaine des Sables: 25 km (15 miles) of switchbacks, red ash, not a tree.
The road ends at Pas de Bellecombe. Below lies the Enclos – 13 by 9 km (8 by 5.6 miles) of lava.
Six kilometers on, the Dolomieu: a hole 350 m (1,150 ft) deep since the collapse of 2007.
Scroll –
down into the Enclos
Piton de la Fournaise is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth: 46 eruptions since 1998, the latest from 13 February to 12 April 2026, when lava crossed the coastal road RN2 and reached the sea. Since 7 May 2026 the vigilance phase of the ORSEC plan has applied again: the upper Enclos can be walked on two marked trails, without a ticket, without a guide. But the OVPF observatory keeps measuring inflation of the summit – the mountain is under pressure, and a return to 'alerte' is possible at any time. Then the gate is shut.
Released under arrêté no. 2026-627: Pas de Bellecombe – Formica Léo – access trail to the observation point on the north rim of the Dolomieu, and Formica Léo – Sentier Rivals – Cratère Caubet. Leaving the white markings is prohibited.
The Sentier Kapor has been under lava since 2026 and is closed. The new 8.5-hectare (21-acre) lava platform at the sea is off limits. Walking around the Dolomieu has been permanently prohibited since the 2007 collapse – the rims break away.
The coastal road RN2 through the Grand Brûlé has been open to traffic again since 28 May 2026. The lava tubes of 2004 and 2007 and the northern edge of the 2026 lava can be reached via the Sentier des Laves.
After two and a half years of quiet, the prefect declares the 'vigilance' phase again; intrusions on 5 December and 1 January each bring a brief Alerte 1.
33 hours on the north flank near Piton Jacob, Alerte 2-1, Enclos closed.
Eruption on the south-southeast flank. Alerte 2-2 on 12 March, the RN2 is closed; at 8:02 a.m. on 13 March the lava crosses the road, on 16 March it reaches the sea. 30–37 million m³ of lava, 8.5 hectares (21 acres) of new land.
The Enclos partly reopens: two trails in the upper part, lava tubes and the Sentier des Laves below. On 28 May the RN2 is open to traffic again.
No eruption, but continued inflation at the summit (OVPF bulletin of 21 September 2026). The trails are open – as long as the prefecture does not close them.
Photo: Olaf2 · CC BY-SA 4.0
The parking lot sits at 2,311 m (7,582 ft) on the edge of a wall. At seven in the morning it is 4 °C (39 °F) here, and down in the Enclos the day begins: a caldera 13 by 9 km (8 by 5.6 miles) in which almost everything this volcano does takes place – 98 percent of its eruptions stay inside it.
First 550 m along the Rempart, then the gate, then the stairway: more than 500 steps down the wall. At the bottom stands Formica Léo, a red double cone so small and perfect it looks placed there. You walk around it, not up it – the park asks you not to, the erosion is too great.
After that there is no trail, only white paint marks on the lava. They lead to where the Chapelle de Rosemont stood until 2018, a lava shelter that a flow covered. Then it is about 3.5 km (2.2 miles) of steady climbing over gratons: rough, sharp-edged, hollow-sounding. No shade, no water, no phone signal.
The observation point on the north rim of the Dolomieu is at 2,483 m (8,146 ft). The crater is a kilometer long, 750 m wide and, since the collapse of April 2007, about 350 m (1,150 ft) deep; the white lines along the rim are meant seriously. Arrive late and you see none of it: around midday the trade wind brings the clouds up from the sea, and the Enclos is in fog within minutes. That is why you are at the parking lot at seven – and the stairway comes again at the end, this time uphill.
Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 22 September 2026. A guide is not required on the open trails. Guided hikes do not enter the Enclos during an 'alerte' – ask the operator beforehand where they go instead.
Access to the Enclos depends on the phases of the ORSEC plan 'Piton de la Fournaise'. The prefect of La Réunion triggers them on the basis of OVPF data, the ONF shuts the gate, the gendarmerie and mountain rescue clear the Enclos. Four phases you need to know.
Eruption possible within days to weeks. Access to the upper Enclos only on the marked trails maintained by the ONF; leaving the markings is prohibited. In force since 7 May 2026.
Magma is rising, an eruption is possible within minutes or hours. The entire Enclos – upper and lower part, Grandes Pentes – is closed and cleared. Most recently on 1 January 2026 after a seismic crisis at 4:47 a.m.
Eruption under way. 2-1: inside the Enclos with no particular danger, RN2 open. 2-2: lava threatens infrastructure – declared on 12 March 2026 when the flow was less than 700 m (2,300 ft) from the RN2; road closed between PR 78 and PK 82, exclusion zone at sea.
Eruption over. After surveys by the OVPF and the ONF, the Enclos is reopened step by step – in 2026 that took from 12 April to 7 May.
| Enclos Fouqué, Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob parking lot, all trails | free |
| Cité du Volcan in Bourg-Murat, adults · reduced (children 4–12, students, over 65) €6 · under 4 free | €9 |
| Cité du Volcan, 4D cinema supplement | €2 |
| Helicopter flight over the Enclos, Plaine des Sables and craters, 25–55 minutes (operator prices) | €205–365 |
| Bus Car Jaune S2 Saint-Pierre – Bourg-Murat, short trip (approximate) | about €2 |
Photo: B.navez · CC BY-SA 3.0
All trails start at the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob parking lot. The national park's figures are the most reliable; tourism portals reckon a little shorter.
| Ascension du cratère Dolomieu (PR 9, white markings) – 550 m along the Rempart, gate, stairway with more than 500 steps, Formica Léo, former site of the Chapelle de Rosemont, then 3.5 km (2.2 miles) over gratons lava to the observation point on the north rim (about 2,483 m / 8,146 ft); same way back. National park: 12.8 km (8 miles), 596 m (1,955 ft) of climbing, 'assez difficile' | 6 hours · free |
| Formica Léo (short version) – from the gate down the stairway to the red cinder cone (about 2,202 m / 7,224 ft), about 1.5 km (1 mile) each way; back up the same stairway. Doable with younger children | 20 minutes each way · free |
| Sentier Rivals to Cratère Caubet – south from Formica Léo; the Caubet – Belvédère sur Château Fort section remains closed. Released under arrêté no. 2026-627 | free |
| Helicopter flight – from Pierrefonds (Saint-Pierre) or Saint-Gilles/L'Éperon over the Enclos, Plaine des Sables and into the Dolomieu; during an eruption only with prefecture approval. Hélilagon 45 min €319, 55 min €364; Corail 45 min €320; Mafate Hélicoptères 25–30 min €205 | 25–55 minutes · €205–365 |
Photo: Auregann · CC BY-SA 4.0
Without a car: No bus runs to Pas de Bellecombe. Car Jaune line S2 (Saint-Pierre – Les Plaines – Saint-Benoît) stops in Bourg-Murat at the Cité/Maison du Volcan, travel time from Gare de Saint-Pierre around 40–55 minutes, fare around €2–5 depending on the route; Carsud T12 serves Plaine des Cafres and the start of the Route forestière hourly (not on Sundays, 5:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.). From Bourg-Murat, 25 km (15.5 miles) of road remain to the parking lot – only by rental car, taxi or tour.
By car: From the RN3 in Bourg-Murat, turn onto the Route forestière du Volcan (RF5) at the Cité du Volcan: 25 km (15.5 miles), around 45 minutes in tight hairpin bends via Nez de Bœuf (2,136 m / 7,008 ft), Pas des Sables (2,350 m / 7,710 ft) and the Plaine des Sables to the parking lot Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob (2,311 m / 7,582 ft; approx. 100–150 spaces, free, toilets, relais with drinks and snacks). A normal car is sufficient; the track across the Plaine des Sables is partly rough. Driving off the road is prohibited (park rule: motor vehicles only on classified roads, parking only in designated spaces). On eruption days the crowds are enormous – then traffic is controlled by the Gendarmerie and the municipality of Le Tampon.
Dry season May to November (southern winter): little rain, reliable trade wind, but cold – Météo-France gives daytime highs around 14 °C and night values around 4–5 °C for Bellecombe-Jacob, frost already occurs in the Plaine des Cafres. Even in the dry season it rains a lot on the volcano's eastern flanks. Time of day matters more than the month: the Parc national advises starting at 7 a.m., because around midday clouds, rain or, under clear skies, heat set in; in the early morning the Enclos is most likely to be clear. January to March is the rainy and cyclone season, April and December are transition months. Anyone who wants to see lava cannot plan for it – eruptions announce themselves days to weeks in advance ('vigilance'), but that is exactly why the Enclos is then closed.
Photo: Thierry Caro · CC BY-SA 3.0
If you want glowing lava, you cannot plan for it. Eruptions announce themselves days to weeks ahead, and that is exactly when the Enclos is closed. The eruption can be watched from Piton Bert on the Rempart, about an hour's walk from Pas de Bellecombe, or – when flows reach the coast – from the roadblocks on the RN2 in the Grand Brûlé. That is how it was in February and March 2026: glow over the south flank at night, smoke over the forest by day, then lava across the road and into the sea. Drones are banned across the whole sector during an eruption.
Photo: Rémih · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Rémih · CC BY-SA 4.0
The view into the Dolomieu without 500 steps: sightseeing flights leave from Saint-Pierre and Saint-Gilles, mostly in the morning when visibility is best. Without a rental car, a day tour from the west coast gets you to Pas de Bellecombe.
Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 22 September 2026. During an eruption every flight needs prefecture approval; in cloud the operators reschedule.
Photo: Pouyot · CC BY-SA 4.0
Yes. In the 'vigilance' phase two marked trails from Pas de Bellecombe are open – to the Dolomieu viewpoint and to Cratère Caubet. There is no ticket, no registration and no guide requirement. You just must not leave the white markings, and during an 'alerte' the Enclos is closed to everyone.
The national park reckons six hours for 12.8 km (8 miles) and 596 m (1,955 ft) of climbing there and back, tourism portals a good five. The 500-plus steps up the Rempart come at the end of the day – save water and energy for them.
Nothing. The parking lot, the gate and the trails in the Enclos are free. Only the extras cost money: the Cité du Volcan in Bourg-Murat (€9), guided hikes (from about €55) or a helicopter flight (€205–365).
Not in the Enclos – it is closed then. For eruptions on the south flank, Piton Bert on the Rempart is the classic spot, about an hour's walk from Pas de Bellecombe. If flows reach the coast, you walk to the roadblocks on the RN2 in the Grand Brûlé. That is how it was in March 2026.
Only as far as Bourg-Murat: bus line Car Jaune S2 stops at the Cité du Volcan. From there 25 km (15 miles) of forest road remain to the parking lot – by taxi or with a tour. Guided hikes usually pick up at a meeting point in Bourg-Murat or at the parking lot.
From 13 February to 12 April 2026 on the south-southeast flank: the lava crossed the RN2 on 13 March and reached the sea on 16 March, where a platform of 8.5 hectares (21 acres) formed. Before that there was a 33-hour eruption on the north flank from 18 to 20 January 2026.
As of 22 September 2026: yes, with restrictions. Since 7 May 2026 the 'vigilance' phase has applied, the upper Enclos can be walked on two marked trails from Pas de Bellecombe (to the Dolomieu viewpoint and to the Cratère Caubet); the Sentier Kapor and the new lava platform are closed. The OVPF reports no eruption in its bulletin of 21 September 2026, but continued inflation – a new closure is possible at any time.
No. The parking lot, gate and trails in the Enclos are free, there is no ticket office and no registration. You pay only for extras such as the Cité du Volcan (€9) or a helicopter flight.
Yes. On the white-marked trails released by the prefect, no guide is required. Off the markings you may not walk in the 'vigilance' phase; anyone wanting night or special tours books a mountain guide.
'Vigilance': eruption possible within days/weeks, Enclos only on marked trails. 'Alerte 1': eruption within hours, Enclos completely closed. 'Alerte 2-1': eruption in the Enclos without danger to the outside, Enclos closed. 'Alerte 2-2': lava threatens the RN2 or other infrastructure, road closures. 'Sauvegarde': eruption over, gradual reopening.
On the trails and outside of eruptions the danger lies more in the weather (fog, cold, UV) and the terrain (crater rims, lava tunnels under thin crust) than in the volcano. In 2021 two young men who wanted to see an ongoing eruption died in the Enclos; in 2025 a rockfall came down on the staircase. Respect closures and markings, and the risk is low.
Up to Formica Léo (20 minutes from the gate) yes, the full Dolomieu hike only for experienced, older children. The Parc national explicitly urges warm clothing for children – in the morning it is 4–5 °C.
Hiking boots, windbreaker, hat and at the same time sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, rain protection, 1.5–2 liters of water, food, headlamp, charged phone with offline map. There is neither shade nor water nor reception in the Enclos.
By car: RN3 to Bourg-Murat, there turn onto the Route forestière du Volcan at the Cité du Volcan, 25 km (15.5 miles) and around 45 minutes to the free parking lot. From Saint-Pierre about 1.5 hours, from Saint-Denis a good 2 hours. Buses (Car Jaune S2) end in Bourg-Murat.
Dry season May to November and in any case early in the morning – around midday the Enclos clouds over. January to March is the rainy and cyclone season. There is no season for eruptions.
Not recommended and impossible during closures: the Enclos must be evacuated under 'Alerte 1', and mountain rescue and guidebooks advise against night descents. Bivouacking in the national park is allowed only between sunset and morning; more realistic are the Gîte du Volcan near the parking lot or a start at 7 a.m.
Within 200 m (660 ft) of the Pas de Bellecombe viewpoint and the summit only with an exemption from the Parc national (15 days' notice); during eruptions the prefecture bans drones in the entire sector.
Yes, especially in bad weather up top: the RN2 between Sainte-Rose and Saint-Philippe crosses the lava flows from 1977 to 2026 with viewpoints, the new beach at Le Tremblet and lava tunnel tours. Since 28 May 2026 it has been open to traffic again after the eruption.
Sources · accessed on 22 September 2026
