Moris
The Mare aux Joncs waterfall in the Black River Gorges
Photo: Ludovic Lubeigt from Mauritius / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

🥾 Hikes · Black River Gorges

Mare aux Joncs waterfall

A shady walk along the Black River into the gorges to a waterfall in the forest, starting 15 minutes from the villa.

🚗 From the villa15 min · 7.3 kmoff-peak estimate
⏱️ Time needed3–4 hnot counting the drive
🕓 Best time of day☀️ Morning
💰 PriceFreeFree. Black River visitor centre: toilets, maps, rangers (weekdays 7:00–17:00, weekends 9:00–17:00).
🥾 Trail7 km · +419 mModerate · out and back · guide not needed

From the Black River visitor centre, this trail follows the river upstream through shady lowland forest, crossing small streams, before a steeper final approach to the Mare aux Joncs waterfall at the foot of the gorge walls.

The waterfall is lovely after rain and only a trickle in a dry spell, but the walk itself, deep in the national park, is the point. About 6 km each way, mostly flat.

  • Waterfall at the heart of the gorges
  • Shady river walk
  • Close to the villa

Trail map

Signposted with green and orange markers.

Trail (moderate)
100 m200 m300 m400 m 0 km1 km2 km3 km 450 m
One way; you come back the same way. Elevation from SRTM satellite data (±10 m).

Trail traced on OpenStreetMap paths: check the signs on the ground, and take the OSM or an offline map app (Organic Maps, maps.me) with you.

What to expect on this hike

MudMedium
ShadeVery high
Exposure / vertigoLow
WaymarkingGood
ViewpointsAt the end
RopesNone
📍 Where it starts
At the Black River visitor centre, the park's west entrance, 15 minutes from the villa: follow the signs from Grande Rivière Noire village up the valley road to the car park (free, with toilets and a map board).
🧭 The route
Along the river valley on a mostly flat, shady path with small stream crossings; the last 20–30 minutes climb more steeply over rocks to the pool below the waterfall. Back the same way.
🪨 Terrain
Forest path, stream crossings on stones, rocky final part.
👁️ Views
The waterfall is the destination; the forest is enclosed with few views.
🔁 Loop?
No loop (the top of the waterfall is reached from Pétrin on the Macchabée loop).
🦟 Insects
Mosquitoes: repellent needed.
💧 Water
Streams on the way (don't drink untreated); carry water.
👥 Crowds
Quiet.
📶 Phone signal
Weak in the gorge.
🎒 Bring
Shoes with grip (muddy sections) · Mosquito repellent · Light rain jacket · 1–1.5 litres of water · Snack · Sandals or shoes that can get wet
  1. Visitor centre
  2. Mare aux Joncs signpost
  3. Waterfall

Getting there

Driving route from the villa

🚗 By car: 15 min (7.3 km) off-peak. Car park at the Black River visitor centre. Directions in Google Maps ↗

  • 🚕 Taxi from the villa: about Rs 350–500 one way per car (agree the price first; a return trip with waiting time is often negotiable).
  • 🚲 Bike: close enough to cycle along the coast road (take care with traffic).

Our notes & votes