The Piton de la Fournaise is Réunion’s active volcano, in the southeast of the island. Its summit stands at 2,621 m (8,599 ft) according to the Géoportail (the older figure of 2,632 m / 8,635 ft is still in circulation), in the middle of a caldera called the Enclos Fouqué. You approach it by the forest road of the Volcan as far as the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob, where the trails start. Access to the Enclos depends on volcanic activity and on prefectoral orders: always check the situation on the day. This page explains the site, the known rules and the alert phases, and gives sunrise times at the Pas de Bellecombe month by month.
The volcano is the headline stop on a trip to the island: see our guide to visiting Réunion, the best season on our page the best time to visit Réunion, our map of Réunion and the time difference with Réunion.
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Piton de la Fournaise: key facts
- Access to the Enclos: regulated by the prefect according to volcanic activity (vigilance, alert 1, alert 2); check on the day on the Réunion prefecture website and with the Volcanological Observatory (OVPF-IPGP)
- Starting point: Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob, at the end of the Volcan forest road (from Bourg-Murat), with a car park and a viewing area
- Summit: 2,621 m / 8,599 ft (Géoportail); the Dolomieu crater is observed from a single point on its east rim; walking around the craters is forbidden
- Weather: fog is very frequent around the volcano; the path is marked with white paint blazes
- Information checked on 23 October 2026: the prefecture and OVPF websites were unreachable that day; we therefore give no opening status, so consult them before you go
One of the most active volcanoes in the world
The Piton de la Fournaise is a volcanic cone about 3 km (2 mi) across, rising in the center of the Enclos Fouqué. This horseshoe-shaped caldera, open to the east onto the Indian Ocean, measures about 13 km (8 mi) long by 9 km (6 mi) wide; it is ringed by cliffs, the « remparts », 100 to 400 m (330 to 1,310 ft) high. The volcano as we know it dates from about 4,700 years ago. At the summit there are three craters: the Bory crater, the Enclos Vélain and the Dolomieu crater, the largest (about 1,000 m by 700 m / 3,280 by 2,300 ft), whose floor collapsed by more than 300 m (984 ft) after the April 2007 eruption.
By the frequency of its eruptions — on average one every nine months over the past ten years, according to Wikipedia’s article on the volcano — it is probably first in the world. Its eruptions are monitored continuously by the Observatoire volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (OVPF), created in 1979 and based in Bourg-Murat, which is part of the Institut de physique du globe de Paris. In 2026 the volcano erupted on January 18 for a few dozen hours, then from February 13 to April 13; the lava crossed national road 2 on March 13 and reached the ocean on March 16.
Alert phases and access to the Enclos
When an eruption is announced, a civil-security system is activated under the authority of the prefect of Réunion. It has several phases:
| Phase | Situation |
|---|---|
| Volcanic vigilance | An eruption in the short or medium term becomes very likely |
| Alert 1 | The eruption becomes imminent |
| Alert 2 | The eruption is under way |
In practice, the rules for access to the Enclos (trails open or closed, forbidden zones) change from one eruption to the next and are published by the prefecture. A gate at the entrance to the rampart trail marks closures. Do not rely on a blog or an old press article: check the situation on the morning of your hike on the Réunion prefecture website and in OVPF’s bulletins.
What is always forbidden
- The inside of the Dolomieu crater: access permanently forbidden since the prefectoral order of September 11, 1992, as the floor and walls are unstable.
- Walking around the craters: since the reopening of December 24, 2009, access to the summit is limited to a single stable observation point on the east rim of the Dolomieu crater; walking around the craters remains forbidden because of the risk of collapse.
- Leaving the marked route: the path in the Enclos is marked with large white paint blazes, precisely to avoid getting lost in the fog.
What to see at the Piton de la Fournaise
- The Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob: at the end of the road, the viewpoint overlooks the Enclos Fouqué and, in good weather, lets you see the summit cone without hiking. The pass was discovered during an expedition in October 1768 and bears the name of the governor of the time.
- The Volcan forest road: drivable and paved as far as the Plaine des Sables, then surfaced with stones up to the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob; it crosses mineral landscapes very different from the coast.
- The descent into the Enclos: in normal opening conditions, you go down by the Bellecombe rampart trail, then follow the marked path toward the summit.
- The Dolomieu crater: visible from the authorized observation point on the east rim, when access is open.
- The Gîte du Volcan: near the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob, it lets you spend the night on site.
- The lava road: the RN2, on the southeast coast, crosses old lava flows, some of which reached the sea.
We give no hiking time or distance: they vary with the trails that are open and the route after each eruption. Ask at the trailhead and consult the official sources.
What time to set off? Sunrise at the Pas de Bellecombe
Fog is very frequent around the volcano. Many hikers therefore set off early to enjoy clearer skies. To time your start, here are sunrise and sunset times at the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob, calculated for the 15th of each month:
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length (h:min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:47 | 19:04 | 13:17 |
| February | 06:07 | 18:54 | 12:48 |
| March | 06:19 | 18:32 | 12:14 |
| April | 06:28 | 18:05 | 11:37 |
| May | 06:40 | 17:46 | 11:07 |
| June | 06:52 | 17:43 | 10:51 |
| July | 06:54 | 17:51 | 10:57 |
| August | 06:40 | 18:03 | 11:23 |
| September | 06:14 | 18:11 | 11:57 |
| October | 05:46 | 18:20 | 12:34 |
| November | 05:28 | 18:35 | 13:07 |
| December | 05:29 | 18:54 | 13:25 |
Our reading: in November and December the sun rises around 5:30 am and the day lasts more than 13 hours; in June and July it rises around 6:50 am and sets before 5:55 pm, less than 11 hours of daylight. In the austral winter, a late start therefore leaves little margin to get back in daylight. Destination de Voyage calculation. For the island’s month-by-month climate, see the best time to visit Réunion; we found no official Météo-France normals published for the Pas de Bellecombe, and therefore give no summit temperatures.
How to get to the Piton de la Fournaise
Forest road no. 5, known as the « route du Volcan », starts from the village of Bourg-Murat, on the Plaine des Cafres, and leads to the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob, where there are a car park and a developed viewing area. The volcanological observatory is also based in Bourg-Murat, some 20 km (12 mi) from the summit. On site, the road is paved only as far as the Plaine des Sables.
Common mistakes
- Setting off without checking the current phase: during an alert, access to the Enclos is closed; only the prefectoral order in force counts.
- Relying on an old article about open trails: they change after each eruption.
- Leaving the white markings in the fog.
- Trying to walk around the craters or go down into the Dolomieu: it is forbidden.
- Setting off too late in June–July: the sun sets before 6 pm at the Pas de Bellecombe.
Frequently asked questions
What is the altitude of the Piton de la Fournaise?
2,621 m (8,599 ft) according to the Géoportail, at the north rim of the Bory crater; the older figure of 2,632 m (8,635 ft) is still often quoted.
Can you go up to the crater of the Piton de la Fournaise?
When the Enclos is open, yes, as far as a single observation point on the east rim of the Dolomieu crater. Walking around the craters and entering the Dolomieu are forbidden.
How do you know if the Enclos is open?
Check the Réunion prefecture website and the bulletins of the Observatoire volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (OVPF-IPGP) on the day.
Where does the volcano hike start?
At the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob, at the end of the Volcan forest road that starts from Bourg-Murat.
How often does the volcano erupt?
On average one eruption every nine months over the past ten years, according to the Wikipedia article; in 2026 there were eruptions in January and then from February to April.
What time does the sun rise at the volcano?
Around 5:30 am in November–December and around 6:50 am in June–July (calculated for the 15th of each month, Réunion time).
Our sources
- Wikipedia article « Piton de la Fournaise » (altitude per the Géoportail, geology, 2026 eruptions, access, phases of the prefectoral system), consulted on 23 October 2026
- Réunion prefecture (reunion.gouv.fr) and OVPF-IPGP (ipgp.fr): websites unreachable on 23 October 2026, to be consulted before any visit
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates of the Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob (Wikipedia article) (15th of each month, year 2027, clear horizon at sea level)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.