Piton de la Fournaise

Information

Elevation

2.632 m

Country

Réunion (Prancis) (RE)

Location / Range

Réunion Island, Indian Ocean — Parc National de La Réunion (UNESCO)

Mountain type

Highly active shield volcano (effusive; lava eruptions almost every year)

Volcanic?

Yes — volcano

Coordinates

-21.2440, 55.7080

Difficulty

Moderate (standard trek from Pas de Bellecombe ~7.5 km round trip; non-technical but rough lava terrain)

Best Season

April–October (local dry season); but an actual eruption can close the trail at any time

Permits & Rules

No special permit for the standard trek; access is automatically closed when the volcano is actively erupting (OVPF-IPGP warning system). Parc National de La Réunion manages the area

Hazards

Volcanic gas, fresh lava fissures, unstable ground, sudden fog, trails closed during eruptions; always check OVPF status

Description

Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 m) is a highly active shield volcano on the southeastern part of Réunion Island, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean. Often cited as one of the world's most active volcanoes, it has erupted over 200 times since the 17th century and averages 2–4 eruptions per year in recent decades. Its caldera, known as the Enclos Fouqué — an oval lava plain roughly 8 km × 13 km — forms the dramatic setting for the most visited trek in the area. From the Pas de Bellecombe trailhead (2,311 m), hikers descend into the caldera floor and cross years of layered lava flows to the rim of the Dolomieu crater in approximately 3–4 hours. The view from the crater rim when inactive — or during a non-hazardous effusive eruption at a safe distance — is one of the most spectacular accessible volcanic experiences for tourists. The mountain is part of the Pitons, cirques et remparts de l'île de La Réunion UNESCO World Heritage Site.