hotel3 km
Le Brûlé, hills above Saint-Denis · cryptomeria forest
Forêt du Brûlé: picnic areas and wild camping near Saint-Denis
The most accessible spot for Saint-Denis locals: a 30-minute drive from the centre, cryptomeria forest, shelters, barbecues and playgrounds. Family-friendly, free, and a base for the Roche Écrite hike.
~1,200maltitude30 minfrom Saint-DenisCardirect accessFreeno booking
The cryptomeria forest of Le Brûlé is the most convenient wild-camping spot for anyone living in or visiting Saint-Denis. A 30-minute drive from the town centre takes you up the Bellepierre ramps to the village of Le Brûlé, then you follow the ‘La Roche Écrite’ signs to the developed areas under the forest canopy.
Several shelters with picnic tables, built barbecue spots and grassy playgroundsfor children. It's the quintessential family spot, popular with locals at weekends. It's also the ideal base for the Roche Écrite hike. For campervans, the forest road is easy to drive and overnight parking is tolerated around the picnic areas.
At a glance
The Le Brûlé camping essentials
The experience
A quiet night 30 minutes from Saint-Denis
Arrival. The road out of Saint-Denis climbs quickly up the Bellepierre ramps. A few bends through the forest and the village of Le Brûlé appears, just before the entrance to the picnic areas. Several zones line the road, some more exposed to passing cars, others more tucked away. Pick a shelter that suits you and settle in.
Sunset.The tree canopy blocks the horizon, but a short walk to the forest edge sometimes opens onto the north coast and the bay of Saint-Denis. The cool air sets in fast: at 1,200m, you'll be reaching for a fleece by 6pm in the dry season.
Night. Quiet and cool, sometimes damp towards the end of the season. The silence is broken only by the wind in the cryptomerias and, at weekends, occasionally by other campers keeping the party going. Arrive early in high season to have your pick of spots.
Morning.If the Roche Écrite hike is on your agenda, set off from the village at 5am. The trail climbs hard, so allow 7 to 8 hours round trip. If you're taking it easier, Cascade Maniquet, a 1-hour round trip, makes a good warm-up before heading back down to Saint-Denis.
How to get there
How to reach the Forêt du Brûlé
From Saint-Denis centre, head towards Bellepierre and continue up the ramps of the same name. The road climbs through the forest in a series of bends. At the village of Le Brûlé, follow the ‘La Roche Écrite’ signs: the picnic areas are spread out over the next 2km. Allow 30 minutes in total. Staying in central Saint-Denis? When you view car rental offers, change the pick-up from Roland-Garros airport to Saint-Denis centre: that's where the drive up begins.
A standard car is fine, on a tarmacked road. Free parking along the picnic areas. Fill up with fuel in Saint-Denis before heading up, as there's no petrol station above Bellepierre.
Backpack
What to bring for a night at Le Brûlé
- A 3-season tent plus a 0°C-rated sleeping bag: night-time temperatures drop below 8°C in the austral winter at 1,200m
- A fleece and a hat: it cools down fast under the cryptomeria canopy
- A head torch: there's no public lighting at the picnic areas
- 1.5L of water per person: there's no guaranteed water point, so plan to be self-sufficient
- A gas stove: campfires are banned outside the built barbecue spots
- Bin bags: all rubbish leaves with you
- Mosquito repellent: the dense vegetation attracts them in the wet season
Regulations
Wild camping in the National Park: the rules
The Forêt du Brûlé lies within the core of Reunion Island's National Park. Wild camping is permitted there, under conditions. Here are the official rules, quoted verbatim.
- 'Tents and hammocks must be pitched before sunset and taken down in the morning'
- 'Do not light campfires': only stoves and the built, designated fire spots are permitted
- 'Take all your rubbish away with you', including biodegradable waste
- 'The use of generators is prohibited'
- 'No harm may be done to wildlife or plant life'
- 'Leave the site as you found it'
Source: Parc national de La Réunion: Wild camping in the Park core. Wild camping is banned on the cliffs of Piton des Neiges, but Le Brûlé is well away from there and remains open to campers.
Combine it with
Activities to combine from Le Brûlé
Le Brûlé makes a good base for exploring hikes across the north and centre of the island.
Bélouve hike, Trou de Fer waterfall
A 45-minute drive away, one of the island's most iconic waterfalls, starting from the Bélouve gîte.
Discover
Volcano hike, Pas de Bellecombe
A descent into the Enclos Fouqué to the Dolomieu crater, a 1h30 drive away.
Discover
Mafate hike from Îlet Cayenne
A guided crossing of the roadless cirque, starting from Sans Souci, 30 minutes from Saint-Denis.
Discover
Also worth combiningAerial view
Saint-Denis and the north from the air
Camping at Le Brûlé gives you the calm of the forest and the cool air of the highlands. A helicopter gives you the north coast from above: Saint-Denis, the port at Pointe des Galets, the Salazie-Mafate-Cilaos sequence, all in a few minutes of flight.
The closest take-off point is Saint-Pierre, a 1h15 drive away. Ideal as a half-day combined with a quiet night of camping at Le Brûlé beforehand.
From €125 · 210 Manawa reviews · Saint-Pierre / Saint-Paul
See helicopter rates
Stay nearby
Accommodation near Le Brûlé
In Saint-Denis or in the highlands, for the night before setting off or the night after.
hotel3 km
hotel3 kmHotel Les Manguiers Jardin de l'Etat Centre Ville Parking Gratuit Canal Sat
Saint-Denis
★ 6.6/10 (18 reviews)
From
€51/night
hotel4 kmOther spots
Other wild-camping spots accessible from the north
Wild camping at Ravine Blanche, Salazie
A 1-hour drive away, in the neighbouring cirque, facing the Roche Écrite massif.
See the spot
Wild camping at Mare à Poule d'Eau, Salazie
A mirror-like pond 4km from Hell-Bourg, a natural setting with tilapia fishing.
See the spot
Wild camping at Aurère, Mafate
If you're climbing via the Scout trail from Sans Souci, an overnight stop in the îlet.
See the spot
Frequently asked questions
FAQ: camping at the Forêt du Brûlé
How do you get to the Forêt du Brûlé by car?
From Saint-Denis, take the Bellepierre ramps and follow the signs towards the village of Le Brûlé. At the village, 'La Roche Écrite' signs lead you to the picnic areas under the forest canopy. Allow 30 minutes from the centre of Saint-Denis. A standard car is fine, on a tarmacked but tightly winding road.
How many picnic areas are there at the site?
The Forêt du Brûlé has several developed areas along the road and around the village. You'll find plenty of shelters with picnic tables, built barbecue spots, and grassy play areas for children. It's a family-friendly spot, popular with locals at weekends.
Do you need a permit to camp at Le Brûlé?
No, wild camping is unrestricted and free within the core of Reunion Island's National Park, which includes the developed areas at Le Brûlé. Basic rule: pitch your tent after sunset and take it down in the morning, no campfires outside the built spots, and take all your rubbish with you. Le Brûlé isn't in a banned zone.
What altitude and weather should you expect?
The village of Le Brûlé sits at around 1,200m altitude. Night-time temperatures drop to 8-12°C in the dry season, sometimes below 5°C in the austral winter. The hills above Saint-Denis are fairly wet: orographic rain is common in the late afternoon. Check the Météo-France Réunion forecast the evening before.
Which hikes start from Le Brûlé?
Three classic hikes. Roche Écrite (challenging, 7-8 hours round trip, significant elevation gain), Morne Saint-François (a gentler loop, 3 hours), and Cascade Maniquet (family-friendly, 1 hour round trip). The trails start from the village, waymarked by the ONF and the National Park.
What else is there to do in the north if you don't camp?
Saint-Denis offers several day visits: the cathedral, Rue de Paris with its Creole architecture, the Jardin de l'État, the Musée Léon Dierx. For nature, Cascade Maniquet is accessible in half a day. And for the widest perspective, a scenic helicopter flight over the north and the cirques takes just a few minutes (from €125).
Page last updated 18 September 2026. GPS coordinates and National Park rules verified as of this date.