Trail du Volcan

The Trail du Volcan is an extraordinary 42-kilometer race with 2,200 meters of elevation gain, taking place on the flanks of Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, on Réunion Island. Starting from Bourg-Murat, a small village on the Plaine des Cafres perched at 1,600 meters altitude, this race takes trail runners through a strikingly beautiful lunar landscape of smoking craters, solidified lava flows, and vertiginous ramparts.

The course crosses the Enclos Fouqué, the summit caldera of Piton de la Fournaise — a natural amphitheater 8 kilometers in diameter enclosed by 400-meter-high ramparts. Runners descend into the enclosure via the Pas de Bellecombe, the historic gateway to the volcano, before crossing the grandes pentes — vast expanses of a'a and pahoehoe lava with fascinating textures. The Dolomieu crater, a gaping chasm 350 meters deep formed during the 2007 collapse, and the older, smaller Bory crater constitute the high points of the course at over 2,600 meters altitude.

The 2,200 meters of elevation gain are concentrated in the climbs back up from the enclosure and passages over the various adventive craters scattered across the volcano's flanks. The terrain is unique in the world: ropy lava on which feet slide, sharp block lava that shreds shoe soles, unstable volcanic scoria that rolls underfoot, black volcanic sand that absorbs the heat of the tropical sun. The altitude, combined with exposure to wind and intense solar radiation, creates demanding physiological conditions. Fog can envelop the summit within minutes, making navigation tricky despite trail markers.

The Plaine des Cafres and Bourg-Murat form the central high plateau of Réunion, a zone of cattle farming and bourbon geranium cultivation between the island's two volcanic massifs. The Piton de la Fournaise Volcanological Observatory, based in Bourg-Murat, permanently monitors the volcano's activity — it erupts on average once a year, offering a natural pyrotechnic spectacle that attracts visitors from around the globe. The Cité du Volcan, an interactive museum dedicated to volcanism, helps visitors understand the telluric forces that shaped this island rising from the Indian Ocean three million years ago.

For international runners, the Trail du Volcan is one of the most singular trail experiences in the world. Réunion, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, is the global mecca of trail running thanks to the Diagonale des Fous and an exceptionally dense trail network. Running on an active volcano, through landscapes evoking another planet, surrounded by the lush biodiversity of a tropical island, represents the pinnacle of trail adventure. Flight connections from Paris, Mauritius, and South Africa make this destination accessible, and Réunion's Creole culture — carri, rougail, rhum arrangé — promises an unforgettable post-race experience.

Trail du Volcan is a 42 km trail race with 2,200 m of elevation gain, located in Bourg-Murat, La Réunion. The next edition is scheduled for 16 August 2026.

Find all official information on the race website.