The intense hike of the Slave Canal
Access the hike
The simplest option to access the Beauregard Canal is to arrive by car at the Fonds-Saint-Denis car park. From there, you can climb up to the Maison Rousse gîte, an ideal place to quench your thirst, regain your strength, immerse yourself in nature? and also to recover from your emotions on the way back!
From the lodge, two accesses are possible: either a small path or a staircase. Then, the route is the simplest, it is enough to follow the small canal. The path will lead you to the Bout Bois in Carbet, where you can turn around. Of course, you can also do the hike in reverse.
Type of path, beware of vertigo
As this is an irrigation channel in a hilly area, it runs along the side of a hill. The advantage is the lack of steep gradient – only 15 meters. On the other hand, the path is mainly made up of the outer wall of the canal. In other words, you will walk between the watercourse and the void. When in places the wall is only 30 to 40 cm wide, it is quite impressive.
Precautions to take
First, check the Martinique website to see if the hike is accessible, it can sometimes be closed for repairs. Then, if you suffer from vertigo, it is better to avoid it. Due to the risks, it is strongly advised not to come with young children or a stroller.
Finally, stay on the path and avoid walking through the vegetation, the trigonocéphale (fer-de-lance snake) is lurking around.
