Agathi Trail

> Swimming is prohibited. Entrance fee for the reserve and the Netcha site. No water point on the track. D Netcha reception desk (GPS: 690 330 – 7 541 313; alt. 244 m) (payment of entrance fees. No dogs allowed): take the path which goes down in the basin towards the south. It then climbs gently towards the road (RM 10). However, a short distance before this, it veers to the left (towards the east) and joins the road further on (slippery ground in wet weather). 1 Road (GPS: 690 602 – 7 541 059; alt. 242m): cross and climb the foothills of red earth (slippery in rainy weather). There is a small change in the terrain. 2 Hillock (GPS: 690 647 – 7 540 988; alt. 267m) (lookout point over the river and the surrounding area): cross the saddle of red earth and resume the ascent. 3 Intersection (GPS: 690 596 – 7 540 871; alt. 284 m): leave the route shared with the GR® NC1 and turn left towards the east. The path goes down into a thalweg, then it goes up on an undulation of the ground and goes down again into a deeper thalweg, which is filled with vegetation and traversed by a stream. 4 Creek (GPS: 690 851 – 7 540 556; alt. 260 m): leave the small canyon by stairs cut in the red earth and join the road (RM 10). Cross it to find the continuation of the path which enters a low forest before joining the route of the botanical path. 5 Intersection (GPS: 690 950 – 7 540 528): turn right. The trail winds through the undergrowth, adapting to the terrain (educational panels). It leads to an area of red earth which constitutes the car park of the Madeleine botanical reserve. 6 Car park (GPS: 691 421 – 7 540 433; alt. 260 m): continue to the entrance. 7 Reception (GPS: 691 475 – 7 540 444; alt. 257m): immediately afterwards, at the fork, continue straight ahead. Pass the information panels and, at the next crossroads, turn right towards the south to reach another intersection (going straight ahead, it is possible to reach point 10 directly and thereby to shorten the route without going to the Madeleine Falls). 8 Intersection (GPS: 691 605 – 7 540 304; alt. 256 m): turn left towards the east, then, at the next fork, go down the dirt stairs to the small lookout by the river. Cross a creek on a wooden culvert and walk along a stand of bois-bouchons (“corkwood trees”) (Retrophyllum minor: the species owes its name to its lightness, comparable to that of balsa; it is very sensitive to fire, trampling and mutilation by campers; the nature reserve of the Madeleine Falls has ensured its preservation). Climb the blackish dried earth blocks to reach the promontory that dominates the body of water. 9 Madeleine Falls (GPS: 691 761 – 7 540 297; alt. 253m): return to the same route. After the stairs, turn right to go to the viewpoint. 10 Observation deck (GPS: 691 717 – 7 540 417; alt. 253m): the path continues on the other side of the pontoon, towards the north. At the first intersection that follows, turn right (the path on the left returns to the reception office) to follow the river above (some beautiful viewpoints overlook the dark green water) and reach the gauge which records the variations river level. 11 Gauge (GPS: 691 754 – 7 540 671; alt. 255m): turn left and climb a few stairs to reach a new crossroads. 12 Fork (GPS: 691 684 – 7 540 663; alt. 256m): go right towards the north and continue along the river. Alongside it, the path curves to the left (westwards) (stands of gum oaks, Arillastrum gummiferum, on the other bank). Reach the next point. 13 Intersection (GPS: 691 020 – 7 540 717; alt. 242m): continue straight ahead (the botanical path leaves the route and turns left towards the south). The track comes out near the RM 10. 14 Road (GPS: 690 957 – 7 540 781; alt. 239m): walk between the road and the river to return to point 1 then to the Netcha site. © Text by Jean Francis Clair FFrandonnée® grading * Effort: IBP 18 easy (green) * Technical difficulty: easy (green) * Risk: low (green) * Overall grading: easy (green)