Advice needed for Imilchil-Cascades d'Ouzoud route

[CaBRita]

I've been several times in Morocco but never on what I'd call Central Atlas area, so next trip (this April) will feature Cirque Jaffar and Dadés/ Todra Gorges.

The routes Cirque Jaffar and Dadés/Todra Gorges are quite clear for us.

We'd like therefore to have advice on the piste Imilchil to Cascades d'Ouzoud given that:
- The trip will take place this April
- We're riding Africa Twin and 1150GS
- We prefer scenic piste off-road, if possible without using the N8 further North

Is it a long shot to finish the day in Marrakesh, meaning Imilchil -> Cascades d'Ouzoud -> Marrakech?

Advice on route is welcome as well as photos and important waypoints.

[catch22]

Cabrita,

Here's some pics of the Cirque with 5 gs, date was april 2010.

Morocco on 5 GSs - ADVrider

Geert

[Peter Girling]

Hi Cabrita,

2 days would be better. The pinch point will be the piste between Imilchil to the Cathedrale des Rochers. It was in pretty poor shape when I was there a couple of years ago. Perhaps someone has ridden it recently? Tim?

From the Cathedrale, you can take the piste to the south of the reservoir over the Tizi-n-Ilissi round to Azilal. Then to the Cascades for the night. In April they'll we swarming with tourists during the day. (Try Camping Zebra)

From here take in the natural bridge at Imi n Ifri and then Demnate where old Bedfords go to be reborn. Then it's an easy run in to Marrakech.

[Tim Cullis]

Be aware of the possibility of bandits at the southern end of the cirque piste.

From Imilchil, the obvious route heading directly west from Bousmou (N32 06.211 W5 31.511) to Anergui (Gite Chriffi N32 03.936 W5 56.181) was blocked when I was in the area last year. And then the route west from Anergui to the Cathedral was also blocked.

[CaBRita]

Peter/ Tim,

Thank you for the advice!

I'll study better those alternatives. Looking at photos from Google Maps/ Panoramio already gave some clues about the conditions.

Speaking of Google Maps, if we ask for direction Imilchil-Cascades d'Ouzoud it leads you further north via the R317/R306:

Imilchil, Morocco a Ouzoud Falls - Google Maps

I believe that these R317/R306 is tarmac road.

BR,
Luis CaBRita

[Peter Girling]

Hi Luis,

That's correct - all tarmac. Good sweeping roads for a big bike!

[chris gale]

Hi
have just flown back from Maroc having driven to the Cascades in my friends camper . there are two tarmac routes that lead from there to marrakech , one being the yellow one on the map off of the N road , this is very twisty and would be good on a bike , its 160km and about two hours point to point - all the tourist coaches use this , the other route is on a white road , goes thru a gorge and is very narrow and twisty and high especially in a bloody great big camper !! alot of the locals were amazed we would even go that way - didnt think it was that bad . Given the choice the gorge route is amazing but its about 4.5 hrs driving . Both roads are ok tarmac wiss but the first one had two police radar traps on it .
Fuel is around 1 euro a litre whilst gasoil is 70 c . Weather was mid 20s during the day and around 12 - 15 c at night .

[CaBRita]

Peter/ Tim (and whoever has ridden this),

This trip will finally take place April this year

Need your advice on route from Imilchil (read Bousmou) heading west to Anergui (Gite Chriffi) an then further west to the Cathedral.

Is it normally doable on big trailies?
Or should we wait until Winter is over so that damages are assessed?

We'll be riding:
- Africa Twin
- R1200GS
- Multistrada :confused1:

From the pictures I see in Google Earth/ Panoramio it seems to have spectacular views.

Thank you and Best Regards,
Luís Cabrita

[Tim Cullis]

As far as I'm aware the Bousmou to Anergui route is still cut. Unless someone knows more. The Multistrada would be interesting...

Some photos of that route in posts #21 and #23 at Six weeks in May/June 2012

We subsequently checked out the Anergui end of the piste and it wasn't at all clear where the piste was and there was no sign of recent traffic. I could see the supposed route on Olaf but there wasn't anything there on the ground.