Fodor's Expert Review The Waitukubuli National Trail
On an island that already brims with fabulous hiking tracks, this 115-mile route is the icing on the cake. In its 14 segments, paths wind from Scotts Head, the southern point of the island, to Capuchin in the far north. As they make their way down rivers and up mountains, trekkers pass through woodlands, gorges, waterfalls, and lush rain forests. The trails weave through Fort Shirley in Portsmouth and Carib villages in the east, sometimes following old runaway-slave trails. Paths are marked with signage, plus yellow and blue markings on rocks, sticks, poles, and often embedded in the ground. (Sometimes you really have to look hard for them, though.) Pick and choose the segments that most interest you. Each is rated from easy (Segment 10) to very difficult (Segments 8 and 9) so be sure to check your maps before setting out to get an idea of each one and confirm the status of the segment(s) you plan to hike. (Some were closed from Hurricane Maria damage in 2017.) Those ambitious enough... READ MORE
On an island that already brims with fabulous hiking tracks, this 115-mile route is the icing on the cake. In its 14 segments, paths wind from Scotts Head, the southern point of the island, to Capuchin in the far north. As they make their way down rivers and up mountains, trekkers pass through woodlands, gorges, waterfalls, and lush rain forests. The trails weave through Fort Shirley in Portsmouth and Carib villages in the east, sometimes following old runaway-slave trails. Paths are marked with signage, plus yellow and blue markings on rocks, sticks, poles, and often embedded in the ground. (Sometimes you really have to look hard for them, though.) Pick and choose the segments that most interest you. Each is rated from easy (Segment 10) to very difficult (Segments 8 and 9) so be sure to check your maps before setting out to get an idea of each one and confirm the status of the segment(s) you plan to hike. (Some were closed from Hurricane Maria damage in 2017.) Those ambitious enough to do the whole trail—which can take about a week and a half—will come away with an intimate knowledge of the island's terrain and unique history. Passes are mandatory on any of the 14 segments and are available at the Forestry Division, the Waitukubuli Trail Headquarters in Pont Casse, and at vendors near the trail segments. For safety reasons, register before embarking on the trail.
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