soufriere | Purely Dominica

10 May 2010

Hikefest 2010: Hike #2 – Soufriere to Scotts Head

The Old French Quarter which is a spectacular open savannah with views in Dominica Spectacular View of the Savannah at The Old French Quarter

The hike to Soufriere to Scotts Head was the second hike at this yearâ€™s Hike Fest and is the first segment of the Waitukubuli National Trail. Seven kilometers of continuously compelling nature, ideal for the entire family.

The hike begins with a 15 minute gentle climb to the Gallion road, the next 45 minutes is a steep climb and an excellent trail that will lead to the highest point of the hike.

After peaking the ridge the trail continues down to The Old French Quarter which is a spectacular open savannah with views in all directions. Following on the right or West side, the trail now continues on down to Scotts Head. This is a gentle descent on a good trail that has existed for years as a footpath; you can see some areas with extensive rock walls.

Upon completion of the hike, we all gathered at the Caribantic Building in Scotts Head to have lunch. As we were eating, we shared our experiences of what we got out of the hike. As for myself, I saw the hike in a positive light, and just fortunate to be apart.

To some people, hiking or any other form of outdoor activity can be seen as a drag or chore for them, particularly on the weekends when this time period is seen as an opportunity to sleep more. However, exercise as we all know is beneficial not just to our mind but also our body and spirit. And what better place than the nature island – Dominica! Below are some pics from the hike….Enjoy! 😛

A collage of Dominica's fauna and flora

photo of a rasta boy in dominica hold a soursop

Photo of hikers in Dominica

Image of a crab in Dominica

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Tagged with: Caribantic Building, Dominica, Hike Fest 2010, hikefest, Hiking, Outdoors, Scotts Head, soufriere, The Old French Quarter, trail, Waitukubuli National Trail

Hike Fest 2009:The Morne Vert Loop from Soufriere

Written by Chris in Dominica Travel Guide 2 Comments →

view of soufriere village in Dominica

Unlike the first hike of Hikefest 2009 – the Chemin Letang trail, where it rained for 3 hours straight, the Morne Vert Loop from Soufriere and ended at Soufriere Sulphur Springs was definitely one of the better hikes I’ve been on for quiet awhile.

The weather conditions on the day was ideal for hiking; not too hot but still clear enough to catch some spectacular views.

Morne Vert is located near the south coast of the island and the Soufriere Sulphur Springs.The area has an abundance of geological, as well as cultural history. A perfect example is the Bois Cotellete plantation is one of the oldest estates on the island, which dates back to 1700’s.The ruins are still there. Also apart of trail is the Palmiste Estate – an ancient track which was used by Kalinago Indians.

From the summit of Morne vert the trail continues down into the village of Tete Morne where there are breathtaking views down to Soufriere village. From the opposite side, you can see much of the south coast of Dominica- for example Grand Bay, etc

Hikers Note: Morne Vert Loop trail has been designated an intermediate level of difficulty hike.The terrain varies at time and can be quite steep in certain areas. Climate can be very hot and dry in this location and the smell of sulphur can be strong at times in some areas on trail.

Will I trek Morne Vert Loop Again?

To be honest, I will do this hike again any day of the week – that’s how much I’ve fallen in love with the trail and the southern part of the island.

So whether you’re an avid hiker or someone who is just starting out, the Morne Vert Loop trial has something interesting for every outdoor lover.

Here are images and short video from the trial, enjoy!