Nearly 300 miles of footpaths, the Morne Trois Pitons National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, countless streams and waterfalls and a well established national parks system makes for some of the Caribbean's most spectacular and enjoyable adventures on the "Nature Island"!

Dominica island is a haven for hikers and nature-lovers. In almost every part of the country, trails weave their way into gorges and across valleys, climbing up to 4,000 foot mountains. Whatever your level of fitness there is a trail just right for you, each with a spectacular attraction at its conclusion. If you'd like to be more, or less adventurous rapelling/canyoning, zip lining and rainforest tram rides are also available as are rainforest ATV tours.

Browse the hikes by category below, or click here to view all our hikes.

Emerald Pool

Tucked a mere 5 minutes off the interior Roseau-Castle Bruce road, this is Dominica's most accessible waterfall. Once arriving at the junction with the road to Rosalie, a well-marked entrance is just half a mile away. The one kilometre loop trail passes along a wooden walkway to arrive at a 40 ft (12 metre) waterfall. Minimum effort is required to get to this beautiful site. The pool has crystal clear water and it is well worth peeling off your clothes for a dip! On your way back there are two view points where you can see the Atlantic Coast and Morne Trois Pitons (Dominica’s second tallest peak) to your left, rising to an elevation of 4672 ft. Avoid Mondays and Tuesdays with cruise ship arrivals or enjoy a private visit after 3pm most days!

Starting point: 5-1/2 miles northeast of Roseau, in Laudat

Titou Gorge

Roseau Valley

The trip to Titou Gorge, "Little Throat" Gorge in Carib, is actually a swim from the base of a waterfall through a series of natural "rooms and ponds" formed by high cliff walls canopied by interlaced trees. The undulating sides of this deep, narrow gorge indicate that it was not cut by a river. As the molten lava was cooling, it split and pulled apart, similar to the way a drying mud puddle split and cracks. To get to the gorge, drive a half-mile beyond Laudat and look for the utility station. The swim is short, only about five minutes. Less confident swimmers or those traveling with camera equipment may consider using a boat or BC. Depth varies depending on rainfall. The canopied light filtering down the mountainside within the gorge is spectacular. A hot spring tumbles down a short wall just outside the entrance of the gorge, which you will want to soak up after the cool waters of the falls.

Starting point: 5-1/2 miles northeast of Roseau, in Laudat

Trafalgar Falls

Roseau Valley

• Situated just east of the picturesque village of Trafalgar in the Roseau Valley are Dominica’s most popular natural attractions, the Trafalgar Falls. Two major falls cascade side by side. The taller “father” is to the left at about 125 ft, and the shorter “mother” fall to the right is about 75ft. Both waterfalls are located on tributaries of the Roseau River. The “breakfast” or Trois Pitons River that hikers cross en route to Boiling Lake in Morne Trois Pitons National Park is one of the tributaries and forms the shorter of the two waterfalls. From the road and visitor reception area a 10 to 15 minutes walk along a well-maintained path brings you to a viewing platform where you can photograph and see both falls. As you move along the trail be sure to stop at the warm spring that flows across the trail. The orange colour is caused by iron compounds in the clay, and not by sulphur, as most people believe. If you want to get closer, a path leads to the base of the falls. Exploration on the left side of the Father is not advised due to a past collapse. However, feel free to clamber over boulders and into the pool at the base of the Mother! You can bathe in this pool but use caution on the slippery rocks.
  
  

Starting point: 4 miles northeast of Roseau, in Trafalgar

Boiling Lake ( Level of difficulty: Strenuous )

Roseau Valley

Time taken: 6 hours

Boiling Lake The Boiling Lake Hike ranks as one of Dominica's most demanding trails, with good reason—three hours to the lake and three hours back over some challenging terrain. This well-maintained trail begins at approximately 1,600 ft (490 metres), where a level stretch of rocky pathway blends alternately with wooden steps. But don't be fooled by the flat beginning—it grows steeper. Although this is a strenuous trail, the trip is among the best ways to experience the rainforest of the Caribbean’s Nature Island. See and hear rainforest birds and other rare tropical animals while truly experiencing the heart of the island. The wet rain forest is crossed by rising gradually from 540m to 690m then goes down 30m toward the Trois Pitons River, also known as Breakfast because it is usually the first rest stop. An hour is needed to reach this river. After this first stop, the path follows a ridge. One passes gradually from the rain forest to the mountain forest. An hour after the river, one arrives at the highest point, 900m, which offers a panoramic view over all the central zone of the park. Some metres farther down, to the right, is a side trail to Wotten Waven. By going to the left, one reaches the Valley of the Desolation. The region known as the Valley of Desolation, which was once a lush forested area, now appears to be devoid of life. The floor of the valley is covered in a dense mat of mosses and lichens, and scattered below are grasses and the yellow-and-white flowered Bromeliad, Pitcairnia spicata var. sulpurea. The valley is followed for 30 minutes on the right bank, then, passing to the left bank, one turns off to the northeast reaching the Boiling Lake in a further 30 minutes. This is the world’s largest boiling lake. The Boiling Lake appears like a cauldron of bubbling grayish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapour. The lake is approximately 200ft (63m) across and its present depth is unknown. The sides of the lake are a mixture of clay, pumice and small stones. The Boiling Lake is a flooded fumarole, a crack through which gases escape from the molten lava below, rather than a volcanic crater. The natural basin of Boiling Lake collects the rainfall from the surrounding hills and from two small streams which empty into the lake. The water seeps through the porous bottom to the hot lava below where it is trapped and heated to boiling point. This trail is the most spectacular in Dominica. It combines rain forest and mountain forest before crossing the bleak Valley of Desolation and reaching the spectacular Boiling Lake. Do not attempt this difficult trail without a local guide.

Starting point: Laudat next to Titou Gorge