Hike Martinique – Piton Lacroix Trail Description & Local Hiking Guides
Overview of hiking Martinique – Piton Lacroix Trail:
- Time required: 3-4 hours round trip (depending on how visible and dry the trail is)
- Degree of Difficulty: 9 out of 10 (assuming second half of trail was as steep as it looked)
- Height: Peak is at 3,870 feet (1180 meters) above sea-level, however estimated total elevation change probably just over 5,000 feet (1,500m)
- Distance: Approximately 2.5 miles (4km) round trip
- Guide Required: Advisable (if available) – The trailhead is not marked, and the trail is unmaintained, so a local guide can help you start at the right place and provide confidence along the way.
Note: I was unable to complete this hike due to a lack of advance information and time constraints. As a result, this information may be incomplete and/or inaccurate.
The starting point for the hike is located just over half an hour drive north from Fort-de-France near the island’s west coast town of Bellefontaine. This area provides great views to the north/west of the island, towards the town of Saint Maurice and Le Morne Vert as well as the Caribbean sea. I imagine that the Piton LeCroix peak would provide unparalleled panoramic views of the north end of Martinique!
To get to the trail-head, take the N2 highway north up the west coast of Martinique, then follow the D20 towards Saint Maurice / Le Morne Vert. From there, exit onto a small road called Canton Suisse. At the east end of the road, just past an old farmhouse, a steep paved road turns into a dirt/grass track that ends at a (currently unused?) farmer’s field.
Looking at the forested mountain peak behind the field, the trail-head can be found on the right side of the field. Be forewarned, there is no signage and the trail itself resembles nothing more than a goat path.
It is really tough going at the start of this hike, not just because the trail is barely visible, but because the path is extremely steep and can be very muddy – You may slip and slide all over the place. Eventually, the trail becomes a bit more discernible and level, albeit strewn with fallen trees and rocks. This is a true rain-forest hike, as the forest is very dense and dark in most sections. Occasionally, the sun does manage to peek through the heavy canopy.
It can take about an hour to eventually make it to some high ground where you can see to the east of the mountain you just climbed. At this point you’re less than halfway to the peak of Piton Lacroix. Standing about 2,526 feet (770m) high, you should be able to see the trail descend into a gully where it must take a seriously steep ascent of the Piton Lacroix mountain itself.
Note: From our personal experience, we were covered in mud, tired and running out of time, so we stopped and turned around at this point.
In summary, the Lacroix Trail is very steep and not well maintained. As we never made it all the way, I cannot comment on the Piton steepness / trail conditions, or the potential reward (view) from the peak. As there are a number of better-maintained trails on the island, I suggest you attempt those instead – Please see our Hike Martinique page for more information. That said, if I was to attempt to hike the Piton Lacroix trail again, I would take an alternate path whose trail-head is in/near the town of Caplet, Le Morne-Vert. This is more of a ridge trail, so I suspect it would be less steep than the path outlined above.
To hike Martinique’s Piton Lacroix trail , these local Tour Operators / Hiking Guides will take good care of you (Click on a Tour Operator below for more details):
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For a more colourful review, check out our personal Martinique hiking experience with our Martinique Hiking Fail Blog Post
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