Hike St. Kitts – Mount Liamuiga Trail Description & Local Hiking Guides
Overview of hiking St. Kitts Mount Liamuiga trail:
- Time required: 4 – 6 hours
- Degree of Difficulty: 7 out of 10
- Height: 3,792 feet (1,156m) – Actual vertical is around 2,350 feet (700m) as the trailhead is 650 feet (200m) above sea level and most hikes end on the ridge of the volcano around 3,000 feet (900m), just below the highest point.
- Distance: Approximately 4.5 miles (7km) round trip
- Guide Required: Recommended – The trail itself, if you can find the trailhead, is fairly well marked. That said, a guide is valuable as they can highlight the local flora and fauna, making the hike more enjoyable. You also don’t have to worry about accidentally wandering off and getting lost on some random side-trail (see below for guides / Tours).
Mount Liamuiga is a dormant stratovolcano and the highest point on the island of St Kitts, as well as all the Lesser Antilles’ leeward islands. The trailhead is at the end of a rough narrow road at the south end of Newton Ground village, which is about a 40 minute drive up the west coast from Basseterre.
This St. Kitts hike starts with a mild but gradual incline and the trail seems to twist and turn like a large ‘saggy’ switchback. At one point, the trail followed a large rut, or trench, likely caused by torrential rains years ago. Along the trail you’ll see some amazing trees, with a thick canopy of vines everywhere. What really stands out on this hike is the exposed tree roots – They might be the largest / wildest tree root system you’ll ever see. While these roots actually provide assistance in climbing some of the steeper parts of the trail, they also make walking a bit dangerous, as you’ll have to watch that you don’t trip over them and face-plant.
The trail journeys from a woodland area, through a rainforest jungle, to a dwarf cloud forest at the top of the volcano. St. Kitts are well known for their monkey inhabitants, and if you’re lucky, you may get a glance of one. More likely, you’ll hear their chattering from time to time, as they are out there somewhere. The trail is well worn, mostly dry and rocky, although it can get muddy and slick when it rains.
The first hour or so up the mountain is at a fairly easy/intermediate level. The next 45 minutes or so of this exhilarating ‘up-hill’ St. Kitts hike will be much steeper, with a few near-vertical sections that can be challenging on cardio and leg strength. Eventually the trail comes out on the ridge of the volcano where you can peer down inside… The in-sides of the volcano are a lush green blanket of shrubs and other vegatation. It’s about a thousand feet deep, and you can see a large patch of sulfur vents at the bottom of the crater, along with a small pool of (rain) water. It’s a spectacular view, and with a cool cloud filled breeze constantly blowing around the top, it can be a surreal experience. Hopefully there’ll be enough of a break in the clouds to get a good view of the crater and surrounding area.
For the more adventurous, with mountain climbing experience and the appropriate equipment, it is possible to descend into the abyss and walk around the crater bottom.
Depending on the weather conditions (specifically cloud cover), you may want to hike another 20 minutes further up to the actual peak of the volcano, where you can get the best views of the island – On a clear day, the views of the island and surrounding waters are sensational.
It’s the same trail down, which is quicker to traverse than the way up, however its prudent to be extra careful on the descent, with all those protruding roots and rocks, especially in the steep sections. At the near-vertical sections, be prepared to slide down on your behind, to avoid tumbling uncontrollably down the hill. While this is a pretty popular activity on the island, it’s doubtful that you will encounter more than one other group on the trail. Depending on your fitness level, this is about a 4.5 hour leisurely hike up and down the volcano.
This thrilling hike is quite comfortable in sections, strenuous in others, with a constantly varying environment, culminating with a very unique view waiting at the top for you.
In summary, the Mount Liamuiga Trail is an excellent up-hill St. Kitts hike, which is likely to become one of your all-time Caribbean hiking favourites. This is what you think of when imagining a volcano hike on a Caribbean island – Hiking through a rain-forest up a mountainside to an open crater that you can look down into.
For a more colourful review, check out our personal St. Kitts hiking experience with our Mount Liamuiga Volcano Hike Blog Post
For a guide / tour to hike St. Kitts’ Mount Liamuiga trail, these local Tour Operators will take good care of you:
- Greg’s Safaris (with Lunch)
- Captain Sunshine Tours
- St. Kitts Taxi and Tours
- Island Paradise Tours
- Tropical Tours
- Pereira Tours St. Kitts
- Kantours
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