St Lucia Hiking and Nature Trails

There are a number of trails on St Lucia, two run by the St Lucia National Trust (NT) and others run by the Forestry and Lands Department (F&L). Assume any trail requires a permit before use. Trails may be poorly marked and guides are recommended and sometimes required. Trails include;

1) A 3-mile Atlantic trail from the Fregate Islands Nature Reserve to Mandelé (NT). (see Fregate Island)

2) The circular Descartiers Rainforest Trail (4 mi) which starts six miles inland from Mahaut on the Atlantic coast highway. This is also the start of a second trail which crosses the island to Fond St Jacques in Soufrière. 3) The Gros Piton Nature Trail near Soufrière runs from Fond Gens Libre Community to the Gros Piton Summit (4 hours round trip). The first half of the trail is moderate, but the second half is a strenuous ascent (F&L).

4) A circular trail at the Edmund Forest Reserve (F&L) (See Edmund Forest).

5) Barre de l'Isle Trail follows the ridge that separates the eastern and western parts of St Lucia. The trail takes about a half day.

6) Six miles of trail at the Anse La Liberté camp site south of Canaries created by the National Trust.

7) The Union Nature Trail loops through a dry forest near Castries and is an easy walk past a mini zoo, a medicinal herb garden, and an interpretation center.