Our Story: The Valley of Desolation Boiling Lake Trail

Boiling Lake is the toughest hike I have ever done. The trail climbs and descends through mountains, sulfur springs, and through gorges. It is 8 miles round trip and 90% of it is wood steps. This hike has been on my Dominican bucket list since moving here. It is the third most challenging trail on the island. Stephen and I decided to get the hike over with now when we both had a chance to go on it together. There was a group of 11 of us and we all had such an amazing time! As we started the trail it was pouring rain and our guide almost had us turn back because there can be flash floods. About ten minutes later it stopping pouring and we were able to continue. What is most challenging about this hike is that you are either going up or down pretty steep stairs throughout most of it, and it was incredibly muddy. Some of the hike involves a little bit of rock climbing and in a couple places the stairs are so steep they turn into ladders more than steps. We made it to the valley of desolation after two hours and were able to hard boil some eggs in one of the boiling streams which was super cool! Then we made face masks from the warm clay that's all around. Once we passed the valley all of the rivers we started crossing were warm and some of them pretty hot because of the hot springs. By far the most amazing part of the hike is how beautiful everything is. It has a very unique beauty to it and it is by far my favorite thing I have done on the island. We were dead tired after finishing the hike 7 hours later and it took a good 5 days to fully recover from it. Our legs were completely dead for about 2 or 3 days. Stairs were just impossible. It was pretty funny, while we were at fort young the weekend after one of the employees saw me struggling down the stairs and gave us a weird look. All Stephen told him was "boiling lake" and he just started laughing at us. Stephen decided right away that he would do this hike again but I am still undecided. I can say I am extremely glad I did it at least once though.

Description of the hike...
This is a six hour round trip hike over challenging terrain, the Boiling Lake ranks as one of Dominica's most demanding trails. This well-maintained trail begins at approximately 1,600 ft, where a level stretch of rocky pathway blends with wooden steps. Although this is a strenuous trail, the trip is among the best ways to experience the rain forest of the Caribbean's Nature Island. The first hour of the trail crosses wet rain forest and rises gradually from 1,771 ft to 2,260 ft before dropping 100 ft toward the Trois Pitons River. Known as the Breakfast River where we took our first break. Then the path follows a ridge, gradually moving from rain forest to montane forest. After an hour you'll arrive at the highest point, 2,950 ft, with panoramic views across the central zone of the park. Next you keep going and finally enter the Valley of Desolation. Once a lush forested area, it now appears to be devoid of life. The floor of the valley, however, is covered in a dense mat of mosses and lichens. From here, your final destination, the Boiling Lake, is only an hour away. The world's largest boiling lake, it appears like a cauldron of bubbling grayish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapor. The Boiling Lake is actually a flooded fumarole, a crack through which gases escape from the molten lava below, rather than a volcanic crater. It is 200 ft across and its present depth is unknown. The sides of the lake are a mixture of clay, pumice, and small stones. The natural basin of Boiling Lake collects the rainfall from the surrounding hills and from two small streams. The water seeps through the porous bottom to the hot lava below where it is trapped and heated to boiling point. This is the most spectacular trail in Dominica, and it is only for the experienced hiker accompanied by a local guide.

We took all of these awesome pictures with our brand new go pro!! Our new favorite toy.

Before Picture! We are pumped and ready!