1. Overview of Climbing Nevis Peak
2. Preparing for the Hike
3. The Hiking Experience
4. Conclusion
Getting to the top of Nevis’ highest mountain is tough, muddy fun
If you visit Nevis, you really can’t avoid Nevis Peak. This 3,232-foot, (mostly) dormant volcano is visible from everywhere, and your eye is constantly drawn to the weather playing around the summit. It occasionally clears long enough that you can appreciate its well-defined caldera and imagine the explosive forces that must have been at work when the volcano last erupted perhaps a hundred thousand years ago.
1. Overview of Climbing Nevis Peak
Travelers with a sense of adventure may sense the mountain beckoning with the promise of amazing views. However, the very logical question arises: how hard is it to get up there? Especially from sea level, Nevis Peak looks steep and is covered in thick jungle. In this instance, looks are not deceiving. If you’re considering hiking to the top of Nevis Peak, you will need to prepare adequately. However, if you want to climb Nevis Peak, you’re in for a rugged, muddy, but ultimately rewarding half-day adventure.
2. Preparing for the Hike
Your Nevis hotel may or may not want to arrange for you to scale the highest peak and most prominent landscape feature on the island due to concerns about liability. These worries are not unfounded, and while you may be able to summit this peak on your own, hiring a guide like Kervin Liburd from Sunrise Tours is highly recommended. This family business has been leading visitors up the mountain for decades and has done much work maintaining and improving the trail.
We set out from the Four Seasons at 7:30 a.m. for the half-hour cab ride to rendezvous with Kervin at a local crossroads bar. A short drive up into the hills above the village of Gingerland brought us to the trailhead at Peak Heaven, a local historic site where escaping slaves once met up before stealing away to mountain hideaways. The trail itself is unmarked, just a grassy track leading uphill, highlighting the necessity of a guide.
3. The Hiking Experience
Starting at around 1,200 feet above sea level, the first half-mile is a mild stroll through sun-drenched countryside where Kervin points out various fruit trees and flowering plants that grow unusually large compared to the same species back home. Small birds are revealed to be local bats, and we hear green monkeys, although they remain hidden. However, we do spot a large red-necked pigeon that flaps noisily away.
Kervin describes the trail to the top of Nevis Peak as “ropes and roots,” and we soon discover this is no exaggeration. Our footpath descends into a sharp-sided gully, where we find the first of many guide ropes that aid our ascent. Climbing Nevis Peak is indeed a dirty business; much of the ascent involves climbing steep, wet, muddy hillsides, using tree roots, trunks, sturdy vines, or ancient-looking guide ropes to make progress.
This climbing adventure is a lot of fun and provides a full-body workout. It certainly offers a more interesting experience than hitting the gym while on vacation. The hike typically takes about two hours up and two hours down, covering more than 2,000 vertical feet and several miles. Be prepared for few flat spots along the way—usually just brief moments to catch your breath and take in the jungle canopy and clouds.
At what Kervin identifies as the halfway point, we enjoy a beautiful patch of open sky, revealing the Nevisian landscape and the Caribbean Sea far below. It’s wise to linger over this view, as our next segment of the hike remains comparatively cloudy. The remainder of our journey to the summit follows similar terrain, with fewer views and only a sudden break in the foliage announcing our arrival at the top.
Although we wish we could have enjoyed clearer skies, the sense of accomplishment upon reaching the summit is undeniable. We take turns signing the guest book and snapping celebratory photos in front of a small St. Kitts and Nevis flag.
4. Conclusion
Retracing our steps back down the mountain proves challenging. The descent often feels like rappelling, with periods of scooting along or lowering ourselves from handhold to handhold. It remains strenuous but hard in a different manner. Nevertheless, the Nevis Peak climb is an experience worth pursuing if you’re up for the challenge. It’s no leisurely stroll, but if you’re looking for an adventure away from the typical resort activities, this is it. Hiring Kervin or one of his crew for a reasonable fee offers a chance to accomplish a climb that relatively few visitors attempt, potentially enjoying spectacular views that require effort to achieve.
