The Ecolodge
is located at a crossroads of hiking trails, historic footpaths
that are still called “roads” by most Sabans. Each
offers a different experience in terms of duration, degree of
difficulty, landscape, views, vegetation, and cultural and geological
features. From the Ecolodge you have immediate access to the following
trails.
1. Mt.
Scenery trail to the village of Windwardside.
An easy
10-minute walk downhill along the steps, giving access to the
main village and its amenities. Back up will take you 15-20 minutes.
2. Maskehorne Hill trail.
A short 15-minute hike through typical rainforest vegetation with
a great view of the village of Windwardside. An excellent substitute
for those who don’t want to negotiate the 1,064 steps to
the top and still enjoy a good view
.
3. Mt. Scenery trail.
The most popular hike on the island, but also the most strenuous.
The steps lead through rainforest with giant elephant ears, treeferns,
mountain palms and yellow heliconias. No one can guarantee you
a view, as the top is frequently in the clouds. Two side tracks
near the top allow you to savor the mystical atmosphere of the
cloud forest with its large mountain mahogany trees and hanging
mosses.
4. Crispeen track to The Bottom.
A 20 to 30-minute walk (mostly downhill) through rainforest, changing
into fry forest, joining the main road just above The Bottom,
Saba’s capital. Part of the trail is the historic step road
that formerly connected the villages.
5. Bottom Mountain trail.
A 45 minute hike through lush rainforest and few farm plots, with
excellent views of the villages of St. Johns and The Bottom and
the ocean. The second half of the trail goes down steeply towards
Queens Garden Resort, from where it’s just a short walk
to reach The Bottom.
6. Bud’s Mountain trail.
An easy 30 minute walk similar to the Bottom Mountain trail, but
at higher elevation. It branches off the Bottom Mountain trail
not far from the Ecolodge and ends at a farm plot in the middle
of the rainforest with abundant treeferns.
7. Troy Hill to Sandy Cruz.
The Troy Hill trailhead is located near the end of the Bottom
Mountain trail, a short but steep walk upwards along the main
road. It is the most varied and most interesting hike on the island,
leading through well-developed dry forest, rainforest, steep ravines
and small farm plots. It offers spectacular views of Torrens Point,
Diamond Rock, the north coast and the airport. Take 3 ½
hours from the Ecolodge to the end of the trail in Upper Hellsgate;
add another ½ hour to go full circle and return along the
main road from Hellsgate to the Ecolodge. The hike can also be
done in the opposite direction and connections can be made from
Sandy Cruz with the All too Far trail to the old Sulphur Mine
in the Saba National Park and the trailhead in Lower Hellsgate.
This is just a sampling of hikes starting at the Ecolodge; other
hiking options are available from The Bottom, St. Johns, Windwardside,
Lower Hellsgate and Flat Point. Alternatively, you can choose
for some village walks to enjoy the typical Saban architecture
and beautiful flower gardens. Heleen Cornet’s book “Saban
Cottages”, includes maps of these village walks. The “Saba
Trailshop” in Windwardside offers more information on hiking
and guide services.
Click
here for trail map
(when the map opens check the
box marked "trails" then highlite the individual routes
via the lefthand navigtion)