The 10 Best Hiking Trails in Jamaica

Did you know that the Caribbean island of Jamaica is 50% mountain? The island is often associated with reggae music and relaxing on the sand, but its diverse terrain makes Jamaica good for hiking too. From misty mountains to cascading waterfalls, Jamaica’s hiking trails offer an unforgettable adventure for nature enthusiasts and explorers. Even better, hiking in Jamaica is safe as we have no venomous snakes or dangerous animals in our montane forests. Here are the 10 best hiking trails in Jamaica, each promising unique vistas and unforgettable experiences. These are my tried and true experiences on the island to date in no particular order.

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What’s Inside

1. Mountain River Cave & Cudjoe Falls
2. Kwame Falls
3. Holywell
4. Bull Head Mountain Peak
5. Accompong
6. Millbank Falls
7. Pretty Close
8. Animal Farm
9. Cunha Cunha Pass
10. Blue Mountain Peak

1. Mountain River Cave & Cudjoe Falls

Mountain River Cave and Cudjoe Waterfall are both located in Cudjoe Hill, a rural district in the south-central Jamaican parish of St. Catherine. The community of Cudjoe Hill has a rich Taino history. The Tainos were one of the earliest groups of people to inhabit Jamaica. Pictographs and petroglyphs found in the Mountain River Cave were dated by scientists as between 500 to 1300 years old, and are believed to have been created by the Tainos. The trail is short and serene with gentle elevation. I could easily picture the Tainos living here as they loved a peaceful life in small communities, strategically built next to a water source such as a river.

For more reading: Mountain River Cave & Falls

• Estimated Distance: 2km
• Time: 30 minutes
• Slope: Gentle
• Difficulty Rating: Moderate (2.5/10) – loose stones are a potential hazard.

2. Kwame Falls

Kwame Falls is a free river and waterfall near the rural district of Robin’s Bay in St. Mary. It is said that the falls are named for Kwame, one of the warriors who fought alongside Tacky in the 1760 slave revolt. The trail leading to the falls winds through dense vegetation, cliffs, old plantation ruins and even past a beautiful black sand beach. The views are well worth the trek, but time your visit well as this waterfall frequently dries up in the dry season.

For more reading: Kwame Falls

• Estimated Distance: 10km
• Time: 2 hours
• Slope: Moderate
• Difficulty Rating: Moderate (4/10) – see safety warning in full article. Trail unmarked.

3. Holywell

Holywell is just an hour’s drive from Kingston and provides five great hiking trails plus a cool escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. This family-friendly 330-acre park is blessed with cool mists and the fragrance of fresh mountain air and pine trees. At 900m (3,000 ft.) above sea level, the cool temperature allows Holywell’s ecosystem to support a wide variety of ferns, flowers, and trees which are rarely seen in other parts of Jamaica. All of Jamaica’s endemic birds have been spotted here too, making the park perfect for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Check out all 5 of its trails, and consider camping overnight in tents or in a rented cabin.

For more reading: Holywell

• Estimated Distance: 250m (Blue Mahoe Trail) to 1.3km (Waterfall Trail)
• Time: 10 (Blue Mahoe Trail) to 45 minutes (Waterfall Trail)
• Slope: Gentle to moderate
• Difficulty Rating: Easy (1-2/10), trails are well maintained and marked.

4. Bull Head Mountain Peak

The Bull Head Mountains is a 545-acre mountain range located in north Clarendon. The mountain is named for its shape of a bull head when seen out from sea. Bull Head Mountain Peak is located at 3600 feet (1097m) above sea level, and the gentle trail which leads to it is one of the best hiking trails in Jamaica. What’s even cooler about these mountains is that they contain the geographical centre of Jamaica and there’s a marker on-site to prove it. I could hardly believe I was still hiking in Jamaica with these majestic vistas and pine trees. Looked like a scene straight from a Colorado mountain park– minus the cows.

For more reading: Bull Head Mountain

• Time: 50 minutes
• Slope: Gentle
• Difficulty Rating: Easy (2/10) but trail unmarked.

5. Accompong

Accompong is a Maroon settlement located in the Cockpit Country of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. It holds historical significance as one of the few remaining communities established by escaped Africans who resisted colonial oppression and established their own independent societies. Accompong was founded in the 18th century by a legendary Maroon leader named Cudjoe, who negotiated a peace treaty with the British authorities that granted the Maroons certain rights and autonomy in exchange for ending hostilities and helping to capture and return other runaway slaves.

Just under 1000 acres, Accompong offers several hiking trails, the longest and most sacred of which leads to Peace Cave. Peace Cave is composed of karst limestone and crystallized quartz which adds to the location’s mystique. Libations of white rum are poured for the ancestors at the cave’s entrance at the end of every hike. I did this hike as a high school field trip and enjoyed it immensely. I hope to revisit one day. Staying in Negril? This would make for a great day trip.

• Estimated Distance: 9.5km
• Time: 2 hours
• Slope: Moderately strenuous
• Difficulty Rating: Moderate (5/10)

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Pro Tip: Book travel insurance before your trip.

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6. Millbank Falls

Millbank is one of the Windward Maroon villages in Portland Jamaica and home to one dozen majestic waterfalls. However, unlike most other waterfalls in Jamaica, the ones in Millbank are scarcely visited and guides from the community often have to cut a new track to the falls on each trek because the thick rainforest swallows up the trail as soon as it is created. That being said, my hike to two of the community’s falls in 2021 remains firmly etched in my mind as one of the best hikes I’ve ever done. You’ll need about a week and a very well-motivated guide to see them all– as well as lots of patience and experience as these narrow slippery trails go from zero to 100 really fast. I have the remaining Millbank falls to check off, as well as Bernard Spring Falls, Dry River Falls in Comfort Castle and Nanny Falls in Moore Town. These are in close proximity to each other on the map of Jamaica but hours apart on foot and the trails are too narrow for off-road vehicles.

For more reading: Millbank Falls

• Time: 1 hour minimum per waterfall
• Slope: Strenuous
• Difficulty Rating: Difficult (7-9/10)

7. Pretty Close

Did Millbank sound too stressful for you? And, are you based in Kingston with the desire for adventure but not willing to drive too far for it? Well, look no further than the Pretty Close nature retreat in Gordon Town. This spot is well named because it is only 15 minutes drive from Papine, a town which serves as the gateway to the Blue Mountains. Pretty Close has 4 hiking trails and each end with the best reward ever: a WATERFALL! Nature’s own shower. As if that isn’t enough reason to visit, stay for the authentic Jamaican ital food which is served riverside and tastes just like Mama’s cooking. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to sit and hol’ a reason with Ramo, the talented chef and brains behind this sustainable oasis.

For more reading: Pretty Close

• Time: 15 minutes (Orchid & Governor) to 30-35 minutes (Fern Fever & Lion Falls)
• Slope: Mostly gentle
• Difficulty Rating: Trails well maintained and marked. Orchid + Governor are easy (1/10). Fern Fever and Lion Falls require climbing which makes them difficult, 4/10 and 6/10 respectively.

8. Animal Farm

Sunrise in Jamaica is roughly at 6am all year round, but this 40-acre sanctuary at Animal Farm wakes up more slowly thanks to its high elevation and dense tree cover. My hike began at 7:30am one December morning, yet the forest was still shrouded in thick fog. This lush preserve sits in the Great River Valley and you get a chance to swim and hike alongside its banks as well as through banana farms, wild yam hills and the sparsely populated but close-knit community. Visiting Montego Bay? This hike is perfect for you. Stay overnight in their cozy cabins to get an early morning head start.

For more reading: Animal Farm

• Estimated Distance: 9km
• Time: 2 hours
• Slope: Moderate
• Difficulty Rating: Moderate (4.5/10)

9. Cunha Cunha Pass

Last month I spent the most memorable Emancipation Day ever on these trails as Cunha Cunha Pass was the sultry trail which connected my African ancestors with their freedom. The Cunha Cunha Pass became an important trade, transport and escape route for the Maroons in the 1600s. It remained relevant even into the early 20th century as a connection between the Portland and St. Thomas parishes until a main road linking both parishes was built. Today, Cunha Cunha is used by adventure-seeking locals and tourists for recreation. It is one of the few places in Jamaica where you’re likely to spot the endemic Jamaican swallowtail butterfly. If you zoom in on the cover photo of this article, you will see one flying in the valley (and no, that is not a bird).

For more reading: Cunha Cunha Pass

• Estimated Distance: 9 km
• Time: 2 hours
• Slope: Moderate
• Difficulty Rating: Moderate (6/10)

10. Blue Mountain Peak

I am rounding up the list with my FAVOURITE hiking trail in the whole wide world: the Blue Mountain Peak. This is one of Jamaica’s most difficult hikes, and the only hike which beat it for me so far in terms of difficulty was the Huayna Picchu hike in Peru where both altitude sickness and steepness were vying to take me out. Anyway, the Blue Mountain Peak trail is easily Jamaica’s most beautiful trail. Hiking at 2am by flashlight is a rite of passage for Jamaican hikers. As you ascend, the view of Kingston with its twinkling city lights will leave you equally as stunned as the ice-cold wind. You’ll wonder if you’re still on a tropical island. Hopefully you’ll visit on a clear day from the Peak so you can see as far out as to Cuba like they say. If not, you’ll still enjoy the elfin woodland, pine trees, and endemic birds which come alive under the sun’s warming glow during descent.

For more reading: Blue Mountain Peak

• Estimated Distance: the Blue Mountain Peak Trail is 9.3km (overall distance will be longer depending on where you begin the hike e.g. Mavis Bank, Hagley Gap, or Whitfield Hall).
• Time: at least 3.5 – 4 hours
• Slope: Steep
• Difficulty Rating: Very strenuous, 8/10

Wrap Up

By now, I hope I’ve convinced you to try one of Jamaica’s diverse hiking trails: from the misty Blue Mountains to the rugged Cockpit Country, scenic waterfall and coastal trails. Be prepared and hire a guide for a safe and rewarding adventure. Each article includes details on the guides I used for each place. Have you visited any of these places before? Which would you like to visit? Talk to me in the comments. 🙂

If you liked this post, you would also enjoy:

• My Guide to Jamaica’s Blue Mountains
• How to Visit Jamaica On A Budget
• What to Expect When Off the Beaten Path in Jamaica
• 10 Lessons from Chasing Waterfalls in Jamaica

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