Valley of Desolation
Valley of Desolation
4.5
About
A moss and lichen covered valley littered with brightly-colored hot springs, boiling mud and mini-geysers.
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4.5
61 reviews
Excellent
44
Very good
15
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Jackey M
Ottawa, Canada41 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
We passed through the Valley on the way to boiling hike. Not a hike for the faint hearted. Scrambling down boulders to get to the Valley was a bit more than we expected. The view, smell of sulphur and feeling of the place was very worth it. Highly recommend taking a guide - we used Peter The Bushman Green - he was excellent.
Written 23 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emily W
Saint Cloud, MN37 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
So much to see and learn about. Don't touch anything without a guide's permission as some things will burn you! Cool change of pace as you hike to Boiling Lake
Written 29 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelfan24
Michigan36 contributions
Apr 2016
It takes on average 6 hours to hike to Boiling Lake and back which takes you through the Valley of Desolation. It is incredible to experience. Hurricane Erika really did change the trail. As such, I would recommend hiring a guide familiar with the hike. There are things you would not know about the landscape without one like where to step and where the trail goes. There are small red dots on the rocks once in the Valley but do watch your step as the floor is constantly changing and you could get burned bad if you step in the wrong place. This is the reason I went back to Dominica after visiting on a cruise and it did not disappoint!
Written 17 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Florian L
Paris, France17 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
A very nice trail starting in Laudat, going through the forest up to the valley of desolation and the boiling lake. We did it in 6 hours all in all, at an easy pace. The trail is very easy to follow, no need for a guide.
If you wish to do it with a guide, be sure to choose a certified one. Lots of guys just hang at the start of the trail pretending to be guides and telling you you'll get lost alone (which is absolutely not true). Be cautious, one of them did get quite angry when we refused to hire him as a guide.
If you wish to do it with a guide, be sure to choose a certified one. Lots of guys just hang at the start of the trail pretending to be guides and telling you you'll get lost alone (which is absolutely not true). Be cautious, one of them did get quite angry when we refused to hire him as a guide.
Written 26 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miss Bonafide
New York City, NY1,664 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
Woow...what an experience! Our group decided to take the path less traveled and hiked as far as we were physically able to in order to bear witness to the volcanic steam emitting from underground. It seemed like we were on a journey of a thousand miles and it took us close to an hour. I highly suggest you be fit & well prepared to trek through overgrown bush, climb beautiful and assorted colors of rocks and be able to deal with inhaling that strong sulfur smell. However it's all worthwhile as the journey & mountain views take your breath away.
Written 20 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John P
London, UK29 contributions
Mar 2014 • Solo
Amazing an otherworldly a must see on Dominica, with bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, sulphur, and the ground is noticeably warm. Incredbile experience and on of the best volcanically active sites I have personally visited.
Written 14 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JedJ00
Paris, France39 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
Not really a destination in itself. Part of the hike to Boiling Lake, near the end. You'll see all kinds of mineral formations. It's not big, but it does signal that you're almost to your final destination.
As with Boiling Lake, the hike is serious business. Hire a guide! Not least of which, because s/he can tell you when you are nearing some of the insanely slippery mud (from volcanic ash, I think) and show you how to get through it safely. (We were passed early on by enthusiastic, young hikers with no guide. They ended up reaching Boiling Lake after we'd had our picnic lunch there and were ready to leave. I credit the guide with helping us save time by avoiding slips and subsequent injuries, but also for keeping us on track. The trail is very difficult to follow through this section. You won't really get lost, but you may have trouble finding the easiest way through it.)
There are steps along this route that would be really hard for a heavy person with short legs to get up and down safely. I'm 6', 190lbs, and quite athletic and still some of the steps were a stretch for me. And if you've got any kind of knee problems, forget it. Wear proper hiking shoes/boots!
As with Boiling Lake, the hike is serious business. Hire a guide! Not least of which, because s/he can tell you when you are nearing some of the insanely slippery mud (from volcanic ash, I think) and show you how to get through it safely. (We were passed early on by enthusiastic, young hikers with no guide. They ended up reaching Boiling Lake after we'd had our picnic lunch there and were ready to leave. I credit the guide with helping us save time by avoiding slips and subsequent injuries, but also for keeping us on track. The trail is very difficult to follow through this section. You won't really get lost, but you may have trouble finding the easiest way through it.)
There are steps along this route that would be really hard for a heavy person with short legs to get up and down safely. I'm 6', 190lbs, and quite athletic and still some of the steps were a stretch for me. And if you've got any kind of knee problems, forget it. Wear proper hiking shoes/boots!
Written 9 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrewRB1957
Lethbridge, Canada6 contributions
Nov 2019
7 hour hike to Boiling Lake. One goes through Valley of Desolation on the way. Great adventure. Be prepared!
Written 9 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JemK_ima
Beau Bassin - Rose Hill213 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
Even if you do not make it to the boiling lake, hiking till there is a sight in itself! A landscape filled with a myriad of colors, bluish streams, fuming red, yellow and white rocks, boiling black water...tread with caution of course!
Written 19 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Etodd
Springfield, MA24 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
The descent into the Valley of Desolation is steep, and demanding, but what an interesting place! Boiling hot streams, sulfur-colored jagged rocks--feels like you are on another planet. Watch your step, the water is hot enough in places to burn you.
Written 2 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Has anyone gone since Maria? Wondering if a safe route has been identified.
Written 28 January 2018
Has anyone gone since Maria? Wondering if a safe route has been identified.
Written 28 January 2018
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