First off, this is not as much a “hike” as it is a “climb.” Imagine climbing a 3,000-foot ladder made of rocks, with handholds made of sturdy tree branches held together with bent nails. Ok, it’s not like that the whole way, perhaps only 1/3 of the way. But don’t think you’re heading out for a leisurely scenic hike. It is a VERY physical endurance challenge on the way up, and a mental exercise in careful foot-eye coordination on the way back down. Interestingly, there’s not much scenery because you have to be looking at every footstep the entire way - so there’s no opportunity to gaze as you climb. There are 3 stops on the way with nice views overlooking the ocean, and at the top…well, you’re at the top. The view is not really all that special. But it’s the accomplishment that you’re doing this for, not the views. Sit in the beach chair and stare at the ocean if you want nice views! This is a great (albeit expensive) substitute for a stair master workout, except it takes 3 hours for the round trip adventure. Quite fun, highly recommend!

Great hike with scenic views of Saint Lucia. Bring good hiking shoes and 1.5L of water per person. Cash and Visa credit cards are accepted ($50 US each). The total trip up and down will take about 4 hours. You are required to have a guide at all times. They are very nice and knowledgeable. Fair warning - they will make you look bad even if you are in good shape. They do this hike every day! By no means is this a hike for beginners, you will have to use your hands on steep/difficult sections. The toughest climbs always lead to the best views. You'll be glad you did it!

START EARLY! First guide up is at 7am, we left our place at 630am and we were the first ones up the mountain! Made it to the top ~9am and we were back down at the bottom a little before 11am. Beautiful hike with amazing terrain, but very very hot, if we didn’t start as early as we did I’m not sure I would have been able to handle the heat & humidity. This was my favorite part of our trip, yes it’s overpriced ($50 USD per person for the guide), but you’re supporting the community and providing jobs, so I got over it and enjoyed the hike.

Okay - This is getting 5 stars but it is a 5 stars without recommending you do this hike. The good - It's a fun hike without anything that is more difficult that you would experience in a typical mountain summit hike in the US but it happens with a quicker elevation gain than you would normally experience. So think about hiking 5 miles and gradually gaining 2,000 feet of elevation over 4 or 5 miles. With the Gros Piton you will do that over 2 miles. There are plenty of hand rails, so renting a hiking pole is not needed. They would be cumbersome to carry up (and down) during the many parts where it's not needed. And I would advise against it unless you have stability concerns due to injury or general weakness, in which case don't do this hike anyway. The bad. You're going to lose an entire day doing this. You will be TIRED and even with consuming an ungodly amount of water (We had 2.5 liters per person) you may get some mild heat exhaustion and be out for the day. If you aren't on the island for longer than a week, I think this is an experience you can comfortably go without. The hike took us around two hours up (with several short breaks and a few longer ones) and a little less than two hours down. It's broken up into four sections with a bench to break on in-between each. Between the second and third section is the longest leg and the third to the top is the shortest. There are some rock scrambles in the first half that may be uncomfortable for someone who hasn't done them before. The second half of the hike is mostly steep steps with railings with some scrambling. We did the hike in a pair trail shoes and regular brooks. Hiking boots would have definitely helped, but not needed. Just watch your step. The guide and fee to climb is unavoidable at $50 USD per person, even if not going through your resort. Not worth the price for the better views you can get elsewhere (without the hike)

Definitely worth the trip to the top but only recommended for those in good shape. This is more of a climb than a hike with the third quarter section almost straight up over very rocky, high terrain. While there is no technical climbing, there are definitely some rough areas that require good footwear and concentration (definitely going down). View from 2610 feet up is breathtaking and there is an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. I would recommend a backpack and at least two large bottles of water with some light snacks. Our guide was excellent at keeping us safe, while narrating and pointing out where and where not to step. If you're lucky, you'll get some rain which makes the climb up more enjoyable. I would definitely recommend going first thing in the morning as it's cooler but also because it gets busier on the trail as it gets later in the day. We were the third group up and didn't pass anyone but saw at least 20 groups on our way down. Oh and definitely rent the walking stick at the welcome center for $5 US.

Challenging climb over boulders. Rain makes it slick. Guide required at $50 USD pp + gratuity. Need 1.5 L water minimum. Last down was 3pm during October. Took 2.5 hours up and 1 hour down. We were trekking quickly as we started out late.

Amazing experience! The views are breathtaking but keep in mind it’s not an easy hike! You will be sweating a lot!! And the mosquitoes will eat you alive on the way down ! It is true you will be completely exhausted after the hike although it only takes about 4 hours combined. You will be out for the rest of the day. I found the rental stocks helpful, even with them my knees were hurting the next day. Be careful -plenty of slippery stones and tree roots. I was happy for the little shop after the hike although it’s quite pricey it was a great reward

Really tough trail. 2 hours up with about 4 stops along the way. Best view is at the second stop looking at the Petite Piton. Wear good shoes because it's mostly rock and easy to slip. Three make sure you have at least 1.5 liters of water each and a light snack. Cost is $50 per person and they have additional walking sticks you can rent for $5. They also have a little bar and ice cream shack at the end so bring a little extra cash.

Must do! Luckily, it was a beautiful sunny day when we went, started around 11 am and wasn’t too hot. But given it’s a lot of elevation, you will be sweating. Took us 2 hours to get to the top, 1.5 hours on the way down so a total of 4 hours (including rest at the top) Depending on rainfall, it might be muddy so I’m glad I had my hiking boots. Bring 2 liters per person at least; and a snack. We paid $50 USD per person, and were immediately given a guide without question. (It seemed as if it wasn’t a suggestion, so we went with it. She happened to trail behind us anyway so we hiked essentially on our own). They strongly suggested we rent hiking poles but we declined - we did not need them but I can imagine a “beginner” hiker benefiting from them. My partner and I are quite fit and found this to be manageable but others we met along the trail had difficulty and took upwards of 6 hours. It’s a beautiful hike, highly recommend!

Out of 5 this is probably a 4 on the difficulty scale. Bring tons of water and get out as early as you can. They sell drinks at the bottom and there was a guy at the top selling as well. So bring cash for a tip for your guide and a couple drinks. But the views are unrivaled. You get a panorama of the whole island including petite Peton.

The hike I went on was incredibly challenging and physically demanding. The trail was filled with rocks, making it difficult to navigate both uphill and downhill. Despite the difficulty, the park itself was undeniably beautiful. However, if you're only planning to visit for a day or two, I don't believe it's worth the strain it puts on your knees. There are likely other activities or attractions in the area that would be more enjoyable and less physically taxing. One of the highlights for me was reaching the river nearby and being able to rest my feet. It provided some relief from the strenuous hike and allowed me to enjoy the soothing sound of the water. It's worth mentioning that the park is home to only 37 houses, and these residents rely on tourism for their livelihood. Each member of the family works on the trail, going up and down twice a day. In addition to the natural beauty of the park, I also had the pleasure of trying some delicious homemade ice cream sold by a local lady. It was a delightful treat that added to the overall experience. However, it's important to note that the trail is challenging due to the rocky terrain. If you decide to embark on this hike, be prepared for a rigorous and demanding journey both uphill and downhill.

We started the hike at 9:15 am with a tour group and this is not a moderate or easy hike. I’ve hiked Camelback in Arizona, Devils Bridge in Sedona, the Gorge in Greece and this was by far the hardest, hottest and sweatiest hike I’ve ever done. This is not a moderate hike; this is extreme and not for the faint of heart. The path is majority of rock and took the group a little over 3 hours to complete 4 miles. Things you need: strong bug spray, sunscreen, change of clothes, cash (no cards), 1.5+ liters of water per person, towel for your sweat, hiking shoes and rent the hiking sticks offered. For us, we ended up stopping at the halfway point because it was ridiculously hot and the guides said it was the best view on the hike (pics attached). Once down the mountain, we enjoyed tasty ice cream and beer at their shop. I’d recommend starting your hike no later than 7 am to avoid the heat and sun. The staff was really friendly, helpful and I think partly glad we didn’t do the whole thing!

Gros Piton Hike was excellent. Definitely a more moderate level hike. They say it takes about 2hrs up and 2hrs down for most. My husband and I are in pretty good half marathon shape and it had some pretty vertical rock scrambles. I would say its mostly a rocky path so good grippy shoes are key. We managed to do this hike in running shoes but slipped a few times. It took us a little over 3hrs to complete. Our guide was Simone. She was great! She knew we wanted to go a little faster and kept a good pace. The path itself is shaded for the most part. The more challenging parts of the hike have railings. The hardest part was actually going back down and not slipping- that's where the railings definitely came in handy. There are 3 stopping points along the path. The recommended water per person is 1.5liters. You will need your water. There is a shop that sells water and snacks if needed. Overall a fun way to start the day and get in some exercise! View is amazing on a clear day!

Worth the climb. These images show the view half way up. There is a well defined trail up the piton. Be sure to take it at your pace and you will surely get there. It really takes about 2 hours up, but you do feel satisfied knowing that you have conquered the mountain.

Quite a strenuous hike, but worth it when you get to the top. It took us four and a half hours total - the climb was about 2.5 hours, and the descent, 2 hours. Walk with water and fruit to keep hydrated and energized.

This employee is the worst. I went up to the top alone. No matter how long I waited for her, she didn't come. And I was very disappointed to see her sitting on her phone on the way back. I was angry with her and went down the mountain first. Then she kept calling me and telling me that there was another way to the beach. But it was a lie. I didn't get any benefits through her. I just carried 40 dollars of luggage. I paid more and went on a harder trip. Is this real???? Just buy the admission ticket, then You can save 40 dollars.

Difficult hike, but the amazing views and the opportunity to connect with the guides definitely make it worth it! The hike is divided in four quarters each with a nice view, so there are opportunities to turn around and still have it be worth it even if you don't make it to the top. We did make it to the top and got to experience both viewpoints, which were breathtaking. The guides do one hike per day and each party has their own guide, so they are able to go at your pace and make sure you have a good experience. Guides Whitney and Kai were both amazing!! They had great information for us, answered all our questions, and were just fun to talk to, making the difficult climb very pleasant. I would definitely recommend wearing shoes with a good tread, as you will be walking on rocks a majority of the time. Also, hiking sticks are available for rent at the beginning of the hike (5 USD per stick), but definitely only take one as the railings along the hike are also very helpful to hang onto. The climb gets more challenging as you go up, but it also gets cooler and shadier as you go. I would definitely recommend going early in the day. The local ice cream at the end of the trail is a must! We tried multiple flavors, including soursop, coconut, lime, chocolate, and mango, and they were all delicious. We were expecting the hike to be tough, but enjoyable, and it was exactly that. And if you're looking for relaxation after the hike, try out the sulfur springs the next day. Happy hiking!

It's a good hike - we managed it in 2h15m there and back, the 4h estimate is probably for unskilled trekkers, so don't be put off if u managed to climb something already. The top is a bit dissapointing as there is jungle covering most of the peak and you don't get to see much. We were to Petit Piton - much more enjoyable!

Guides are helpful and make the experience much more safe and entertaining. They are not necessary though. I did the full trail up and down in 3.5 hours no guide ( 1 hour and 20 up, 40 min rest, 1 hour 30 min down). I was rushing because I started late around 4:30pm, and wanted to catch the sunset on top. Come down with a flashlight in the dark was not ideal. 😂 I'm an amature/rookie rock climber I would say for most in able body people to give 4.5 hours. They also have ice cream, soda, and beers for those wanting a snack after. Sadly because of my late descent, I missed out on these luxuries.

Okay, fyi you can drive yourself there and get a tour guide in the village they all do it for about $50… we hiked early on in the morning. It’s a 4 mile round trip, it’s achievable for sure for anyone in decent shape. It’s about 130 flights of stairs according to my watch. Worth doing, the best view is half way fyi, the top was a little bit of a let downer for views.. overall do it and have fun and bring water!!!! And extra water

This is an amazing experience and achievement which you won't regret, but I'll be very frank and warn that it's not an easy climb. I would say hike is like calling a black run blue. Don't let this put you off, but you will need a reasonable fitness level and be prepared to clamber, especially for the second half. Good shoes and maybe a stick are recommended. I had neither and our guide "The Goat" was wearing flipflops! There is a good resting place halfway up for those who decide to be sensible and wait for the rest of the party to climb to the summit.

A tough hike to do in the heat, and the morning after a few piton beers, but a fantastic view and a great challenge! Only qualm was having to use all our cash to pay entry (literally just had enough luckily) when it said a card reader could be used. It meant we couldn't buy drinks or food on or after the trail, or tip the guide which we got flak for.