Grand Etang National Park

Introducing Grand Etang National Park

Two and a half miles northeast of Constantine, after the road winds steeply up to an elevation of 1900ft, a roadside sign welcomes visitors to Grand Etang National Park (admission US$2).

Half a mile past the road sign, the visitor center sits to the side of the road overlooking Grand Etang Lake – a crater lake that forms the centerpiece of the park. The Grand Etang visitors center (440-6160; 8:30am-4pm Mon-Fri, Sat & Sun if cruise ships are in) has a few displays explaining the local foliage, fauna and history. Outside the center there are a series of independent booths hawking souvenirs, spices and cold drinks.

The following are some of the hiking trails in the park:

Concord Falls Serious hikers branch off shortly before the end of the Mt Qua Qua Trail to pick up this five-hour trek (one way from the visitors center) to Concord Falls. From the falls, you can walk another 1.5 miles to the village of Concord on the west coast and take a bus back to St George’s.

Fedon’s Camp A long, arduous hike that leads deep into the forested interior, to the site where Julien Fedon, a rebel French plantation owner, hid out after his 1795 rebellion.

Grand Etang Shoreline This 1½-hour loop walk around Grand Etang Lake is gentle, but it can get muddy and doesn’t offer the same sort of views as the higher trails.

Morne La Baye This easy walk starts behind the visitors center and takes in a few viewpoints, passing native vegetation along the way.

Mt Qua Qua This is a moderately difficult three-hour round-trip hike that leads to the top of a ridge, offering some of the best views of the interior forest.

Seven Sisters Falls The hike to this series of seven waterfalls in the rainforest east of the Grand Etang Rd is considered the best hike in Grenada. The main track starts from the tin shed used by the banana association, 1.25 miles north of the visitors center on the right side of the Grand Etang Rd. The hike takes only about two hours round-trip; a small fee is sometimes charged.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009