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Rain
Forest Trail Tortola |
Sage Mountain National Parks's longest trail. |
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Length: About 0.75-miles. Time: 20 minutes, one way. Difficulty: 1, easy. Trailhead: Atop Sage Mountain . The entire trail is graveled and easy to walk. It alternates between thick, lush foliage and open spaces where the trees are more stunted. Signs identify the wide variety of native trees in this area where some re-planting has been done. Most notable of all the rain forest trees is the white cedar, the national tree of the British Virgin Islands. The trail is also thick with mountain guava, which is quite colorful when in bloom. Rose apple and redwood myrtle, Spanish oak and West Indian mahogany all border the route. Big elephant ear plants are prolific. One of the more unusual trees is called the "stinking fish." At one point you'll encounter 2 small unmarked paths. They lead to a toilet facility off to the right. There's also a marked side-path that leads up to a look-out/rain shelter, its purpose depending on whether the rain forest is living up to its name. After passing the shelter, the trail descends and the forest grows quite thick. This is the first time you're apt to hear birds. Mountain dove, Caribbean martin, pearl-eyed thresher and American kestrel all live in the forest but it's not always easy to spot them. The trail officially ends at a large fig tree, although a pathway continues to the right. The brush thickens quickly and several logs across the path hint that you've run out of trail and that it's time to turn back. Next Page (Henry Adams Loop Trail) Return to Sage Mountain Park Homepage
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