{{Short description|Hiking trail in Dominica}} {{Infobox hiking trail | name = | length_mi = 0.9 | length_ref = in 2026<ref>{{cite web |title=Syndicate Nature Trail {{!}} Dominica Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division |url=https://forestry.gov.dm/sites/33-syndicate-nature-trail/ |website=Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division {{!}} |access-date=19 March 2026 }}</ref> | location = Dominica | trailheads = Syndicate Visitor Centre, Waitukubuli Trail | use = Hiking, Birding | photo = Along the Syndicate Trail,Dominica (2634823619).jpg | caption = | photo_size = | designation = Syndicate Nature Trail | highest_ft = | highest_name = | lowest_ft = | lowest_name = | difficulty = Easy | season = Year-round | hazards = | website = https://forestry.gov.dm/sites/33-syndicate-nature-trail | map = }}The '''Syndicate Nature Trail''' (or the Visitor Centre Nature Trail) is a hiking trail in Dominica. It is one of two nature trails in Morne Diablotin National Park.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Syndicate Nature Trail - Ministry of Tourism |url=https://tourism.gov.dm/images/brochures/Syndicate%2018Aug14.pdf |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=tourism.gov.dm |publisher=Dominica Ministry of Tourism}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Syndicate Nature Trail |url=https://forestry.gov.dm/sites/33-syndicate-nature-trail |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=forestry.gov.dm |publisher=Dominica Division of Forestry, Wildlife and National Parks}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nurture in nature: the wild side of Dominica |url=https://www.boatinternational.com/destinations/caribbean-yacht-destinations/nurture-in-nature-the-wild-side-of-dominica--33255 |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=www.boatinternational.com |language=en}}</ref> It is located in the foothills of Morne Diablotin, near the edge of the Picard River Gorge.<ref name=":0" /> The entrance to the trail is at the Syndicate Visitor Centre.<ref name=":2" /> The trail is also accessible via the Waitukubuli National Trail.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Dominica's Waitukubuli National Trail ( WNT ) |url=https://www.avirtualdominica.com/project/waitukubuli-national-trail/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=A Virtual Dominica |language=en-US}}</ref> The trail is a loop of approximately 1 mile (1.6 km).
== History == The trail was constructed in 1993 by Dominica's Forestry, Wildlife, and Parks Division.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=Syndicate Nature Trail: Morne Diablotin National Park |url=https://tourism.gov.dm/images/brochures/Syndicate%2018Aug14.pdf |publisher=Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division, Dominica}}</ref> It is located the on 205 acre (0.83 km<sup>2</sup>) Syndicate Parrot Preserve (or "Syndicate Preserve"), most of which is forest or rainforest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |title=Morne Diablotin National Park |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6021/ |access-date=2026-03-20 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
In September 2017, the trail was closed in after Hurricane Maria hit the island.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Loan |first=Joyce |date=2017-11-27 |title='Steady progress' on ensuring access to Dominica tourist attractions |url=https://wicnews.com/caribbean/steady-progress-ensuring-access-dominica-tourist-attractions-45258443/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=WIC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The trail reopened in 2018, after the Forestry, Wildlife, and Parks Division worked with local and regional partners to clear the trail and other sites.<ref name=":3" /> thumb|Road signs indicating direction to Syndicate Nature Trail and other trails
== Wildlife == {{See also|Morne Diablotin National Park#Wildlife}} The trail is popular with birdwatchers,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-20 |title=Natural Wonders on the Caribbean's Island of Dominica {{!}} Audubon |url=https://www.audubon.org/magazine/natural-wonders-caribbeans-island-dominica |access-date=2026-03-20 |website=www.audubon.org |language=en}}</ref> as the preserve is home to the Sisserou Parrot (''Amazona imperialis'') and the Jaco Parrot (''Amazona arausiaca''),<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Syndicate Nature Trail [brouchure] |url=https://tourism.gov.dm/images/brochures/Syndicate%2018Aug14.pdf |website=tourism.gov.dm |publisher=Dominica Division of Forestry, Wildlife & Parks}}</ref> both of which are endemic to Dominica.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dominica Records Dramatic Increase in Endemic Bird Numbers - GIS Dominica |url=https://news.gov.dm/news/2441-dominica-records-dramatic-increase-in-endemic-bird-numbers |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=news.gov.dm}}</ref> The Sisserou Parrot is Dominica's national bird,<ref name=":2" /> and can be seen on Dominica's coat of arms. Other birds that can be found on the trail include the Bananaquit, Blue-headed Hummingbird, Broad-winged Hawk, Brown Trembler, Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, Plumbeous Warbler, Purplethroated Carib, Rufous-throated Solitaire, and Scaly-naped Pigeon.<ref name=":4" />
== See also == {{Wikivoyage|Dominica}} {{Commons category|Dominica|<br/>Dominica}} * List of trails in Dominica * List of national parks of Dominica
== References == {{Reference list}}
Category:Hiking trails in the Caribbean Category:Geography of Dominica