{{Short description|Hiking trail on the island of Dominica}} thumb|Waitukubuli National Trail sign The '''Waitukubuli National Trail''' (or '''WNT''') is a hiking trail spanning the island of Dominica. It is the longest hiking trail in the Caribbean, at {{convert|115|mi|km}} long.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waitukubulitrail.com/ |accessdate=October 31, 2015 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210035312/http://www.waitukubulitrail.com/ |archivedate=December 10, 2015 |title=Waitukubuli Trail | the Caribbean\'s 1st Long Distance Hiking Trail }}</ref><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> Its name comes from the original Kalinago name of the island, ''Waitukubuli'', meaning "tall is her body".<ref>{{cite web |title=About Dominica - Kalinago Territory |url=http://kalinagoterritory.com/getting-here/about-dominica/ |website=kalinagoterritory.com}}</ref> Management of the trail falls under Dominica's Forestry Division.<ref name=":02" />
== History == thumb|View of Scotts Head peninsula from the first segment of the trail The trail was partially opened in 2011, and officially opened in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dominica's Waitukubuli National Trail ( WNT ). Learn about Dominica's heritage while you trek from one end of the Nature Island to the other. The Caribbean First Long Distance Hiking Trail! | a virtual Dominica |url=http://www.avirtualdominica.com/project/waitukubuli-national-trail/}}</ref> As of July 2013, all visitors and non-residents need a paid trail pass to access the Waitukubuli National Trail.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government introduces user fees to hike Waitukubuli National Trail |url=https://thedominican.net/2013/07/user-fees-for-trail.html |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=thedominican.net}}</ref>
== Trail segments == The entire trail is made of 14 segments, beginning in the southern village of Scott's Head, and ending in the north at Cabrits National Park.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 2017 |title=Dominica [trail map] |magazine=Experience Dominica |page=28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Baxter |first=Sarah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=twewDwAAQBAJ&dq=waitukubuli+trail+scotts+head+%22cachacrou%22+%22fort%22&pg=PA258 |title=A History of the World in 500 Walks |date=2019-06-01 |publisher=Aurum |isbn=978-1-78131-937-6 |pages=256–258 |language=en}}</ref> thumb|Signpost marking the Waitukubuli National Trail It includes the following points:<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Barzey |first=Ursula Petula |date=2021-11-07 |title=Hiking the Waitukubuli National Trail in Dominica |url=https://www.caribbeanandco.com/hiking-waitukubuli-national-trail-dominica/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=Caribbean & Co. |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Scott's Head peninsula (location of Fort Cachacrou) * Soufrière Estate * Bellevue Chopin * Wotten Waven * Pont Cassé (location of the Waitukubuli Trail headquarters)<ref name=":0" /> * Castle Bruce * Hatton Garden * First Camp * Petite Macoucherie * Colihaut Heights * Syndicate (location of Syndicate Nature Trail, Syndicate Parrot Preserve) * Borne (near Morne Balvine)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waitukubuli Trail 11, Saint John, Dominica |url=https://dm.geoview.info/waitukubuli_trail_11,198387646w |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=dm.geoview.info}}</ref> * Penville * Capuchin * Cabrits National Park (location of Fort Shirley)
In 2020, the trail was listed as one of National Geographic's "Top 10 North American Hikes of a Lifetime."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-07 |title=10 North American hikes of a lifetime |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/10-north-american-hikes-of-a-lifetime |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=National Geographic |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, Lonely Planet named it one of the "Top 5 best hikes in the Caribbean".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blond |first=Becca |date=Jan 3, 2023 |title=Top 5 hikes in the Caribbean |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-hikes-in-caribbean |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Lonely Planet |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Wikivoyage|Dominica}}
* [https://forestry.gov.dm/ Dominica's Forest Division website] {{Commons category|Dominica|<br />Dominica}}
Category:Hiking trails in the Caribbean Category:Geography of Dominica