Hike· Basse-Terre· Leeward Islands
La Grande Soufriere
16° 2.1′ N · 61° 40.2′ W
The 1,467 m active volcano - highest peak in the Lesser Antilles - climbed on the yellow-marked trail from the Bains Jaunes car park through cloud forest to a summit plateau of steaming fissures, craters and the 'Porte d'Enfer'.
Practical
Trailhead position (Bains Jaunes car park, Saint-Claude) from the national park Geotrek database (trek 2506): 4 hr 30 min return, 6 km, +510 m, difficult. The former Savane a Mulets car park and access road are closed because of landslide risk. Toxic sulphurous gas: never cross the protective barriers. In rain or fog on the summit follow the yellow stakes. Summit position 16.0446, -61.6642 (Wikipedia). Taxi from Riviere-Sens (about 30 minutes). Check the volcano observatory (OVSG) alert level before going.
Best for
The big Guadeloupe volcano day