Mark your calendars and lace up those hiking boots – Sunday, November 2, is the day nature and fitness lovers take on Forest Trek II, a breathtaking 10-kilometre journey from the cultural heart of Miss Lou Square in Gordon Town, St Andrew, straight into the misty depths of the Holywell Recreational Park.
Rated 8 out of 10 for difficulty, the trek promises a real challenge – but there’s flexibility built in. Hikers can bypass the toughest stretches without missing the magic. Options include the full 10-kilometre route for the daring, a 5-kilometre route for those seeking balance, and even a special 1-kilometre family-friendly trek designed for children under 13 years old.
Francine Black Richards, senior director of corporate communications and marketing at the Forestry Department, said the experience is unlike any other.
“This trail is a special one that takes hikers gradually from a peri-urban space into the deep forest,” she said.
Holywell Recreational Park is located in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrating the 10 year of this designation. The Blue Mountain Forest Reserve is not only the country’s largest forest reserve, but also well-known for its rich natural and cultural heritage. It is one of the few closed broadleaf or pristine natural forests remaining on the island and is an important forest ecosystem that preserves many endemic and native flora and fauna that make up the island’s biodiversity.
The Forestry Department is urging Jamaicans to see the trek as more than just a fitness challenge.
Nasheji-Gaye Elliot, public relations and communications officer, said, “Hiking is an exciting and invigorating way to be well, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.”
Ainsley A. Henry, CEO and Conservator of Forests, highlighted the healing power of the island’s natural spaces.
“We are fortunate to live in a place where our forests provide perfect opportunities for leisure and fellowship,” Henry said.
“Walking in forests has been proven to not only be great for improving our physical health but also our mental health and well-being, benefits that must be experienced to be properly understood,” he added.
