Sage Mountain National Park

The islands have designated many areas of tropical landscape as preserved national parks. While on Tortola, be sure to visit Sage Mountain National Park. Even though only about 100 inches of rain fall in the Park per year, the park has the appearance of being a primeval rainforest.

In Road Town, head west towards Sage Mountain, but pop into the tourist office first to snag a brochure about the mountain and park, which includes directions and a map highlighting the main hiking trails, the Rain Forest Trail and the Mahogany Forest Trail. In the parking lot, you can follow a trail that leads to the main entrance of the park.

The park covers 92 acres of land that survived the clearance of forests during the plantation era and this untouched land looks the way it did when Christopher Columbus first landed on Tortola. With the Sage Mountain soaring to 1,780 feet, you can explore the mountainous landscape pretending like you are part of the crew that arrived with Christopher Columbus.

Bring a blanket and food to enjoy a picnic at the park while you look out on the neighboring cays and islets far below.