This trail covers the ridge from Signal Mountain to Spear Grass Peak, Goat Rock, and Snail Rock. Signal Mountain and Spear Grass Peak are both easy to hike and offer great views. Continuing on to Snail Rock is a difficult hike due to the rugged terrain requiring scrambling, faint trail, and thick vegetation. It is exposed to the sun, but provides expansive views. If you would like to continue on to Snail Rock: hike early, do not hike if rain is expected, and wear appropriate clothes for fighting through dense brush.
Route:
- Type of trail: Out and Back
- Start point: Signal Mountain Fitness Road
- End Point: Summit
- Length: 4.0 mi one way to Snail Rock
- Duration: 2-3 hours one way to Snail Rock
- Lowest point: 190ft
- Highest point: 2218ft
The trail starts at the fitness trail in Port Louis that ascends to Signal Mountain. Continue on this road until you reach the saddle of Signal Mountain. If you would like to summit, hike west towards the radio towers.
The trail, if you are headed towards any of the other peaks, simply follows the ridge east. There are a few things worth knowing though.
To Spear Grass Peak:
Take the road from the saddle that heads east. It will turn into a trail, but it will still be clear through this section.Take it until you reach the rocky face of the summit. Go north around the summit, staying close to the rock. If you would like to summit there is a section where the cliff becomes a series of rocky shelves. There is a faint and relatively easy trail that ascends here.
Snail Rock including Goat Rock:
Continue along the ridge. Descend the eastern side of Spear Grass Peak until you reach an overgrown dirt road on your left. Take the trail along this road until you reach two large high voltage power poles close together (see photos).
The trail will be faint from this point on. Here you will begin climbing, but at an angle aiming to stay below the summit as the brush is less thick. Take the easiest path possible while staying near the ridgeline. It seems generally helpful to stay on the rockier south side of the ridge. But if you reach any thick, seemingly impassable sections, there is usually a way around them by either ascending or descending the ridge on one side.
After Goat Rock you will begin ascending the final section towards Snail Rock. This section is difficult due to heavy brush with no easily way around it. You can attempt to find an alternative route or just simply fight your way through as my GPS track does. You will eventually reach a cliff band where the easiest route is on the south side if you do not wish to do any climbing.
After this fight your way towards the summit. Snail Rock can be climbed by going to the backside and using a few easy moves to climb up. The next section towards Le Pouce remains to be explored.
Return on the same route or drop off the ridgeline towards civilization.
This GPS track does not include the easy to find diversions to Signal Mountain and Spear Grass Peak.