The Boiling Lake

Time taken: Approx 1 hour

The starting point for the trail is Titou Gorge (1,690ft). The path climbs steadily for about 45 minutes, and there are one or two points early on where you can (carefully) look down on the Gorge. This is perhaps the muddiest part of the hike.  As you descend to the Breakfast River there is a good viewpoint looking up the river.

The Breakfast River is traditionally the first stop, where one takes a breather and eats breakfast. It is good to gain some energy as it’s uphill immediately thereafter and for the next hour. This is the last spot for clean drinking water, so fill up!

Time taken: Approx 1 hour

From the ascent of Breakfast River, it is steeply uphill to about 2,500ft, then a steady SE climb along the ridge to the top (3,168ft) where’s there’s a clearing and a good point to stop and rest. On a sunny day it can provide spectacular 360° views. Coming back it at least represents the epitome of the ‘it’s all downhill from here’ attitude (although it’s not). The trail goes onwards for about 20 minutes to the top of the Valley of Desolation. As you descend the ridge, on your left side in a distance you can grab your first views of the steam rising from The Lake.

Time taken: Approx 1 hour

From the ridge, the trail descends steeply into The Valley of Desolation.

The Valley is not covered by an ice-thin crust that can crack open and devour the unsuspecting (although one should certainly explore it with caution). It is perhaps better than The Lake, because you can scamper around and see all the different colours you never imagined water could be. A kind of interactive vulcanism lesson.

Look also for the Fumarole Vegetation – the only kind of vegetation that can survive in this environment

At the bottom of the Valley the trail becomes vague, crossing and recrossing the stream, so be careful.

There are several places where you can bathe in the soothing warm waters of the stream, but don’t spend too much time soaking – you don’t want your muscles to become all mushy for the long hard hike back afterwards!

From the Valley it’s generally uphill to a point where one can look down on another area of ‘Desolation’. The Lake is just 15 minutes away there!

Elevation: 2,640ft

Exercise extreme caution at the lake: the sides are steep and though the hill above the lake offers the best views, the rocks are often very slippy.

Today the Lake appears like a cauldron of bubbling greyish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapour. The lake is approximately 200ft (63m) across and its present depth is unknown. The side of the lake are a mixture of clay, pumice and small stones.

It is believed that the Lake is actually a flooded fumarole, a crack through which gases escape from the molten lava below, rather than a volcanic crater. The natural basin of the Boiling Lake collects the rainfall from the surrounding hills and from two small streams which empty into the lake. The water seeps through the porous bottom to the hot lava below where it is trapped and heated to boiling point.

Before you know it, you’re on The Return Journey. And isn’t it funny how one no longer cares about getting muddy?

Think only of the adventurous swim up the Titou Gorge to complete the end of your hike or the hot meal that may await you. If you would like to soothe your muscles, hop over to the next valley, Wotten Waven, where you have your choice of many different hot springs, and reward yourself with a relaxing and rejuvenating soak in the warm pools…. and maybe even with a rum punch!