“Walking is the most perfect form of motion for a person who wants to discover the true life.” – Thoreau.
Be sure to check out the Nature's Sweet Escapes YouTube channel for a detailed exploration of this incredible adventure! You can also stay updated by following me on Instagram at Nature's Sweet Escapes on TikTok at .naturessweetescapes for more behind-the-scenes moments from my travels. Also, visit Jess's YouTube channel to find this adventure and other activities to enjoy in Jamaica. For a tour of this hidden gem, I recommend contacting Jahchusia Prussia, our tour guide and chef, via Instagram.
I can't resist returning to St. Thomas. Jahchusia, a massage therapist, shared a secret about a hidden waterfall there that Jess and I had never seen.
Naturally, I was thrilled to visit. Jess and I set off for St. Thomas, eager to uncover this unknown gem.
The day finally arrived for us to explore this spot that had been on my mind since I first heard about it.
Our first stop was at Steam Boss, where we bought grapes and received a complimentary melon. I used the melon rind to create something unique. Keep reading to find out what I made.
Whenever we're in St. Thomas, Jess and I always visit Poormans Corner for fruit before our adventures.
We took over his tiktok live for a brief moment while he washed our Grapes. He goes live every morning on tiktok so check out his content. He’s very entertaining and creative.
After saying our goodbyes, we continued our journey, listening to soca, reggae, and dancehall music until we reached Bath Botanical Garden.
Bath Botanical Garden is an historical place that I wish got more popular almost the Jamaican population.
It was my second visit, and while we waited for Jahchusia, we took photos and videos.
When he arrived, we were craving the peanut porridge we had enjoyed on our last trip to Fish Dunn Waterfalls, but sadly, it wasn't available.
Jess settled for Janga Soup instead.
Next, we headed to Ginger Hill in a community called Castle Hill.
Upon arrival, I met a seventy-five-year-old man who shared a brief history of the waterfall.
He mentioned it had no official name, located on a river called Island River, near a property named Lumsden Waterfall after an attorney in Jamaica named William Lumsden.
William Lumsden left substantial annuities to his family despite being a relatively small-scale slave-owner.
Having explored Island River before and found a few waterfalls, I started to wonder if I had seen this one before, though I hoped not.
After chatting with my new friend, we prepared to move on.
As we walked along the main road, I was surprised to spot a black hog—I had never seen one before.
We continued for a few minutes before branching off onto a narrow path through the bushes, revealing a beautiful view of mountains surrounded by coconut trees.
As we trespassed through private property, a sickly sensation began to overwhelm me. The hot sun intensified this feeling, but I pushed through, determined to continue.
Descending downhill past banana trees and various fruits and vegetables, we reached the river.
It was here that things took a turn for the worse.
I encouraged Jess and Jahchusia to continue without me, hoping that the feeling would subside. I wasn't in a hurry to reach the waterfall because I wanted to take pictures for my blog, and setting up the tripod and using the remote would take some time.
But the feeling worsened. I became extremely ill and couldn't continue. I started vomiting.I made a bed out of a large rock under a shade tree by the river.
Weak and barely able to move, I heard voices approaching from the bushes.
Surprisingly, it was my friend Paul, who had shared the area's history earlier.
Paul stayed with me while I writhed in pain until I eventually fell asleep.
When I woke up, he told me he had checked on me several times to ensure I was still breathing—a touching display of kindness.
This stranger had stayed with me, ensuring my safety while I slept.
Though still not at full strength, I was determined to see the waterfall for the first time.
Paul and I trekked through hills and along the river, climbing huge rocks and walking in the river to reach our destination.
The trail was slippery and narrow at times, requiring careful navigation.
After about half an hour of walking, we spotted Jahchusia trying to get a phone signal. He informed us we were very close.
Shortly after, we saw Jess in the distance. Despite my illness, I was relieved to have made it this far.
However, my joy turned to disappointment when I realized it was White Rock Waterfall.
Emelio and I had visited years ago, and although Paul suggested calling it Island River Waterfall or Lumsden Waterfall, I decided to keep the name White Rock Waterfall.
Jess believed it to be the tallest waterfall in St. Thomas, not Reggae Waterfall.
I wasn't ready to crown White Rock Waterfall just yet, as I suspected there might be taller ones elsewhere.
This was my second visit to White Rock Waterfall. Not being a swimmer, I had to carefully navigate slippery rocks, testing each one for stability before using it to climb up. I relied on trees for support to reach White Rock Waterfall.
Jess served as my photographer and videographer, and after a few minutes, we captured some footage to kickstart my YouTube career. As a blogger and vlogger, I was eager to return to White Rock Waterfall. Although I hadn't planned to return so soon.
After finishing creating content, Jess was concerned about me walking through the slippery hill due to the risk of falling into the river and hitting my head. So, instead of walking, I floated down the river with her guidance.
Jess and Jahchusia had already started preparing our meal—Rice and Peas with Steamed Vegetables and Curry Saltfish in Coconut Milk.
We helped Jahchusia as much as we could while capturing content and sharing jokes, mostly from Paul.
Our conversations spanned future plans and past adventures. Sitting by the river, cooking, laughing, and filming the moment was truly incredible.
Night was approaching, and the food was almost ready. Lacking a plate, I improvised with a creating a melon plate, and Jahchusia crafted a spoon from bamboo.
The meal was delicious, and we ate quietly as darkness fell. Paul and I started the journey back as we were the slowest. Eventually, Jess caught up with us. Climbing the hill was a struggle, but I made it eventually.
With night closing in, it became difficult to see, so I relied on faith as I trekked. Jess and Paul reached the main road ahead of me, and Jahchusia brought light to guide me through the darkness.
Exhausted, I couldn't resist lying down briefly on the road.
There was a nearby shop where be bought refreshments.
We took a few photos together before returning to Bath Fountain.
I took a taxi to Morant Bay, where an incident delayed me.
Despite the setback, I eventually continued my journey to Kingston, reflecting that it wasn't one of my top ten adventures, but it had been amazing nonetheless.
Would you hike for hours to visit White Rock Waterfall? Or do you feel satisfied just reading about my adventure virtually? Let me know in the comments below!
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FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @NATURESSWEETESCAPES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Whatta Gwaan!
You've discovered my blog. I'm delighted you're here. Maybe it's destiny. I'm Doreen Lillian Scarlett welcome to Nature's Sweet Escapes where I go on the far side of Instagram to document and share my adventures.