”You can’t be unhappy in the middle of a big, beautiful river.”
- Jim Harrison
Visit Nature's Sweet Escapes YouTube channel for an in-depth look at this amazing adventure! Also, follow me on Instagram at Nature's Sweet Escapes and on TikTok at .naturessweetescapes for more updates and behind-the-scenes moments from my journeys. Also, visit Jess's YouTube channel where you'll find a video of this adventure that's sure to bring a smile to your face.
Jess and I decided to set off on a waterfall adventure in Swift River, a beautiful community filled with natural gems. Our mission? To visit two incredible waterfalls: Warsha and Big Spring.
This was my second time hiking in this area, but I've been to Swift River several times before, and the charm never fades.
We started our day with a hearty breakfast of fruits.
Also, porridge at Friendship Gap.
Normally, I skip such stops since most of my adventures are via public transportation, but Jess was the driver for this adventure. From there, we made our way through the scenic parish of St. Mary.
So many memories came rushing back, like hiking to Rhoom and Hall, visiting the Woodside Taino Settlement, and discovering waterfalls like Hazzard, Collington, and Belfield. Every corner of St. Mary has a story to tell.
When we reached Hope Bay, we called our guide Shane for directions, as it had been over a year since I last visited and my memory wasn’t serving me well.
The mountain views during the drive were breathtaking, making us even more eager for the adventure ahead. I remembered my adventure to Fruitful Vale, a community known for producing the most food in Portland. The area had water flowing straight from the hills. I knew I had to return one day, convinced that hidden waterfalls must be waiting to be discovered in those mountains.
We arrived in the community of Chelsea, where we waited for Shane. While we waited, we took photos of the stunning Swift River, a bridge that reminded me of one in Ginger House, Portland, and the surrounding mountains.
The beauty of the place was already working its magic.
Shane soon arrived, and we packed our bags and headed into the hills. Along the way, we passed an Airbnb, a hidden gem not known to many Jamaicans.
At one point, we stopped at a picturesque lookout spot. It brought back memories of my hike to Waterfall Number One in the community of Millbank, nestled in the Rio Grande Valley.
But it was crawling with grass lice, which we definitely felt for days.
We hiked up steep hills, capturing the beauty with our cameras.
We also found some sour oranges along the way and stopped for a snack, enjoying the landscape. Jess, too, was in awe of the surroundings.
Shane, also an amazing photographer and videographer, guided us while I sang Sizzla’s songs that felt so perfect for the moment. The hike had me feeling so connected to nature that I couldn’t help but sing.
As we descended steep hills without a clear trail, Shane’s childhood memories of running through these hills guided us.
Eventually, we reached a serene pool to cool off before continuing the journey.
Navigating the large rocks by the river, I had to be cautious—I tied my shoes around my neck to avoid slipping into the water.
Finally, we arrived at Warsha (also known as Warisha) and Big Spring Waterfalls. These falls hold a lot of history within the community.
Greenstar: Swift River Background https://www.e-greenstar.com/Jamaica/Swift-River-Background.htm Swift River, located in Portland Parish, Jamaica, was once one of the most prosperous communities in the region. From the early 20th century until 1937, it thrived as a bustling inland market town, boasting a variety of establishments such as grocery stores, dry goods shops, butcheries, a vegetable market, a pharmacy, a gas station, a tailoring business, and essential communal services like a police station, a post office, an "A" Grade elementary school, and six churches representing different denominations.
The village was not only a hub for commerce but also a civic and cultural center. It became a popular weekend gathering spot for residents of nearby areas like Buff Bay, Hope Bay, Port Antonio, and beyond. The Swift River Literary and Debating Society actively participated in competitions in Port Antonio, Buff Bay, and even as far as Port Maria.
The Swift River Branch of the Jamaica Agricultural Society was renowned for its highly successful agricultural shows. Bloomfield Elementary School gained recognition by competing in music competitions in Kingston and local parish elocution contests, often bringing home the parish cup.The cultural life of the community was further enriched by church concerts, plays, choral performances, and an active cricket club.
Small farmers in Swift River and nearby areas played a key role in the thriving banana industry that once flourished in Portland. The United Fruit Company (UFCo) operated banana plantations in Paradise and Shrewsbury, while Hope Bay, located about four miles away on the coast, served as one of the busiest trans-shipment stations in the parish. Along with other villages like Fruitful Vale, Swift River prospered in the banana trade.
In addition to UFCo’s fleet of six trucks, Swift River's local truckers ran seven vehicles daily, transporting bananas to Hope Bay, where the fruit was transferred onto railway carriages bound for Port Antonio’s docks. It was a time of great prosperity.
However, tragedy struck on November 21, 1937. A cloudburst dropped 24 inches of rain within 24 hours, causing the Swift River and its tributaries to overflow, destroying farmlands, homes, and infrastructure. Around 30 people lost their lives, and hundreds were left homeless as houses, shops, and churches were swept away.
The deluge also triggered a massive landslide that devastated Millbank, another community in the parish. Three key bridges linking Swift River with Hope Bay and other coastal towns were destroyed. Further floods in 1940 and 1943 compounded the devastation, leaving the community in ruins. The government initiated a major relocation program, moving many residents to higher ground in New Eden and Bellvue. Yet, it took years to restore the crucial bridge over the Swift River at Eden, and without reliable access to markets, the once-thriving Swift River community declined.
To make matters worse, the hurricanes of 1944 and 1951 ravaged what little progress had been made since the floods, further diminishing the region's attempts at recovery. Despite their efforts, Swift River and its surrounding communities struggled to regain the prosperity they had enjoyed before the series of natural disasters.
Greenstar: Swift River Rises again http://www.e-greenstar.com/Jamaica/Swift-River-Rises.htm, Recovery in Swift River was slow, but the resilient spirit that once defined the community remained alive. In August 1988, members of the Gray family, who had roots in the valley, committed to revitalizing the area. Three weeks after their initial efforts, Hurricane Gilbert hit, setting back their plans. Nonetheless, the family focused on improving Bloomfield Primary School, wiring the building for electricity, and repairing windows and doors.
Other former students living in the United States also contributed, resurfacing the school’s floors, restarting the government school-feeding program, and providing teaching materials, gardening, and carpentry tools. Additionally, they repaired benches and desks and offered financial aid to students who had earned spots in secondary schools.
By 1993, thanks to the efforts of Pauline Stuart and Hazel Bennett, a community organization began to take shape. With financial support from the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), the community established a building now frequently used by environmentally conscious organizations.
Local workmen crafted the benches from lumber donated by the Forestry Department. With EFJ’s help, the community also cleared about 12 miles of a pre-19th-century trail, once used for trade with farmers in the Port Royal Mountains, hunting, and traveling to the Blue Mountain Peak. Although part of the trail beyond the 12-mile mark remains eroded, the Association promotes guided hikes and bird-watching along the cleared section.
Over the past nine years, Swift River has benefitted from American missionaries working with Christian Service International. This group has quietly adopted the Bloomfield community, upgrading homes for the indigent, initiating poultry and pig-rearing projects, and supplying materials to paint the exterior of the community center. The Association also provides training in Commercial Arts to around 10 young men, under the guidance of an art teacher from Port Antonio. Their work was showcased in the banners and posters for the August 2000 Bussu Festival.
Recently, the village attracted the attention of Greenstar, an environmentally-focused organization from the U.S.
Through their support, the community received a portable computer, scanner, digital camera, small solar oven, and solar voltaic panels to power the building and future computers. Greenstar also recorded local traditional music, which is available for sale both locally and online.
Continuing on the journey, We couldn’t get enough of the waterfalls beauty, snapping countless photos and videos. After immersing ourselves in the magic of the waterfalls, it was time to prepare dinner before heading home.
We cooked a stir-fry vegetable dish, featuring cabbage (my favorite),
callaloo, pak choi, okra, bell peppers, onions, carrots, and roasted corn.
We served it with fried plantain—another personal favorite. Shane helped start the fire for the roasted corn, while my portable stove made cooking quick and easy.
Shane also treated us to freshly picked grapefruit, which we turned into juice sweetened with honey.
It was refreshing and reminded me of my dream to live off the land one day, just like my ancestors.
The meal was as delicious as it was beautiful, with the river as our scenic backdrop
Hungry after our hike, Jess and I dove into the meal as soon as it was ready.
We laughed, ate, and captured the moment on camera for YouTube, savoring every bite.
As the day drew to a close, we packed up and began our journey back. It was the perfect day—hiking the hills, soaking in the stunning mountain views, and exploring my favorite places like Swift River and Blue Mountain Peak. I felt like I was truly in my “happy girl era.”
This journey to Swift River was filled with excitement, nostalgia, and a deep connection to the land. I can’t wait for the next adventure!
Would you hike for over an hour to see a waterfall? Let me know in the comments below! See you on the next adventure!
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