Dominica's Middleham Falls

Cascading 270 feet, Middleham Falls, located in the Morne Tois Pitons National Park, provides a memorable experience.  

The falls cannot be fairly described with any combination of words. It's an experience of water falling hundreds of feet against a green background of rain-forest foliage tied at the top to a deep, blue sky and puffs of clouds... while cascades of water, a white ribbon spilling into a cold crystal pool, and never ending reverberations and splashing of water ....all wrapped in a silky mist -- can only truly be experienced.

Defined as a level 2 hike (4 being the most challenging) in Paul Crask's, Dominica Guidebook, the narrow trail twists and turns up, down and around... some areas noticeably more steep than others, with with an occasional balancing act climb over moss-slick rocks, down, across and up through boulder strewn stream beds.
 
The first view of the falls' height is from a platform (built by the park service) that hangs out several feet from the mountainside and about 50 yards above the rocks and river below.
 
From the pool's edge, along with the inspiring height of the spectacle, the three towering shear cliffs shaped around the falls take on startling dimensions. One easily feels small here, seemingly an ant in the throat of the forest.
 
The water is cold, but instantly refreshing... once having  jumped in and the first breath rediscovered -- the heat and sweat of the hike is quickly washed away.
 
Having this world to one's self is a special moment, all while swimming and jumping & diving from rocks naturally placed eons ago during some volcanic rearrangement... for just such things.

Note that there are two trails leading to Middleham Falls.  One trail head begins south of the falls on the road that leads to the Fresh Water and Boiling Lakes. 

Hiking to the falls from this trail can take 30-45 minutes, at a moderate pace. Initially, the trail is a steep climb for the first half, before becoming somewhat flat, followed by a moderate slope down to Falls' viewing area.