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KathyW828
Leave early, if possible just as the sun is rising. I went with a group of Samoan and we went from Vatia to Pago Pago. This requires help from a shuttle which we had all pre arranged. This may be arranged through the NPS. Or you can just drive up and walk to the tower and back on your own. The views are tremendous. Take lots of water.
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Traveler_684
There are a lot of trails on Tutuila that you can hike and all of them are amazing, however not all of them are easy to find or well marked. The Mount Alava hike however is probably the most well marked hike on the island and is therefore the best hike for those travelers who do not have a local guide. There are 2 ways to do the trail: you can start at the service road and hike up turn around and come back down the same way. Or you if you're feeling adventurous and fit, you can keep going and come down the backside into Vatia. The first half (service road to the top) is fairly steep and about 2hrs up walking at a brisk pace. There is a small parking lot at the entrance to the service road. The second half down to Vatia is very steep, about 3 hrs (or more) down, and half of it is made up of steps that require the use of a rope hand hold to climb down. It is a lot of fun but definitely requires some physical fitness. Vatia is a far distance from the service road entrance so you will have to arrange a car to pick you up, catch a bus back, or hitch a ride. The view at the top of Mt Alava is breathtaking. You get a clear panoramic shot of Pago Pago Harbor and the surrounding villages. And the water is clear enough for you to see the coral all the way from up there.Mt Alava is a great way to get out of the city and see the natural beauty of American Samoa
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SereneSamoa
Hiked the Mount Alava trail for some majestic views of Pago Pago Harbor!!! Was a heck of a hike, but it was well worth the effort!
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NationalParkHiker
Hiked the Mt. Alava trail in the National Park on Thursday, 3/17/2012, after a Friday of constant rain, so the trail was quite wet and slippery. Even with hiking boots the rocks were very slippery unless the soles gripped really well (mine did, my wife's did not). Views are impressive from the several clearings along the way but amazing from the top. At the top there is a metal stairway that leads to the site of several antennae and the remains of a tramway, however the trail continues for about 1/4 mile to a covered shelter or Samoan Fale at the actual summit. Views from both places are breath taking, from the area around the antennae of the Pago Pago bay and harbour and of the coastal areas from the Fale. There is a hiker's log at the Fale, so be sure to sign it. There are signs of the park service's efforts to remove invasive plant species and re-plant native flora along the trail. Trail goes through what used to be a banana and coconut plantation or farm. Also expect to see lots of beautiful Tropic Birds as well as Fruit Bats (flying foxes). Though we did not see any close up there were a good many flying about. The most bird activity was from the White Rumped Swift, birds that resemble bats zooming around and over the trail eating insects. We were not bothered too much by mosquitoes (we had applied insect repellant, but it soon was washed away by our perspiration) so the birds were doing a good job of controlling the flying insect population. All in all it was a very rewarding 7 mile round trip hike, highly recommended if you are in reasonably good shape.
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TrekTeam
We hiked the Mount Alava trail that begins at Fagasa Pass. This is a wide, easy to follow trail with peek-a-boo views of the water and a huge variety of flora and fauna. It is quite steep in places but well maintained. We even met NPS staff coming to do trail work as we were leaving. When wet be careful of your footing!Two days later we tried the Mount Alava Adventure trail beginning at the road TH. It is considerably harder to follow and in much need of maintenance. Due to our late start, we turned around about a mile in. Be sure to also hike the short but beautiful Lower Sauma Ridge Trail which begins nearby.
