St. Croix is known for its beautiful beaches and water sports, but if the water is not your favorite then going for a hike is always an option. Whether you are a beginner and easing your way into a work out or a hiking extraordinaire, there are some great trails that offer stunning views of St. Croix.
On the Northshore make sure you check out the hike from Carambola to Wills Bay. From Carambola, the hike is about 45 minutes one way and the terrain is easy to moderate. You can enjoy being shaded by the trees for much of the hike. You might come across an occasional hermit crab or mongoose. Once you reach Wills Bay, the beach is rocky and one could spend hours beach combing. There are also some small tide pools on the west end of the beach. Wills Bay is sometimes mistakenly called Annaly Bay. Annaly Bay and its larger tide pools are located a little further west.
Out west you can hike the Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse trail. This hike is not as long and only 20 minutes one way, but the terrain can be challenging as there is a steep grade. The historical Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse is located 360 feet above sea level and is a beautiful place to be surrounded by peace and quiet. The lighthouse was built by the Danish between 1913-1915. The cast iron construction and concrete foundation are a sight to see. The lighthouse has seen better days, as it has not been in service since the mid-1990’s but it is still a landmark that many in St. Croix love.
If you find yourself on the east end on a Sunday morning you may want to try the Goat Hill Hike. Better yet, bring your four-legged pal along! For the last couple of years dog lovers have been hiking Goat Hill. This hike is fairly challenging and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get to the top.
Loralyn Engelhardt recently moved to St. Croix with her husband Steve and their German Sheppard Morgan. Loralyn says this is not only a way to get some exercise and see beautiful views, but it’s a way to get Morgan comfortable around other dogs.
The trio along with several others make the dirt road hike most Sundays. The top of Goat Hill offers stunning 360 degree views of the island, 672 feet above Sea Level.
Loralyn says they’ve met some great people. “What a great way to start a Sunday Morning. This hike has allowed us to make several new friends. I’m not sure who enjoys it more, me or Morgan.” Loralyn says it’s a tough hike but well worth it once you see the Caribbean Blue colors at the top.
If you’d like to try out any of these hikes and unsure of where exactly to go, check out the St. Croix Hiking Association website. They offer directions and additional information about these trails.
http://www.stcroixhiking.org/self-guided-hikes.html
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