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THE LIND POINT TRAIL
The Lind Point Trail begins in the parking area at the National Park Service Visitors Center in Cruz Bay and goes to the beaches at Salomon and Honeymoon Bays. The trail inclines moderately and reaches a maximum elevation of 160 feet. It is 0.4 mile to the Lind Point Battery Overlook and 0.7 mile to the top of the quarter mile spur trail which goes to the beach at Salomon Bay. It is 1.1 miles from Cruz Bay to Honeymoon Bay. The trail passes through a cactus scrub and dry forest environment in what was once an old cotton.cgiantation. The beginning of the trail is cactus scrub. Interesting.cgiants found here are night blooming cereus, pinguin or false pinea.cgie, pipe organ cactus, century plant, wild tamarind, acacia, frangipani, guinea grass, Christmas bush and catch-and-keep. East of Lind Point the environment changes to dry forest. Trees commonly found in this area are turpentine, frangipani, black caper, eugenia, mampoo, amarat and manjack. Notice the lovely rock formations along the hillsides. Many are covered by epiphytes, such as bromeliads and antheriums. What appear to be designs on the rocks are caused by the growth of lichen. All and all the effect is very tropical and very beautiful. About ten yards from the beginning of the trail at the National Park Visitors Center you will cross over a dirt road which follows the Cruz Bay shoreline to the old se.cgiane ramp. The Lind Point Trail continues on the other side of this road and follows the eastern shoreline of Cruz Bay at a higher elevation. After traveling about 0.2 mile, you will come to a fork in the trail near some large rocks. The main Lind Point Trail goes off to the right and uphill. The lower trail goes on to intersect with the spur trail to Salomon Bay. It is not an official park trail, and it is not regularly maintained. This trail is used mostly by locals whose destination is Salomon Bay. It is less scenic, but slightly shorter and less hilly than the main trail. Therefore it can be a somewhat easier and faster route, when it is in good condition. The official Lind Point trail gains altitude through a series of switch backs, and then continues north toward Lind Point. This point, or headland, defines the northern extremity of Cruz Bay and the northwestern corner of the island of St. John. When you get to Lind Point, the left fork takes you to the LIND POINT BATTERY OVERLOOK. From Lind Point the trail turns right or east and follows the northwestern coastline. Here the environment changes from cactus scrub to dry forest. Views of the islands, rocks and cays to the north of St. John will begin to open up on this section of your walk. The first spur trail that you come to will be on your right. It leads
to the National Park housing area and the headquarters for the Virgin Islands
Biosphere Reserve.
Salomon Bay is the most common destination of travelers on the trail. The spur trail goes down about 0.2 miles and takes you to the western end of the beach. For those not going to Solomon Bay, the Lind Point Trail continues straight ahead and on to Honeymoon Beach. Before reaching Honeymoon Bay you will come to the intersection of the Caneel Hill Spur Trail and the Lind Point Trail. The CANEEL HILL SPUR TRAIL will be to your right and up. The 0.8 mile trail begins at this intersection, crosses Route 20 (the North Shore Road). It continues up the mountainside to an elevation of 300 feet where it meets the CANEEL HILL TRAIL. The continuation of the main Lind Point Trail will be to your left and down. At the bottom you will come to an iron swinging gate near a very large tamarind tree. The gate serves to deter animals, such as donkeys and cows, from entering the Caneel Bay Hotel property. Pass through the gate and cross the dirt track to get to the beach at HONEYMOON BAY. This dirt road goes east about 0.2 mile to the Caneel Bay Resort, and to the west it leads around the point to SALOMON BAY. © 1996 by Gerald Singer
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St. John, US Virgin Islands ![]() A Great Place to Visit.....again & again info@stjohnusvi.com |