It’s Field Trip Time …
St. Croix is full of hidden gems, and with this fact … it’s field trip time for you!! The Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse Hike should be at the top of your list. Lace up your walking shoes, pack your water, bug spray, sunscreen, and camera, and come along with us. It’s a Runkle Fave, and we think it’ll become one of yours too!
Let’s Go …
Let’s head to the Northwest tip of St. Croix … we are in search of Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse for this field trip. Head to Ham’s Bluff Road on Highway 63 (you will be driving a bit over 3.5 miles north of Frederiksted). Plug this trip into Google Maps/Waze to get you to the general area, but don’t be surprised if navigation gets spotty on that last rough stretch of road (and yes … it’s rough, consider a higher-clearance vehicle to reach the trailhead!!) … talk to the locals and look for the blue pallet sign at the trailhead once you get there. Park in the parking lot by the National Guard facility at the end of the road.
Let’s Hike …
The Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse Hike would probably be considered a “moderate” hike. It is a “moderately” steep uphill climb, but remember it’s downhill on the way back down. The distance to and from the lighthouse is about .8 miles round trip. So, time is all yours … no rush … take your time and enjoy the hike and the “Views” when you do make it to the top!!
Let’s Learn …
The Lighthouse was built by the Danes between 1913 and 1915. The cast-iron Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse has quite a history, passing to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1917 and earning a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. Deactivated in the mid-1990s, the tower has been slowly reclaimed by rust ever since. It can be climbed, but proceed with caution … the views from the ground are just as amazing!!
