Ham's Bluff Lighthouse

Ham's Bluff stands at the northwest corner of St Croix, and on top of it the Danish administration built a lighthouse in 1915, a few years before selling the islands to the United States. It is small, white and no longer manned, sitting on a bluff about a hundred metres above a wild and largely inaccessible piece of coastline where the north shore meets the west. Getting there means a steep climb on a rough track from the road below, and the reward is a view along the whole northwest coast and, on a clear day, out toward Puerto Rico. The tower itself is closed and fenced.

What you actually see

• The 1915 lighthouse - one of the last things the Danes built here.
• The bluff view - the northwest coast and open sea to Puerto Rico.
• Ham's Bay - the wild shoreline below.
• The Maroon Ridge country - the rugged northwest the track climbs through.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the track more reliable. Go early: the climb is steep, exposed and hot. Clear mornings give the longest views.

Honest expectations

The track up is rough and steep enough that most vehicles should not attempt it; walking takes about forty minutes each way with no shade. The lighthouse is fenced and cannot be entered or climbed. There are no facilities. The area is remote and getting help would take time.

Nearby

Frederiksted is 25 minutes south; the rainforest road runs inland.