Point Udall

The east end of St Croix narrows to a dry, windswept headland of scrub and cactus that is the easternmost land under the American flag, which means it sees the country's first sunrise. A monument called the Millennium Sundial was built here for the year 2000, a curved concrete form that casts its shadow across a calendar arc, and it stands alone on the point with the sea on three sides. From the car park a short walk goes out to the tip, and a steep path drops to Isaac Bay, a beach with no road access where green turtles nest and the snorkelling is good. The whole end of the island is protected and feels far emptier than anywhere else in the territory.

What you actually see

• The Millennium Sundial - the monument on the easternmost point.
• Sunrise - the first light to fall on American soil each morning.
• Isaac Bay - a road-free beach down a steep path, with turtles and reef.
• The east end reserve - dry cactus scrub and empty headlands.

When to go

December to April is drier and less humid, and sunrise here is the point of the trip for many, which means a very early start. The headland is fully exposed with no shade, so midday in summer is punishing. The road out is rough in places.

Honest expectations

There is nothing here but a monument, a view and the wind, and visitors expecting facilities will find none, not even reliable shade. The path down to Isaac Bay is steep and loose. The last stretch of road is potholed. Sunrise means leaving Christiansted in the dark on unlit island roads.

Nearby

Christiansted is half an hour west; the Buck Island reef trips leave from there.