Hams Bluff Lighthouse

Updated August 16, 2026

Hams Bluff sits on the north-west corner of St. Croix, where the rainforest end of the island meets the open Atlantic. The lighthouse on top is disused and closed, and it is not really the point.

Why go

The view. From the bluff you get the north coast running away east, the green of the west-end hills behind you, and nothing but water to the north. It is the least tropical-postcard and most dramatic viewpoint on the island.

It is also the emptiest. Most visitors never come out this way.

The walk

A short, steep climb on a rough track — sustained uphill, most of it exposed. Allow 30–45 minutes each way depending on pace.

Go early. There is almost no shade, the climb is in full sun by mid-morning, and the light is better anyway.

Getting there

The north-west corner is roughly 45–50 minutes from Christiansted, out past Frederiksted and up. The drive itself takes you through the rainforest stretch — a genuinely different climate from the east end, worth the trip on its own.

Some access roads out here are rough. A higher-clearance car helps.

Combine it with

Make a west-end day of it:

• Rainforest drive on the way out
• Hams Bluff in the morning
• Frederiksted for lunch and the pier
• Rainbow Beach or Sandy Point for the afternoon
• Sunset from the west coast, then the drive back

Practical

• Shoes with grip. The track is loose in places.
• Water and sun protection — the climb is exposed.
• No facilities. Nothing out here.
• Empty your car at the trailhead.
• Phone coverage is patchy on the west end.

Hams Bluff is about 55–60 minutes from our villa on the east end — the far end of the island.

Common questions

Can you go inside Hams Bluff Lighthouse?

No. The lighthouse is disused and not open to the public. The reason to make the walk is the view from the bluff, not the building.

How hard is the Hams Bluff hike?

Short but steep — a sustained uphill on a rough road-track. Most people manage it in 30–45 minutes each way. Go early; there is no shade on the climb.