USVI-On-Line

I read that a lot of car rental companies do not allow you to take their car to this beach. Is the road that bad? Is the snorkeling good, worth the trip?
Nancy

I can't tell you about rental company rules, but I can show you the road. This picture was taken 2 yrs. ago, so I'm sure it may have changed a lot depending on rainfall, etc. In my opinion I didn't think it was that bad. There were a couple of good pot holes we went through slowly, but not much else that seemed so bad.

The potholes have been recently filled. In my spare time I'll post pictures. The snorkeling ranks with the best on island. GO!!!

The road is not that bad (at least when dry) especially compared to what it was when we first found Lameshur. It is now paved all or most of the way and the ridge crossing is a breeze compared to the narrow dirt road between two large boulders it used to be. Our jeep renter had no problem with our trip there.

YES! it is worth the trip.

After Francis Bay, Lameshur is my favorite place!! I don't consider the road to really be "off roading" . We have gone the last 3 years, no problems at all, just a little bumpy as it is dirt/gravel!! By all means, make the trip! You won't be disappointed.

Some friends of mine got there in an old 2wd Dodge Spirit before the road was improved! Now I think pretty much anybody can get out there. When you're there, the Yawzi Pt. trail is a nice, easy walk,too.

If we get BIG rain (we're kinda due about now), the first unpaved section going uphill out of Mandahl can still wash out seriously, and it can be a few weeks before the Park gets around to smoothing it out again. if this is a problem, you will find out very quickly once the pavement ends.

It's our favorite and we will go there 2-3 times in one trip. No one there usually. Snorkeling is usually very good. We spend hours there snorkeling and then enjoying a picnic lunch. We did see a good size shark in Little Lam one time. We just followed it around until we saw it's babies and then decided it was a good idea to back off.

We just went there a couple weeks ago and the road seems better than it used to be- there are much worse ones on the island than that one. Take the road to the very end, past the majority of cars and park at the top of the little hill. If you have time, hike to Europa Beach. Not a great snorkle but great beachcombing. If the north shore doesn't have big waves, you will have these beaches to yourself.

This brought back memories of my first trip to STJ before the road was paved. Being flatlanders, we quickly opted to back down the scary, bumpy, steep beginning of the road only to get back to the villa and learn that another couple in our group were attempting it earlier and the wife/passenger got so freaked out, she jumped out of the (slow moving) car rather than go up the hill

Every time we have been back since, the roads have been a breeze. Last summer the water was too murky to snorkel at Little Lameshur.

I am definitely open to suggestions as to the best way to snorkel both Lameshurs because both times we have gone, we really didn't see much.