USVI-On-Line

How long & severe an incline is the hike back? Would you say it's as severe & longer than the hike back to your jeep from Salt Pond Bay... Thanks guys!

Technically, Quarter mile and about 120? feet of elevation at salt pond, compared to 2.4 miles and 900 feet of elevation gain from bottom of reef bay to centerline road.

They are not even close to the same - Salt Pod takes maybe 5 minutes to get back to the car.

When we did Reef Trail on our own I think it took 2 hours total - with time to explore at the sugar mill.

I would guess that the hike up takes 25-35 minutes but if you take it slow you will be fine.

The Salt Pond hike is always in the sun and HOT. The reef bay trail is shaded which is a huge difference.

We enjoyed doing the trail by ourselves - we also did not want to ride a boat back to Cruz Bay with the NPS.

No where near the same - the last 1/3 of a mile on the return (after you have climbed for probably for an hour or so) is at least twice as steep. Average time for first timers, taking in the sights, roundtrip is probably 3 hours - 4 hours if you are not *hikers*

Pia


ps: if you hiked up that trail from the beach in 25 mins you are in fantastic shape and must have been sprinting

Okay all... thanks for your speedy responses! I (with my bad hips & lower back) will be calling the park service to schedule their tour!

May be giving this a try during President's Week...

Hike in from Little Lameshur. It's not as tough and you get to stop at the Par Force ruins on the way. When you return just pull the cooler and chairs and chill and snorkle on a beautiful beach.

...or avoid the whole darn climb entirely by taking the Reef Bay Coastal Walk

Hike? People hike on STJ? The only hike I ever took on STJ was the drive out to East End!