Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE ST. CROIX
heritage trail
A trail that leads into the past,
St. Croix
Heritage Trail
helps visitors relive the
island's Danish colonial past. All you
need are a brochure and map, available
at the tourist office in Christiansted
(p. 142). This 72-mile itinerary includes a
combination of asphalt-covered road-
way, suitable for driving, and narrow
woodland trails which must be navi-
gated on foot. Many aficionados opt to
drive along the route whenever practi-
cal, descend onto the footpaths wher-
ever indicated, and then return to their
cars for the continuation of the tour. En
route, you'll be exposed to one of the
Caribbean's densest concentrations of
historical and cultural sites.
The route connects Christiansted and
Frederiksted, going past the sites of for-
mer sugar plantations, and traverses the
entire 28-mile length of St. Croix. The
route consists mainly of existing road-
ways. The brochure will identify every-
thing you're seeing: You will pass cattle
farms, suburban communities, even
industrial complexes and resorts. It's not
all manicured and pretty, but much is
scenic and worth the drive. Allow at
least a day for this trail, with stops along
the way.
Nearly everyone gets out of the car
at
Point Udall,
the easternmost point
under the U.S. flag in the Caribbean.
You'll pass an eclectic mix of churches
and even a prison.
The highlight of the trail is the
Estate
Mount Washington
(p. 179), a strikingly
well-preserved sugar plantation.
Another highlight is
Estate Whim Plan-
tation Museum
(p. 179), one of the best
of the restored great houses, with a
museum and gift shop. Another stop is
along
Salt River Bay,
which cuts into the
northern shoreline. This is the site of
Columbus's landfall in 1493.
Of course, you'll want to stop and get
to know the locals. We recommend a
refreshment break at
Smithens Market.
Vendors at this market, which lies off
Queen Mary Highway, offer freshly
squeezed sugar-cane juice and sell
locally grown fruits and homemade
chutneys.
5
Exploring the “Rain Forest”
The island's western district contains a dense, 15-acre forest, called the “Rain Forest”
(though it's not technically a rainforest). The area is thick with mahogany trees, kapok
(silk-cotton) trees, turpentine (red-birch) trees,
samaan
(rain) trees, and all kinds of
ferns and vines. Sweet limes, mangoes, hog plums, and breadfruit trees, all of which
have grown in the wild since the days of the plantations, are also interspersed among
the larger trees. Crested hummingbirds, pearly eyed thrashers, green-throated caribs,
yellow warblers, and perky but drably camouflaged banana quits nest here. The
150-foot-high Creque Dam is the major man-made sight in the area.
The “Rain Forest” is private property, but the owner lets visitors go inside to
explore. To experience its charm, some people opt to drive along Route 76 (also
known as Mahogany Rd.), stopping beside the footpaths that meander off on either
side of the highway into dry riverbeds and glens. Stick to the most worn footpaths.
You can also hike along some of the little-traveled four-wheel-drive roads in the area.
Three of the best for hiking are the
Creque Dam Road
(Rte. 58/78), the
Scenic
Road
(Rte. 78), and the
Western Scenic Road
(Rte. 63/78).
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