L’ESPERANCE TRAIL Claimed

The L’Esperance Trail is uninhabited and part of the Virgin Islands National Park, a perfect trail to soak in the views of the South Shore.   This Trail is considered one of the most challenging hikes on Saint John and is a demanding and challenging round trip 3 to 4 hour hike.  The trailhead is located on Centerline Road about a 1/4 mile on the right past the National Park Sign (Midway) heading toward Coral Bay.  The trail is very well maintained, and can be steep and rocky in many places.  Many parts of the trail run along the ridgeline and can be very narrow at times, so be careful.   Make sure to pace yourself along the way, wear closed-toe shoes, and bring plenty of water.   There are several trails that intersect with this trail such as the Reef Bay Trail (2.5 miles), Sieben Trail (1 mile), Fish Bay Skytop, and Genti Bay Beach (2.6 miles).  The L’Esperance Trail provides a combination of looking at historical ruins and seeing the environment change from bright green upper foliage to the desert cacti plants near the bottom of the trail near the beach. 

After hiking for about a mile, the trail connects to the Sieben Trail and the Fish Bay Skytop.  If you take the Sieben trail you will be able to experience some ruin sites, one with a graveyard.  The famous island Baobab tree once stood along the way although in 2022 it lost a fight with local pests and is no longer standing.  Enjoy the viewpoint over the south shore, and take in the many wonderful native plants on the trail.