Lind Point Trail, St. John, USVI - Scenic Hikes on Waymarking.com

This trail begins with a wooden staircase behind the National Park Visitor Center for the US Virgin Islands National Park. After the stairs, the trail ascends, then crosses a road and goes back into the woods. There are aloe and cacti as well as trees lining this trail. Visitors can see various birds and lizards as they walk. A spur trail at .4 miles goes to the left where hikers are greeted with an overlook that provides a great view of Cruz Bay. There is a bench to rest and take in the view.

History from seestjohn.com:
During the era of the Napoleonic wars, England, along with most of Europe, had united against Napoleon and his revolutionary government in France. Fearing for the security of her West Indian colonies, Britain turned her attention to the Danish West Indian islands of St. Thomas and St. John. If the French took control of these islands, they would undoubtedly use the strategic harbors of Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas and Coral Bay on St. John to set up bases from which Tortola and the rest of the British West Indian colonies could be attacked. It was a likely scenario.

Denmark never had a strong military presence in the Caribbean and St. Thomas and St. John could easily have fallen prey to the French. The British decided to make the first move. They sent a fleet of warships to St. Thomas, whereupon the Danes surrendered before a single shot was fired.

British troops occupied the Danish West Indies on two separate occasions, once in 1801, for almost a year, and then again in 1807, this time remaining until 1815. In order to secure Cruz Bay harbor, the British built a battery (fortification) on Lind Point. The “English Fort” as it was called by the inhabitants of St. John at the time, was no more than a semicircular terrace supported by a stone retaining wall upon which cannons were placed to defend the harbor. The cannons are no longer there, but the retaining wall remains. In place of the weaponry, there is now a wooden bench where you can sit and enjoy a view of busy Cruz Bay Harbor backdropped by unspoiled tropical scenery.

Picture location 1: N 18° 20.097 W 064° 47.848 Picture Location 2: N 18° 20.155 W 064° 47.884 Picture Location 3: N 18° 20.065 W 064° 47.769

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