Lind Point Overlook

Lind Point Overlook is a small bench on a short spur from the upper Lind Point Trail, above Cruz Bay. It looks over the harbor and across Pillsbury Sound, where small cays dot the water and boats pass toward and from St. Thomas. It makes a worthwhile pause on the walk toward Salomon or Honeymoon beaches, with a broad island view without committing a long hike.

Make sure you stay on the upper Lind Point path. Its switchbacking branch reaches the viewpoint; the shorter, lower route is less hilly but bypasses the Cruz Bay overlook. At Lind Point, a short loop leads to the bench. From the Cruz Bay visitor center, allow 20 to 40 minutes, depending on how long you linger at the view.

The usual start is behind the Cruz Bay visitor center: take the stairs behind it, turn left at the top, then follow the uphill road to the marked trail on the right. You can also reach the trails from either of the first two gravel lots on North Shore Road. The path is narrow and rocky, and isn't wheelchair-accessible. Leashed dogs are allowed on park trails with leashes no longer than six feet, but aren't allowed on the beaches.

From the bench, watch for boats moving through the harbor and look beyond the near shore to the green cays and islands of Pillsbury Sound. For a photo, keep a little foreground foliage at the bottom of the frame; the near shore, cays, and distant island give the view depth.

The approach crosses land once known as Estate Lindholm, used for cotton cultivation in colonial times. Nearby Lind Point Fort is a separate earthwork, not the overlook itself. The British built the battery in 1807 to command Cruz Bay during the Napoleonic Wars.