Virgin Islands National Park, VI
Two viewpoints reward a steep climb above Lameshur Bay.
Overview
Bordeaux Mountain Trail is a steep 2.4-mile out-and-back from lower Lameshur Bay to Bordeaux Mountain Road, about 1,000 feet higher. Two viewpoints above the south shore are the payoff. It is a hard climb over a short distance; allow about 2½ hours for the return trip. The trail ends at the road, below Bordeaux Mountain’s true summit.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the climb for you?Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Virgin Islands Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Virgin Islands National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
Salt Pond Bay and Ram Head“Salt Pond Bay's parking area is coming up, with a rocky quarter-mile walk down to the beach. The sandy middle gives you a gentle water entry, while the rocky edges are the more interesting snorkeling.”
Plays on the road 1.4 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Virgin Islands Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Start at the lower Bordeaux Mountain access on Lameshur Road. The route follows the road uphill from the shared Lameshur Bay junction for roughly 0.2 mile, then becomes a footpath and climbs with few level stretches. The tread is narrow and rocky. Walk it one way only if someone can meet you at the Bordeaux Mountain Road end; otherwise turn around there and retrace your steps.
The first clear view opens from a rock formation well above either trailhead. A second viewpoint sits at an upper switchback; after it, the last quarter-mile winds through trees to the road. At the first rock, frame Lameshur Bay through the forest edge to show the drop below. If you have reached the second viewpoint, keep going to the road before you turn back.
This follows an old plantation-era route. A plaque credits National Park Service work in 1986–87 that stabilized the steep path with stone drainage, tread repairs, and small rest areas to slow erosion. Look for the old stonework as you climb. Dogs are allowed on park trails on a leash no longer than six feet.
Wildlife
151 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
115 sightingsGreen IguanaMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
62 sightingsBrown PelicanMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
35 sightingsGreen Sea TurtleMost seen around noonSighting map
32 sightingsAmerican FlamingoMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
26 sightingsNurse SharkMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Virgin Islands. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateLameshur Bay Trail3 mi · 2.8 hr · At the trailheadThree miles round trip for a ridge walk to Reef Bay Trail.
ModerateEuropa Point Trail1 mi · 54 min · At the trailheadA short rocky spur ends with a wide view across Europa Bay.
EasyEuropa Bay Trail1.1 mi · 54 min · At the trailheadSalt pond and coral rubble at the end of a short trail.
EasyYawzi Point Trail0.6 mi · 45 min · 0.2 mi awayColonial stonework, rocky coves and two bay views in one short walk.
ModerateTektite Trail1.3 mi · 1 hr · 0.7 mi awayRocky climb to Great Lameshur Bay views and plantation ruins.
ChallengingRam Head Trail2.6 mi · 2 hr · 1.4 mi awayCactus slopes and island views reward the rocky beach crossing.
EasyDrunk Bay Trail1.8 mi · 1.3 hr · 1.4 mi awayA salt pond path ends at a rough, rocky Caribbean shore.
ChallengingPetroglyph Trail3.4 mi · 3 hr · 2.1 mi awayA shaded descent to ancient carvings, with a steep climb back out.
Sight · At the trailheadLameshur Plantation RuinsA 60-foot horsemill and bay-oil still reveal centuries of work.
Beach · 0.1 mi awayLittle Lameshur Bay BeachA remote sandy beach with snorkeling reefs close to shore.
Beach · 0.4 mi awayGreat Lameshur Bay BeachA rocky snorkel shore before sandy Little Lameshur.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayReef Bay Sugar MillSurviving sugar-mill machinery, reached by a hard hike or boat.
Sight · 1.4 mi awayReef Bay PetroglyphsTaíno faces and a spring-fed pool reward the long hike.
Beach · 1.7 mi awaySalt Pond Bay BeachCurved sand, rocky-shore snorkeling and a short walk make this feel earned.
Beach · 2 mi awayBlue Cobblestone BeachA jade-green cobble shore where waves rattle the stones.
Beach · 2 mi awayDrunk BayA rough, rocky shore with surf and strange stone figuresParkwolf’s Virgin Islands ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
