Hiking the Ram Head Trail in Virgin Islands National Park
Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
The Ram Head Trail in Virgin Islands National Park is a stunning coastal day hike on the south side of St. John that traverses the southernmost point on the island, ultimately ending at a beautiful viewpoint with panoramic views above the surrounding landscape!
That said, the Ram Head Trail is widely regarded as one of the best things to do in Virgin Islands National Park, and, in my opinion, it is the best all-around sunrise and sunset hike on the island!
This is a topic that I dive into in more detail at the very end of this article, but if all this says nothing else, add the Ram Head Trail to your bucket list when visiting Virgin Islands National Park, as few adventures on St. John are as beautiful as the Ram Head during golden hour!
Ram Head Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Ram Head Trail is located at Salt Pond Bay on the south side of St. John in Virgin Islands National Park.
That said, Salt Pond is the shared parking area for both the Drunk Bay Trail, the Ram Head Trail, and Salt Pond Beach, meaning it is without a doubt the busiest place to visit in Virgin Islands National Park south of Coral Bay.
This is why visiting first thing in the morning or later in the evening can be a great option, as the beach and the trails are best avoided during the busiest and hottest midday hours.
Google Maps Directions: Ram Head Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Virgin Islands
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Virgin Islands National Park.
Hiking the Ram Head Trail
The Ram Head Trail begins on a short 0.2-mile (0.3 km) service road that leads down to Salt Pond Bay.
Since the vast majority of visitors come to Salt Pond Bay for the beach, this first stretch between the trailhead and the water is the busiest section of the entire Ram Head Trail.
Salt Pond Bay
After hiking 0.2 miles (0.3 km) down the service road, the Ram Head Trail reaches Salt Pond Beach, one of the most beautiful, kid-friendly beaches on the south side of Virgin Islands National Park!
Once here, walk straight across the beautiful beach to the far south side to find where the Ram Head Trail splits from the Drunk Bay Trail.
Ram Head-Drunk Bay Junction
On the far south side of Salt Pond Beach, the Ram Head Trail and the Drunk Bay Trail split and head in different directions.
That said, go right at this junction to continue on the Ram Head Trail along the coastline.
Read My Separate Post: Drunk Bay Trail
After the Drunk Bay junction, the Ram Head Trail leaves Salt Pond Beach behind and continues to follow the coastline for the next 0.1 miles (0.2 km), at which point the trail begins climbing up and over the rocky coastline toward Blue Cobblestone Beach.
This is where the Ram Head Trail leaves the water for the first of two times, with this first set of stairs climbing up and over the rocky cliffs toward Blue Cobblestone Beach.
This first uphill stretch can mentally seem a bit annoying, considering that all the elevation gained will be lost again when the Ram Head Trail heads back down to the water on the other side.
Since there is quite a bit of elevation change on the Ram Head Trail, some hikers may want to bring trekking poles, which can be particularly useful for the rocky walk across Blue Cobblestone Beach ahead.
In addition to poles, a quality sun shirt is more useful on the Ram Head Trail than on most adventures in Virgin Islands National Park, considering how exposed the vast majority of the hike is throughout the day.
This is the view looking toward Blue Cobblestone Beach and Ram Head beyond!
With just over 0.1 miles (0.2 km) before the beach, the Ram Head Trail begins descending toward the water once again.
Blue Cobblestone Beach
After roughly 0.5 miles (0.8 km) since leaving Salt Pond Bay, the Ram Head Trail reaches Blue Cobblestone Beach, a rocky stretch of shoreline along the west side of Ram Hill.
Once on the beach, walk straight across to the far south side to find where the Ram Head Trail continues up to the viewpoint.
This is where the Ram Head Trail abruptly leaves Blue Cobblestone Beach to begin the final 0.4-mile (0.6 km) ascent to the viewpoint at the end.
After the initial steep climb above the beach, the rest of the Ram Head Trail to the end of the hike becomes much more gradual.
This is the final ascent, and even though it may look steep, it, like the sections prior, is much more gradual than most day hikes in Virgin Islands National Park—especially those that begin off Centerline Road!
This barrel cactus, known as Turk’s Cap, is native to Virgin Islands National Park and is common on dry coastal trails like the Ram Head Trail and the nearby Tektite Trail down the road.
Ram Head
This is the end of the Ram Head Trail and the southernmost point on St. John and Virgin Islands National Park!
That said, this viewpoint and the trail leading to the summit are what I consider the best all-around place to watch sunrise and sunset in the park, which I discuss in more detail below.
Is the Ram Head Trail Better for Sunrise or Sunset?
I have personally hiked the Ram Head Trail for both sunrise and sunset many times, which is why I can honestly say it’s a toss-up as to which is better!
Before talking about the hike, it’s important to recognize that the Ram Head Trail is not close to Cruz Bay. I mention this because if you decide to hike it for sunrise, you’ll need to account for the long, winding drive in the dark and a roughly 30–40 minute hike to reach the viewpoint in time.
Alternatively, hiking back after sunset isn’t a terrible option, but it’s important to be conscious of the time it will take to hike back and drive to Cruz Bay in order to find somewhere to eat before places close down.
All of this to say, I do believe it’s a toss-up because early morning light is the most beautiful as it first hits the mountains on St. John at sunrise, but sunset is better in terms of golden light hitting Ram Hill, the coastal peak in the photo below.
In either case, I recommend against hiking the Ram Head Trail midday because it is such a hot, exposed hike, but if you decide to head out on the trail for sunset, be sure to wear a good sun shirt, as there is far less shade on the trail compared to the early morning hours.
