Hiking the Tektite & Cabritte Horn Trail in Virgin Islands National Park
Distance (Tektite Trail): 1.4 miles / 2.3 km
Distance (Cabritte Horn Trail): 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Tektite Trail and the Cabritte Horn Trail in Virgin Islands National Park are two separate, beautiful day hikes on the south side of St. John that are often combined into one longer 2.2-mile (3.5 km) adventure!
That said, the Cabritte Horn Trail specifically is one of the best all-around sunrise and sunset hikes in Virgin Islands National Park, as the trail near Cabritte Horn at the end has both a unique and beautiful view of sunrise to the east and an even better view of sunset toward Great Lameshur Bay just down the hill!
This all to say that this, along with the fact that there is very little shade on either trail, is why I highly recommend hiking both the Tektite Trail and the Cabritte Horn Trail for golden hour, with sunset being my overall recommendation because of how much more unobstructed it typically is while at the same time lighting up the mountains on St. John just before it sets!
Tektite–Cabritte Horn Trailhead Parking
The Tektite–Cabritte Horn Trailhead is located directly off Lameshur Road, about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) from the end of the pavement.
Once there, parking for the trail can be found at either switchback before or after the trailhead, but both are very small and limited in the number of vehicles they can accommodate.
Google Maps Directions: Tektite–Cabritte Horn 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 Tektite Trail
The Tektite–Cabritte Trail begins just up the road from the second parking area.
Following the trailhead, the Tektite Trail begins a gradual climb before leveling off and ultimately descending toward the junction before the viewpoints at the end of either trail.
As previously mentioned, there is very little shade on the Tektite Trail, which is why I highly recommend hiking during golden hour and wearing a hooded sun shirt to stay safe!
Cabritte Horn Ruins
After just 0.2 miles (0.3 km), the Tektite Trail passes the Cabritte Horn Plantation Ruins on the right-hand side, which is always a nice sign that the trailhead is getting close on the return hike.
This is where the Tektite Trail begins the gradual descent toward the Tektite–Cabritte junction, about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) ahead.
Since the elevation changes on the Tektite Trail and the Cabritte Horn Trail are much milder than many other hikes in Virgin Islands National Park, both trails can be great for trail running—especially considering that both are not the most popular adventures on the island!
If trail running is something you’re considering, I recommend using the shoes I have linked below, as they work well for both hiking and trail running on all the best adventures on St. John.
This is the view looking west toward Great Lameshur Bay.
Tektite-Cabritte Horn Junction
After roughly 0.6 miles (1.0 km), the Cabritte Horn Trail splits from the Tektite Trail.
That said, the Cabritte Horn Trail continues along the ridgeline, while the Tektite Trail branches away to the right toward Great Lameshur Bay.
If hiking the trail for sunrise is what you’re most interested in, go straight to begin the Cabritte Horn Trail. However, if you’re hiking for sunset, both trails can be great choices, though my overall recommendation still leans toward the Cabritte Horn Trail.
To skip ahead to the start of the Cabritte Horn Trail, click here.
Tektite Trail
This is the rest of the Tektite Trail by going right at the split toward Great Lameshur Bay.
The rest of the Tektite Trail toward the viewpoint above Great Lameshur Bay is almost all downhill, losing roughly 75 ft. (23 m) of elevation in the final 0.2 miles (0.3 km).
End of the Tektite Trail
This is the end of the Tektite Trail, which face west toward Great Lameshur Bay and Reef Bay beyond!
This is exactly why I mentioned previously that both the Tektite Trail and the end of the Cabritte Horn Trail can make great places to catch the sunset, but my overall recommendation leans toward the Cabritte Horn Trail up the hill because the higher vantage point above the sea cliffs is much more picturesque, in my opinion.
Tektite-Cabritte Horn Junction
At the same junction shown previously, go left to begin the Cabritte Horn Trail.
That said, the Cabritte Horn Trail will feel much more like the Tektite Trail at the beginning of the hike, as it simply follows the ridgeline out to the southernmost viewpoint above Tektite Bay.
Once on the true Cabritte Horn Trail, the hike will continue to descend gradually.
However, when the Cabritte Horn Trail starts to level out, the trail is nearing the best sunrise viewpoints above Grootpan Bay!
This is where the best views of the sunrise start to open up to the east, with even better views located just a few steps ahead!
This long, straight stretch just before the trail turns down toward Cabritte Horn is the best place on the entire trail to hike out to for sunrise!
This is where the Cabritte Horn Trail turns down toward Tektite Bay and the end of the trail.
This is where the Cabritte Horn Trail opens up just before the end of the hike, and it’s where I recommend hiking to for sunset!
That said, be sure to pack a good headlamp for such an adventure, especially considering that there are a number of other great sunrise and sunset hikes in Virgin Islands National Park, including the Ram Head Trail and the Caneel Hill Trail near Cruz Bay.
Cabritte Horn
This is the end of the Cabritte Horn Trail, which I hope the photos make clear why I think it’s a much better place to catch sunset than the end of the Tektite Trail shown above.
However, the end of the trail is not the best place to catch sunrise, since the final hill to the end blocks the sun coming up from the east.
