EXPLORE RAM HEAD – Virgin Islands National Park, St. John

Ram Head, St. John Overview

Ram Head is a beautiful, rocky bluff that represents the southernmost point on the island of St. John in Virgin Islands National Park.

The point is accessed by Ram Head Trail via the Salt Pond Trail. The route to the point is pretty unique starting on an unpaved road before passing through a beach, wrapping around Salt Pond, another beach, and finally the grassy/rocky Ram Head point.

Length:  2.3miles
Elevation: 314ft
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

We explored Ram Head after Hurricane Maria and cover what it looks like now in this post.

In this post we’ll cover everything you need to know about Ram Head and the hike to it including:

• Ram Head Tips & Things to Know
• Best time to visit Ram Head
• Getting to Ram Head
• Ram Head post-hurricane Maria
• Photos of Ram Head

Things to Know Before Visiting Ram Head

Pack food and water for the hike, you’ll need it.

•  TRAIL FUEL: Make sure to pack more water than you think you’ll need if you plan on hiking all the way to the bay. We recommend packing some snacks (or a picnic lunch) as well.

Closed-toed sandals or hiking boots are your friend.

•  FOOTWEAR: We recommend wearing  hiking shoes/boots if you plan on hiking to the popular overlook featured above. While a fair section of the trail is through sand, much of it is not and could cause problems for folks wearing flip flops.

Please, Wear Sunscreen.

• SUNSCREEN: Goes without saying but we’ll say it anyway – wear sunscreen! The Caribbean is unforgiving on unprotected skin. We’ve made that mistake enough times to make lathering up a top priority. We highly recommend this one that we’ve been using for years and buy in bulk.

Depending on the time of year/day you might want to pack insect repellent.

• BUG SPRAY: We didn’t have any trouble with mosquitoes but some people do so you may want to be prepared with sunscreen. We recommend this eco-friendly, DEET free insect repellent we’ve been using for years.

Best Time to Visit Ram Head

The best time to visit Ram Head is in the morning. Morning time in the Virgin Islands is quieter with less folks out and about. We recommend you get up and start the hike early.

Getting to Ram Head

The Salt Pond Bay Trail (off which the Ram Head Trail is found) is a 35 minute drive from Cruz Bay where the main island ferry lands. Visitors can use the Salt Pond Bay parking lot if bringing their own vehicle or island taxi service.

As opposed to many of the main park attractions which are located off the main park road (North Shore Rd), the trail to Ram Head is located closest to Coral Bay (on the east side of the island) off Rte 107.

Exploring the Ram Head

The Ram Head Trail (and connecting Salt Pond Bay Trail) is one of the most unique and visually stimulating in the park.

The route takes hikers on a dirt road, over a sand beach, past Salt Pond, over a rocky beach, and finally ascends up past cacti to the rocky bluff known as Ram Head.

From Ram Head hikers can look back toward the island and take in sweeping panoramic views of Coral Bay & St John Island.

Best Photo Spots – Ram Head

The best spot to photograph Ram Head is from the end of the trail close to where it meets the ocean. From here looking back toward the island provides impressive views.

Ram Head After Hurricane Maria

Hurricane Maria had a devastating impact on the Caribbean islands, especially St. John, home to Virgin Islands National Park. Many of the photos of the park you’ll find feature locations that have been totally changed since the hurricane hit the island in 2017. 

With that being said, the Ram Head was largely unaffected and still stunningly beautiful – well worth the trip!

*all of our photos of the park feature it in its current condition, post-2017 hurricane Maria damage

Nearby Ram Head

There are many amazing spots near Ram Head including: Francis Bay, Trunk Bay, Maho Bay, America Hill Ruins, Cinnamon Bay, and Francis Bay.

Experience Virgin Islands National Park in 8K
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VIRGIN ISLANDS 8K is a visually stunning journey through one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, Virgin Islands.

Journey with More Than Just Parks as we explore this tropical paradise located on the outskirts of the Caribbean Sea.

Swim with sea turtles, explore ancient jungle ruins, relax on white sand beaches, and soak in the island beauty. This is Virgin Islands National Park.

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