6. Peace Hill
Length:
0.1 miles. Time: 5 minutes, one way. Difficulty:
1. Trailhead: 2.8 miles from Cruz Bay on the North
Shore Road (Rt. 20). The hike starts from the parking lot.
Start
looking for the parking lot about a hundred yards past a huge boulder
(called Easter Rock) on the left shoulder of the road.
Easter Rock gets its name from the legend
that every Easter the stone rolls down the hill and then somehow
climbs back up.
The main attractions here are the scenic
overlook of Hawksbill Bay and an old windmill tower. The trail
starts at the parking lot on the hill near Hawksbill Bay.
The path goes uphill and past some night
blooming cereus cactus on the right. It's worth coming back
to see after dark.
You'll reach the sugar mill tower
first, then the plateau that offers a wonderfully scenic overlook.
For many decades a large statue
of Christ stood on the hill but it was destroyed by a hurricane.
The statue was an interesting if not very artistic endeavor. The huge
figure looked like it was sculpted out of modeling clay by some elementary
school class.
Still, the old landmark
is sorely missed. With the statue gone, Peace Hill isn't as popular
a stop for the bus/cab tours.
Or me.
Return to St.
John Hiking Trails Listing
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