Apr

St. Croix Mountain Biking Trail Blazers

St. Croix Mountain Biking has grown over the last 10 years. Discovering new trails on a trip home was deeply gratifying.

Walking up the steep, dirt hill in flip flops, I was looking for Steve Scott, the mountain biking man. The trail suddenly split in two. Oh, oh, which way do I go? No use trying my cellphone. North Shore is notorious for dodgy reception. That could be a good or bad thing depending on your perspective.

After a few steps, I decided to take a left but didn’t see any tracks. I turned around and took the right side of the trail. Walking up a few feet, I saw boot prints and dog poo. Success, I found them. Everything looked fresh, so I knew Steve and his adorable dog, Mick, were still working on the trail.

Finding Steve

About three-quarters of the way up the hill, I ran into Mick, a brown skinny, scrappy, and sweet island mutt, always a little smile on his face that said, “Play with me!” After saying “Hi” to Mick, he led me to see his owner, Steve Scott, the mountain biking man.

Stopping occasionally, I turned towards the North Shore to appreciate the clear view of bright skies and blue waters. I smiled and said a little “thanks,” for I had returned home after being gone for many years and had missed the ocean immensely.

There I was climbing up a steep, dirt hill in flip flops to talk to a man about mountain biking on St. Croix. It was exciting and new. We never had anything like this growing up. Steve confirmed for me the growth of mountain biking over the past ten years. It has picked up around the globe.

As we walked down the hill to grab some lunch at The Landing and continue the interview, Steve described the biking/hiking trail for me. “There are 4-5 switchbacks with 90% of the trail under a canopy of trees with dirt, roots, and rocks dugout to be rideable.

Blazing St Croix Mountain Biking trails

During the first phase of building the trail, there’ll be a couple of clearings for the spectacular views of Cane Bay and Hams Bluff. There will be a biking/hiking loop from the Cane Bay Campground halfway up the mountain and back down.

The second phase of the trail goes to the top of Mt Eagle, elevation 1165-feet, with a steep ascent going from sea level to the top of the mountain. The return trip can loop down to Scenic Drive on North Shore or come racing back down the mountain. Time of completion is one hour with a difficulty rating of medium to expert.

Now seated for lunch at The Landing, I asked our mountain biking man, “So what do you want the world to know about mountain biking on St. Croix, Steve?” He said, “Well, I always wanted to live on an island with mountain biking.”

Steve Scott moved from the states and is from Golden Colorado. He has been a mountain biking expert for 32-years. He raced as a kid. Steve and his business partner recently sold their hydroponic farm on the island to partner again at The Landing while building their biking/hiking trails.

Secret trails

Over a nice grilled chicken sandwich and a delicious, blended drink called Lime In the Coconut, he continued, “A lot of people on vacation don’t realize they can mountain bike on St. Croix.”

For instance, on the North Shore, there’s The Beast, from the local, infamous triathlon, Beauty and the Beast, and Rust Top Twist with big, flowing hills.

On the arid East End, there’s Jack and Isaac’s Bay and Goat Hill. And there’s also ten miles on the Old Dairy Farm, which is now part of government land.

Mountain biking meetups

We have an informal meetup group that goes for long 25-mile rides from Scenic Drive to Frederiksted. About 20-25 of us meet on Sunday mornings. We ride all the time but not all at once. We get together on WhatsApp or inquire at the mountain bike shop, Island Life Adventures, or at the local brewery, Leatherback Landing.

When asked what kind of mountain bikes Island Life Adventures offers, he replied, “A real mountain biker will bring their own bike, yet it’s good to know that there’s local bike support and a full-service mechanic while you hang out, have a beer and eat some pizza.”

Steve looks forward to welcoming all mountain bikers from around the world. The Landing, on the North Shore, is where they can jump in the beautiful, blue waters of the Caribbean while they enjoy “bikes, beers, bikinis, and beach.”

When you go to St. Croix Mountain Biking

Remember, on the beautiful and tropical island of St. Croix drive on the left and watch out for the massive potholes.

Enjoy your stay here on gorgeous St. Croix and have fun mountain biking our trails.