Tektite Trailhead: A Hike Through History and Coastal Views

Tektite Trailhead provides access to a unique hiking experience on St. John, where the Tektite Trail winds through diverse landscapes and offers glimpses into the island's past. The 0.7-mile trail is named after the Tektite Project, an underwater habitat experiment conducted in 1969 by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Navy, NASA, and General Electric. The project aimed to study the psychological effects of extended isolation and the physiological results of breathing compressed air, with four aquanauts living underwater for two months in Beehive Cove. The trail itself presents a moderately strenuous ascent through dry, desert-like terrain. Hikers should be prepared for rocky paths and potential overgrowth, especially at the beginning of the trail. As you ascend, the trail connects with the old Tektite Road, constructed to support the original Tektite Project. The path leads to Cabritte Horn Point, offering stunning views from coastal cliffs. Along the way, you'll find spur trails to Cabritte Horn point and to the shoreline of Great Lameshur Bay. At the top of the hill, where the trail meets the remains of an old bulldozed road and the ruins of a stone structure, hikers are rewarded with panoramic views and refreshing trade winds. The trail continues over the ridge, descending gently to a grassy area with views to the east, south, and west. The Tektite Trail also connects to the Cabritte Horn Trail, offering an extended hiking option with even more breathtaking views.