Colombier Beach Schlep
- Thread starter ERDOC
- Start date
marybeth
Senior Insider
There are a few tricky spots so I would be holding on to the little one, but in general its an easy walk. Seems longer and a little more difficult going in than going back.
Rather than slide down (and climb up) the steep hill to the beach, just continue along the road (it does say No Trespassing but we have interpreted it to mean to the Rockefeller ruins) and you'll come to a small building on the left. On the right just before is a path through the bush to the beach.
Rather than slide down (and climb up) the steep hill to the beach, just continue along the road (it does say No Trespassing but we have interpreted it to mean to the Rockefeller ruins) and you'll come to a small building on the left. On the right just before is a path through the bush to the beach.
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JEK
Senior Insider
Back when I was just a lad, I negotiated this round trip under the watchful eye of Mod Tim.
9. Upper and Lower Colombier Beach Hike - Park your car near Le Pigeonnaire in the Village of Colombier. Walk out past Le P'tit Morne and follow directions for Upper Path down to Colombier Beach. Continue past the beach and walk back along the other coast on the lower path. Keep walking when you get to the pavement past Auberge de la Petite Anse. Continue walking on the road that parallels Flamands Beach until you get to the turnoff for La Langouste/Baie des Anges on your left and stop. This is crucial. Turn right on what appears to be an alley and walk up the steep road(20-25% grade) until you get to the main road through the Village of Colombier. Turn right and walk to Pigeonnaire to reclaim your car.
Entrance to "alley" that climbs the hill to Colombier. This is a one way road for downhill traffic, so keep an eye out -
9. Upper and Lower Colombier Beach Hike - Park your car near Le Pigeonnaire in the Village of Colombier. Walk out past Le P'tit Morne and follow directions for Upper Path down to Colombier Beach. Continue past the beach and walk back along the other coast on the lower path. Keep walking when you get to the pavement past Auberge de la Petite Anse. Continue walking on the road that parallels Flamands Beach until you get to the turnoff for La Langouste/Baie des Anges on your left and stop. This is crucial. Turn right on what appears to be an alley and walk up the steep road(20-25% grade) until you get to the main road through the Village of Colombier. Turn right and walk to Pigeonnaire to reclaim your car.
Entrance to "alley" that climbs the hill to Colombier. This is a one way road for downhill traffic, so keep an eye out -
Amery
SBH Insider
Yes. Be very careful, esp toward the end of the lower hike as you approach the cove (just before you arrive) as the path narrows quite a bit. There are also places you scale up and down steep rocks. We have hiked the lower path many times over many years and have only done the upper a handful of times. Most people I have seen with children go the upper—steep steps and path downhill and very steep uphill—many many stairs that seem endless. And not to alarm anyone—but as reminder to be careful— my husband had a very close call last year on the lower path approach, just before the cove at end. He was carrying a small cooler on his shoulder and moved to allow another couple to pass who were coming the opposite way from beach. He lost his footing bc the path was/is very dry and can be slippery, he slipped off the path and fell far enough down that we could not reach him. He is in decent shape and strong but couldn't grab onto anything bc it was so dry.
And the view all the way down below him was crashing waves/huge rocks so if he had fallen any further it could have been tragic. I will make an already too long story shorter: I tried to calmly call 18, the number for fire. Unfortunately the fireman who answered did not speak much English. I got our location and situation across and eventually after quite a while my husband managed to crab-walk a bit upward, enough that someone could reach him. The young couple he moved to let pass had kindly stayed to help. He was scraped and bleeding but ok. We went down to the beach, straight into the water. A few minutes later we saw the rescue truck coming from the far end down the access road. I ran up to wave them down and explained we had gotten him out. They said they had to check him medically. They were all extremely professional. Needless to say we were all shaken up. We still love Colombier but the question of which path to take is now more open for debate. The lower path is easier and not strenuous but can be tricky to maneuver in parts. The upper is overall much less difficult to maneuver but much more physically demanding. Personally I’m not sure I would bring a 4 yr old on either.
St.Bart stole my B’Heart
SBH Member
Hi,
I don’t post too much at all here but love this site. Have been to St. Barth’s 5 times and will return again this August. Wife and I are in good shape physically and are capable hikers. We have taken both paths to Colombier several times and I still think that the best way is by boat…especially with young ones in tow. Not worth a fall, which can go from minor to tragic in a heartbeat. Also can get very windy on the hike with some spots feeling like it will blow you right off the hill. Previous poster mentioned the dry footing which is slippery in spots. I know there is a huge expense for the boat, but let’s be honest, what isn’t expensive when you are in St.B!!!
I don’t post too much at all here but love this site. Have been to St. Barth’s 5 times and will return again this August. Wife and I are in good shape physically and are capable hikers. We have taken both paths to Colombier several times and I still think that the best way is by boat…especially with young ones in tow. Not worth a fall, which can go from minor to tragic in a heartbeat. Also can get very windy on the hike with some spots feeling like it will blow you right off the hill. Previous poster mentioned the dry footing which is slippery in spots. I know there is a huge expense for the boat, but let’s be honest, what isn’t expensive when you are in St.B!!!
Max1030
SBH Insider
We do both the upper and lower regularly. In agreement the lower is dangerous.
With children, I would only recommend the upper trail. Take your time, stop frequently and enjoy the views.
For boat options you can check with Bosco Water Taxi.
With children, I would only recommend the upper trail. Take your time, stop frequently and enjoy the views.
For boat options you can check with Bosco Water Taxi.
shihadehs
Senior Insider
We did the upper trail on our last visit after skipping several years of doing the hike.
We had always done the lower trail in our younger years.
Have to say it was quite the trek. Lots of steps and finally getting onto the beach was quite challenging.
After climbing back up the many steps our much needed reward was a chilled libation at Bannaniers while waiting on
a pizza.
Next time we go by boat
We had always done the lower trail in our younger years.
Have to say it was quite the trek. Lots of steps and finally getting onto the beach was quite challenging.
After climbing back up the many steps our much needed reward was a chilled libation at Bannaniers while waiting on
a pizza.
Next time we go by boat
Amery
SBH Insider
Totally agree. I only shared our cautionary tale as a reminder to be careful and weigh the pros and cons of each path, esp in relation to bringing young children. We have always enjoyed (and prefer) the lower path and will continue to do so despite our unexpected experience. It was a confluence of factors: his moving aside to allow others to pass at a particularly narrow part of the path while carrying a cooler, along with very dry conditions. We certainly needed the rosé afterward!
Our family has made somewhere around 45 plus trips to SBH since first visting in 1983. Most were land based in a villa while quite a few were water based by boat. We always made the trek to Columbier on the low route after first trying the high route that first year which I thought at the time was fairly difficult and thick with undergrowth?? Now reading some of the threads here maybe we should take the high road??
We all took a 12 year break from the island thinking we had over done it but revisted in April this year. We did several hikes to Columbier and were moved a bit by some of the changes along the way. The path itself is still about the same but the deforestation (??) by the native goats was stunning! Wow. It was in the past so green and pretty. Now very different given the surge in the goat population. Land turtles are thriving and that was a cool change. Many hang out around the start of the trail.
When I was 30 we would hike to the beach with our two older kids (then 4 and 6) and stay for most of the day. The snorkeling was tremendous. The steps down to the beach were not washed away by storms and the reefs were vibrant with lots of coral, sponges and fish. Not uncommon to find an octupus or to be followed around by a curious barracuda or two. I cannot recall exactly what named storm or storms impacted the reefs in the late 90's and early 2000's but they (reefs) were so suddenly different. The bay must have just been pummeled. Snorkeling this year was dissapointing to say the least. The difference was concerning. Marginal 12 years ago but now even worse. Here's hoping that they will continue to rebuild and prosper. Still a most magnificent beach and certainly worth the hike but storms, super yachts and a more frequent charter trade in the bay has taken a toll on the reefs and the sea bottom itself. Things change.
When I turned 40 we had our last baby. We would put her in a baby carrier strapped to my back and we would hike in hoping to find that large rock formation on the beach open and some shade for her. I do not recall having ever been challenged on the walk in, even with a 25 pounder on my back. This year at 70 I must admit (and I am in pretty good shape) that the walk was more testy. Perhaps not enough time spent on the treadmill? Maybe my balance is not what it was? For sure. But, if you take your time and watch your footing its quite easy to master. A mini cardio work out in fact. One small pointer is when you get in sight of the beach after exiting the path, is that the lovely stone steps in front of you have been broken apart by the hurricanes so getting from the last step onto the beach is a bit of a test. Easier to walk slightly to the left when you come off the trail and drop in through some brush onto the beach. The storms have left a series of large rocks around the bottom of the steps that you need to navigate around. Prior to the barrage of hurricanes you once simply walked down the steps and plunked yourself on that marvelous carpet of a beach. From the left to the right corner just pure unbroken sand. Now, the right hand corner has some rocks and small boulders strewn about and there are some coral shelfs present in the shallows down the beach iteself. Otherwise its about the same as I can remember.
Well that baby that I used to transport on my back came with us this year. She is now 27. Her boyfriend, who had never been to SBH much less the Caribbean made almost a daily go of taking a hike to Columbier. They loved the walk and even they remarked that in a few areas you do need to treat it with some repect. So, I guess the moral of the story is that despite ones age, within reason, its worth a little sweat and time to get to one of the most spectacular beaches in the Caribbean. Just respect the trail and others that you meet along the way. Next year we will give the high path a shot and appreciate everyones comments.
Take care all.
We all took a 12 year break from the island thinking we had over done it but revisted in April this year. We did several hikes to Columbier and were moved a bit by some of the changes along the way. The path itself is still about the same but the deforestation (??) by the native goats was stunning! Wow. It was in the past so green and pretty. Now very different given the surge in the goat population. Land turtles are thriving and that was a cool change. Many hang out around the start of the trail.
When I was 30 we would hike to the beach with our two older kids (then 4 and 6) and stay for most of the day. The snorkeling was tremendous. The steps down to the beach were not washed away by storms and the reefs were vibrant with lots of coral, sponges and fish. Not uncommon to find an octupus or to be followed around by a curious barracuda or two. I cannot recall exactly what named storm or storms impacted the reefs in the late 90's and early 2000's but they (reefs) were so suddenly different. The bay must have just been pummeled. Snorkeling this year was dissapointing to say the least. The difference was concerning. Marginal 12 years ago but now even worse. Here's hoping that they will continue to rebuild and prosper. Still a most magnificent beach and certainly worth the hike but storms, super yachts and a more frequent charter trade in the bay has taken a toll on the reefs and the sea bottom itself. Things change.
When I turned 40 we had our last baby. We would put her in a baby carrier strapped to my back and we would hike in hoping to find that large rock formation on the beach open and some shade for her. I do not recall having ever been challenged on the walk in, even with a 25 pounder on my back. This year at 70 I must admit (and I am in pretty good shape) that the walk was more testy. Perhaps not enough time spent on the treadmill? Maybe my balance is not what it was? For sure. But, if you take your time and watch your footing its quite easy to master. A mini cardio work out in fact. One small pointer is when you get in sight of the beach after exiting the path, is that the lovely stone steps in front of you have been broken apart by the hurricanes so getting from the last step onto the beach is a bit of a test. Easier to walk slightly to the left when you come off the trail and drop in through some brush onto the beach. The storms have left a series of large rocks around the bottom of the steps that you need to navigate around. Prior to the barrage of hurricanes you once simply walked down the steps and plunked yourself on that marvelous carpet of a beach. From the left to the right corner just pure unbroken sand. Now, the right hand corner has some rocks and small boulders strewn about and there are some coral shelfs present in the shallows down the beach iteself. Otherwise its about the same as I can remember.
Well that baby that I used to transport on my back came with us this year. She is now 27. Her boyfriend, who had never been to SBH much less the Caribbean made almost a daily go of taking a hike to Columbier. They loved the walk and even they remarked that in a few areas you do need to treat it with some repect. So, I guess the moral of the story is that despite ones age, within reason, its worth a little sweat and time to get to one of the most spectacular beaches in the Caribbean. Just respect the trail and others that you meet along the way. Next year we will give the high path a shot and appreciate everyones comments.
Take care all.
Thank you for this. Used Bosco today. Spent 4 glorious hours there today. A bit pricy but again, we are in SBH. 200E for departure at 9 a.m. and pickup in Colombier at 12:30. Takes about 20 minutes to get there from Gustavia. Indeed the coral is gone but still swam with a turtle and appreciated lots and lots of tiny colorful fish about the coral remnants.
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