Thais Hill
A short, sky-high trail in St. Johns with island-and-ocean panoramas over The Bottom and Fort Bay.
Why Go
Despite the 'restaurant' tag in some listings, Thais Hill is really one of Saba's newest and most rewarding short hikes—a ridge above St. Johns where in the 1940s Pan Am ran a radio beacon, and where today you can watch cargo boats slip into Fort Bay while the neighboring islands float on the horizon.
The Experience
Set between Saba's two main villages, Thais Hill delivers an outsized payoff for how little time it takes. The trail leaves St. Johns and climbs a modest ridge dotted with wind-shaped shrub and regenerating native trees (a stretch has been actively replanted by ReLeaf Saba), opening onto a bare crown with a near-360° sweep: The Bottom cradled in its volcanic bowl, Fort Bay's tiny harbor below, and on clear days St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, and St. Barth's stacked across the sea. It's the sort of view that regulars on the island save for sunset, when the trade winds cool and the light rakes across Mt. Scenery.
What to Try
Walk the full ridge out to the lookout for the Fort Bay panorama, then linger for the sunset angle back toward Mt. Scenery. If you're photographically inclined, aim for the golden hour after 5pm; if you're a birder, early morning brings tropicbirds riding the updrafts. History buffs can look for remnants of the WWII-era Pan Am beacon site.
Insider Tip
There's no shade and no water on the ridge—start from St. Johns with a full bottle, sun-cover, and shoes with grip (the volcanic scree gets slick after rain). Locals recommend hiking it late afternoon, then rolling into Windwardside for dinner; if you want to eat closer, Lollipops on Thais Hill Road in St. Johns is the neighborhood staple for Caribbean plates and daily specials.
The Practical Stuff
Location: St. Johns district, between The Bottom and Windwardside, Saba. Trailhead: signed path leaving St. Johns village—ask any local or the Saba Trail Shop for the current start point. Length/difficulty: short and moderate (well under an hour round-trip for most walkers). Cost: free; a Saba Conservation Foundation trail tag (sold at the Trail Shop in Windwardside) supports maintenance. Info: Saba Tourist Bureau, +599-416-2231, tourism@sabagov.nl.
Pair It With
- Easternmost point of Saba — Another under-the-radar viewpoint on the island—stack the two for a full day of quiet, wind-blown panoramas away from the main tourist trails.
- Big Rock — A nearby natural landmark that pairs well with Thais Hill if you're chasing distinctive geological features and photo spots in the St. Johns–Windwardside corridor.
- Barney's Ground — A local activity spot close by—handy for stretching a Thais Hill outing into a longer wander through the interior of Saba.
- Dimple's Bar & Lounge — Post-hike drink stop: cold beers and a local crowd, an easy way to decompress after coming off the ridge.