Troy Hill Trail: Saba's Rainforest-to-Dry-Forest Traverse
A quiet, ecosystem-hopping hike that shows off Saba at its most unspoiled.
Why Go
Everyone climbs Mount Scenery ΓÇö but the locals' favorite payoff hike is the Sandy Cruz traverse that spits you out at Troy Hill, where primary rainforest opens into dry forest and the whole island seems to fall away beneath your boots.
The Experience
The Troy Hill route (usually walked as part of the Sandy Cruz Trail from Upper Hell's Gate) is Saba's most varied trek ΓÇö a 2ΓÇô3 hour, mostly-downhill-ish traverse that threads through cloud-brushed rainforest, past steep ravines and tucked-away farm plots, then transitions into the sun-warmed dry forest that clings to Troy Hill's western flank. Because it's a point-to-point rather than a stair-climb, it feels more like a rambling nature walk than a workout: you'll pop out of the canopy at unmarked lookouts, cross old stone terraces from Saba's subsistence-farming past, and share the trail with tremblers, bananaquits, and the occasional red-bellied racer. It's one of the few Saba hikes where you can genuinely go an hour without seeing another soul, even in high season.
What to Try
Do the traverse east-to-west ΓÇö start at the Upper Hell's Gate trailhead and finish at Troy Hill so you're descending through the changing ecosystems rather than grinding up into the clouds. Budget time to detour onto the Crispeen Track connector if you want to bag a Mount Scenery viewpoint without doing the full 1,064-step climb. Bring binoculars for the mid-trail clearings ΓÇö the birding here beats anything closer to Windwardside.
Insider Tip
Arrange a one-way taxi pickup at the Troy Hill end *before* you start walking ΓÇö cell service is patchy in the rainforest section, and there's no shop or bench at the finish, just a stone-wall sign and a quiet residential road. Any Saba taxi driver knows exactly where to meet you; ask your guesthouse to book it the night before and give the driver a 3-hour window from your start time.
The Practical Stuff
Length: roughly 2.5ΓÇô3 hours one-way, moderate difficulty with some steep inclines. Trailheads: Upper Hell's Gate (east) and Troy Hill (west, near the airport road). No entry fee, but the Saba Conservation Foundation asks hikers to buy a nature tag (~USD $3) ΓÇö sold at the Trail Shop in Windwardside. Wear real hiking shoes with grip (the rainforest section stays slick even on dry days), pack 1.5L of water minimum, and start by 8ΓÇô9 AM to beat afternoon cloud cover. No shade shelters, no water sources en route.
Pair It With
- Brigadoon — The Windwardside institution is the natural post-hike lunch spot ΓÇö hearty, eclectic menu and cold drinks a short taxi ride from the Troy Hill end.
- Amonhana — If you finish late, this local favorite is an easy dinner reset with Saban comfort food and a low-key vibe that matches a tired-legs evening.
- Angelina's Saba By OwAiChie — Casual food-and-drinks stop for a rum punch and small bites once you're back in the village ΓÇö the perfect decompression after three hours in the forest.