There are multiple approaches to reach this beach and the one from Flamands Beach offers a lot of drama, some you may enjoy, some you may not. I can’t speak to the other approaches. There is cliff exposure at points from the Flamands Beach approach and if you are wearing wobbly sandals or you are acrophobic, the walk can be a treacherous/intimidating (parking is limited as well). That said, there is great scenery and once you reach Colombier, you realize the walk was totally worth it. This is one of those ultra-special beaches in the Caribbean! It is very secluded, the water could not be more deeply azure and clear, and there is an amazing abundance of sea life. BY all means, take snorkel gear, even if it means lugging it through the hot, dry scrubland to reach this amazing place. It IS the nicest beach on St. Barth, and you will regret leaving when the time comes.

We ended up taking the more difficult hike not knowing there was another less strenuous option. The way down was fine and we enjoyed the beautiful beach. We did not have equipment but many were snorkeling. The hike back up was no joke so I’d recommend you find the easier trail if your endurance is lower. Wear good shoes, I slipped several times going down and my shoes were pretty good. The trail is rough.

First visit back to Colombier since the hurricane. We hiked from the Flamand beach access. Good trail and a mix of reasonable elevation. Recommend this over the strait down and straight up trail from the Colombier overlook. Wear what you like, but there's not a lot of margin for wearing flip flops. The rocky trail offers good views and a few goats and turtles along the way. We loved this beach during our previous visits, but 36 mourning balls have changed the remote feel of the area. The hurricane also broke up much of the Rockefeller stone dock. We were looking forward to revisiting the paradise when the "landing crafts" began their shuttle service to shore. Imagine 30 high schoolers on an adventure...with their boombox. Then there is the lunch on the beach service including tents, tables and chairs. I'm sure there are still some quiet days but this trip it was too crowded for our taste. Worth visiting for the view and imaging the area before "paradise lost", but we didn't stay very long.

We ended up doing the longer hike from the view point above as we were not aware of the other access road. It is quite steep and slippery while going down and you have to basically slide down the last few steps(at least I did). The beach was worth the effort. It was pristine. There were a few boats that were around and very few people on the beach. There are no facilities. The climb up was strenuous and we had to take a few breaks. I would not recommend this if you are not a fit person.

We took the trail from Flamands and loved it. The trailhead is pretty easy to find…just stay on the road head west through Flamands until it ends with a barricade in the road. From there, it is a one mile single trail (no forks in the road or anything like that) to the beach. You’ll have views of the ocean for just about the entire hike, which I would rate as moderate. There are a few inclines but nothing strenuous. Some amazing rock formations. Oh, and lots of goats. Plenty has been written about the beach itself. It’s stunning and secluded and worth the visit. Be sure to pack water, snack, and lot of sunscreen.