R
red stripe
Guest
Honeymoon and Salomon Beaches exist within the same bay and are separated only by a small rocky point of land. They both contain the magnificent qualities common to all the beaches of St. John's north shore, but they differ from the other beaches primarily in how you get there. You can go by boat, but almost everyone arrives by trail.
The beach at Salomon Bay.
Is hard to get to, but very beautiful.
That also makes it a little more secluded. You can hike to it from town.
Take the Lind Point Trail, which begins at the National Park Visitors Center in Cruz Bay. From there, it is less than one mile to the beach at Salomon Bay. When you get to the fork in the trail, you can go either way.
The lower trail is slightly shorter and less hilly.But the upper trail is often better maintained and more scenic, passing by the beautiful Lind Point Overlook.
From either the upper or lower trails, take the spur trail to Salomon Bay, which will be on your left and leads downhill.
From Salomon Bay you can see most of the islands of Pillsbury Sound. you will see St. Thomas, Thatch, Grass, Mingo, Lovango, Ramgoat and Henley Cays and Jost Van Dyke, one of the British Virgin Islands. (The word “cay is pronounced “key†in the Virgin Islands.)
Lovango Cay
There is a popular but untrue rumor concerning how Lovango Cay got its name. According to the story, there was once a brothel on the island and sailors would “love and goâ€Â. Actually the names Mingo and Lovango (and Congo which is behind Lovango and cannot be seen from Salomon Bay) were named after sections of Africa from which slaves were brought to the islands. The three small cays in the middle of the channel between St. John and Lovango, Henley Ram Goat and Rata Cays collectively are called the Durloe Cays after Pieter Durloe the founder of the Klein Caneel Bay Plantation (today called Caneel Bay).
Snorkeling is very good in the reef around Salomon and Honeymoon Bays on the northeast corner of Salomon beach.
Most of the reef lies in calm, shallow water, but some sections rise above the surface at low tides. So make sure you avoid the too shallow water.
The reef is in good condition, with a colourful reef filled with fish.
It is perhaps the best protected and easiest accessible shallow- water snorkel in St. John, and is good for snorkelers of all experience levels.
Honeymoon Bay.
It lies to the east of Salomon and has the same beautiful views. The reef fringes the point between the two bays and is just as easily accessible from either beach.
Like Salomon there is no road to Honeymoon. You need to walk the trail or go by boat.
The short walk is steep, so be warned.
it is less than a half mile, with a descent of 250 feet.
Take Route 20 past Mongoose Junction and up the hill. Turn left at the top of the hill by the blue Virgin Islands National Park sign.
Immediately on the right hand side, is a parking area for approximately four vehicles. Park here if you drove. The Caneel Hill Spur Trail intersects Route 20 and is marked with a sign that reads: "To Lind Point Trail." Take this trail north and downhill bearing to the right at the Lind Point Trail junction.
The Easiest Walk.
Is by using the The Caneel Bay Resort public land access to Caneel and Honeymoon Beaches.
Unlike the narrow forest trail that winds down a rocky hillside, the dirt road from the Caneel Bay parking lot is well-maintained and there are no hills to climb. On your way to the beach, you can enjoy the magnificent landscaping that borders the road.
If you would rather walk from town, Honeymoon can also be reached by taking the Lind Point Trail. It will be a little over a mile from Cruz Bay to Honeymoon. Follow the directions to Solomon Bay, but when you get to the Solomon Bay spur, continue on the Lind Point Trail instead of turning left.
There are some portable toilets at Honeymoon bay. Plus shade trees.
Caneel Bay Beach resort.
You can relax and swim and snorkel, and when you are hungry you can eat in the resort, or in the informal Beach Terrace Bar. There are gift shops and rest rooms. Good for snorkeling.
To get there.
From Mongoose Junction, go east 1.2 miles on Route 20. Turn left on the road leading into the Caneel Bay Resort. Park in the parking lot and walk down the beach.
There is a ruin of an old sugar works, which have been restored.
NOTE: The Caneel Bay resort provides public access to Caneel and Honeymoon Beaches only. Use of the beach chairs, kayaks, sunfish and paddle boats are reserved for registered guests of the hotel.
Scott Beach
Scott Beach is part of the Caneel Bay Resort property So you can only get to it by boat, and can not use the resorts facilities.
Good snorkeling, but watch out for the strong current and boat traffic.
Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay, like Scott Beach, is the property of the Caneel Bay Resort and land access is restricted to guests. All others must arrive by sea.
The Beaches of Hawksnest Bay
There are four beaches on Hawksnest Bay. Caneel Hawksnest formerly known as Sheep Dock, which is part of the Caneel Bay Resort, Hawksnest, the National Park beach, replete with parking facilities, picnic tables, barbecues, covered pavilions, changing areas, and bathrooms, Little Hawksnest, which lies just west of Hawksnest and Gibney Beach at the eastern end of the bay.
Hawksnest beach.
Hawksnest Beach is a St. John locals' favorite and the preferred beach for families with children. The reason for this is that Hawksnest is not only one of the most beautiful beaches on St. John, it is also the most convenient. It's the closest north shore beach that you can drive to from Cruz Bay and the parking lot is close to the beach, so there's no need for a long walk carrying your beach accoutrements. Snorkel only when the bay is calm.
“To the right facing the water, there is a formation of black rocks that separates Hawksnest Beach from Gibney Beach. Snorkeling around these rocks is an excellent way for beginning snorkelers to practice and gain confidence in a safe, shallow and non-threatening environment while still being able to observe colorful fish, corals and sea creatures. Look for schools of small fish such as grunt, fry and goatfish. Watch the parrotfish grazing the algae and the spunky damselfish defend its territory against all intruders regardless of size.â€Â
from Mongoose Junction, go 1.8 miles east on route 20. Park in the Hawksnest parking lot.
There is lots of parking spaces. There are pit toilets, but no running water, no showers, sinks or flush toilets.
tables and barbecue grills are also available.
Little Hawksnest
Little Hawksnest is a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach to the west of Hawksnest Beach. This is the place to go to get away from everyone. Just go over the rocks to the left when you are facing the sea.
Gibney Beach
With excerpts from St. John Beach Guide and St. John Off The Beaten Track
Gibney Beach
Gibney Beach is 0.3 mile east of Hawksnest Bay or 2.1 miles east of Mongoose junction on Route 20. You will enter via the second driveway on your left after passing Hawksnest Beach. Limited parking is available in places where you can pull your vehicle completely off the road. Enter the driveway through the door in the iron gate and walk down the driveway to the shore.
Gibney Beach is a magnificent stretch of white sandy shoreline. The beach has a fascinating history that is largely responsible for the unique characteristics of, and the unique characters found on, the beach today.
Snorkeling .
Snorkeling is best from the Oppenheimer section of the beach. The entry into the water is on soft sand and the snorkel is suitable for beginners.
Right off the Community Center (the old Oppenheimer house) is a shallow reef, which occasionally breaks through the surface of the water Close to the beach is a section of beautiful brain coral. The reef here is colorful and there is an abundance of small and medium size fish. Look for parrotfish, angelfish, squirrelfish, trunkfish and trumpetfish. Also, observe the predators such as yellowtail snapper and blue runners prowling the reef edges on the lookout for fry and other small prey.
More experienced snorkelers can continue along this eastern coast to the point and around to Perkins Cay and Denis Bay. Along the way is a small beach where you can stop and rest. Just before you come to this pocket beach you may see the remains of a sunken sailboat. As you progress northward along the coast you will encounter scattered areas of colorful coral, sponges, fish and other marine life in depths of about six to ten feet. Snorkeling here is best in the summer when there are no ground seas to churn up the water.
Denis Bay is now part of the Virgin Islands National Park, but the structures and some of the land behind the beach have been leased to private interests. Please confine your visit to the area between the sea and the line of first vegetation.
Denis Bay existed as a prosperous plantation and a good portion of the lower valley was either planted in sugarcane or devoted to pasture. A horse mill, and later a windmill, was constructed on top of Peace Hill. A long conduit brought the cane juice down to a boiling room near the beach where there was also an estate house, a warehouse, a rum distillery, and a slave village. These buildings have been partially restored and lie just behind the beach.
Jumbie Bay
Excerpted from St. John Beach Guide
If you're looking for a small, private, intimate beach without having to walk a long trail to get there, then Jumbie is an excellent choice.
Heading east on the North Shore Road 2.5 miles from Mongoose Junction or 0.2 miles from Peace Hill, is the small parking area on the right side of the road for Jumbie Bay. Cross the road and walk east about twenty yards to the rustic wooden stairs on your left. At the bottom of the stairs is a short trail leading to the beach.
Jumbie Bay is situated in such a way that it cannot readily be seen from passing vehicles on Route 20 or from boats sailing to and from Cruz BayWant More Jumbie Bay is more exposed to the trade winds than most of the neighboring north shore beaches and the water can get choppy on windy days. On the positive side, the breeze can be refreshing and the rough water can lend a certain drama and intensity to the beach.
From the beach at Jumbie Bay you can see Trunk Bay and the islands of Jost Van Dyke, Green Cay, Whistling Cay, Trunk Cay and Great Thatch.
There are no facilities at this beach other than garbage cans made available and emptied by the National Park Service.
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Trunk Bay :
has the most modern and convenient facilities and receives the most visitors of any beach on St. John. It is a breathtakingly beautiful beach, with perfect soft white powdery sand extending into the sea. The beach is bordered coconut palms, seagrapes and beach mahos and the lush tropical vegetation extends into the flat valley floor where the Trunk Bay facilities are located. The turquoise and blue water is crystal-clear and the panoramic view from the beach picture-perfect.
The beach is over a quarter-mile long with a spit of sand that juts out in the direction of Trunk Cay giving the bay a heart-shaped appearance.
The St. John Virgin Islands National Park maintains an underwater snorkeling trail at Trunk Bay with under water signs providing a wealth of interesting information. The water is calm and clear, warm and inviting, enjoy!
Cinnamon Bay.
Cinnamon is a great place for beach activities and water sports. There is snorkeling. windsurfing, kayaking, volleyball, and camping.
It is 3.9 miles east of Mongoose Junction on Route 20. Park in the parking lot and walk to the beach, which is about a quarter mile away over a flat and shady paved track.
There is a regular taxi bus service to Cruz Bay for those without vehicles. (Call Neal or Ponche at Sprauve Taxi Service for schedules at 776-6140.)
Facilities
Cinnamon Bay is operated as a campground and offers facilities designed to support the campers staying there. These facilities are also available to the public. They include a small general store carrying basic provisions, the T'ree Lizards restaurant, a snack bar, lockers, restrooms, changing rooms, showers, telephones, picnic tables and barbeque grills.
An activities desk offers snorkel trips, SCUBA, snorkel and windsurfing lessons, day sails, cocktail cruises and National Park activities such as the Reef Bay Hike and the Water's Edge Walk.
Entrances to the Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail and the Cinnamon Bay Trail are located across the road from the main parking lot.
At the end of the road to the beach on your left (west), you will find Cinnamon Bay Watersports where you can rent sea and surfing kayaks, beach floats, windsurfers and sailboats. Cinnamon Bay Watersports also offers windsurfing and sailing lessons.
On the east side of the track is an old historic Danish building, which houses the temporary archeological museum in the western part of the building and the Beach Shop on the eastern side, which offers swimsuits, toys, souvenirs, snacks and drinks as well as snorkeling equipment and beach chair rentals.
The temporary museum features Taino and plantation day artifacts found at the Cinnamon Bay Archeological Dig. The excavation site is just east of the museum on the inland side of the dirt track.
Beginning snorkelers can explore the area around the rocks at the eastern end of the beach or between Cinnamon and Little Cinnamon Bay. The entrance into the water is easy and there are a fair amount of fish and sea creatures to be observed.
Going a little further out, there is very good snorkeling around Cinnamon Cay, the little island just offshore from the beach.
Windsurfing
Cinnamon Bay offers the best windsurfing on St. John. The winds are relatively calm near shore, which is good for beginners. As you go offshore, however, more advanced windsurfers will find strong, steady winds, but without the waves that are usually associated with forceful wind conditions.
Surfing
Cinnamon is the only beach on St. John where surfers and experienced boogie boarders can take advantage of the north swell that comes in the winter.
Volleyball
On Sundays, locals organize pick-up volleyball games beginning at about 11:00 A.M.
Little Cinnamon
Want some seclusion? Try Little Cinnamon Bay.
Getting There
When you get to the beach at Cinnamon Bay go left (west) and walk to the end of the sand where you will pick up a narrow trail that leads through the bush along the shoreline and over a section of rocks, before emerging at the beach at Little Cinnamon.
The trail at the center of the beach leads to a National Park Service controlled house and is off limits to the public.
Snorkeling Little Cinnamon
At Little Cinnamon, snorkelers may find the remains of an old Cessna aircraft that crashed and sank years ago. The propeller, the engine and one of the wings are visible most of the year. The wreck is in shallow water and can be found by snorkeling out from the eastern portion of the beach between the old stone wall and the first set of coconut palms.
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Maho
Maho is the only north shore beach that you can drive right up to. It's the very informality of this beautiful and often-photographed beach that makes it so special. It's right there by the side of the road, no parking lots or signs, just the beach. Stately groves of coconut palms line both sides of the road. Just pull over under a maho tree and there you are!
In addition to its convenience, Maho Bay is calm and shallow, making it a great place to bring the kids, get them used to the water or teach them how to swim.
Getting There
Maho Bay is located about 1.25 miles past Cinnamon Bay or 5.2 miles past Mongoose Junction going east on Route 20. Park off the side of the road.
Facilities
There is a National Park pavilion on the extreme western portion of the beach. A permit must be obtained from the park in order to use this facility. This permit will also entitle you to use the bathrooms to the west of the pavilion, which are otherwise locked and not available to the general public. The park will explain the rules and conditions pertaining to the use of the pavilion. (Call the National Park at 776-6201.)
At the eastern part of the beach there is a trail, called the Goat Trail, which leads to the Maho Bay Campground at Little Maho Bay.
Snorkeling Maho Bay
The waters off Maho Bay are calm and shallow. The bay is well sheltered and is a popular anchorage for yachts from the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, especially on long weekends. The sea bottom is a mixture of soft sand and seagrass, although there has been a proliferation of algae lately. In the past, Maho Bay was a great source of conch and sea turtles. The stresses of sand removal, anchor damage and over-fishing have all but eliminated the conch population, but sea turtles, now protected by law, can still often be found here.
The shoreline on the southern coast of the bay provides an interesting area to explore, as is the rocky shoreline and fringing reef on the north going out towards the Campground at Little Maho Bay, especially around the point that separates the two bays.
Little Maho Bay (Maho Bay Camps)
Excepted from St. John Beach Guide
"…a half-crescent of beach, small but perfect with lush green hills rising beyond it,"-Ethel McCully.
Little Maho is a miniature version of Cinnamon Bay, having most of the same facilities and things to do. It is smaller, more intimate and calmer than Cinnanmon, which may make it easier for beginning windsurfers and water sports enthusiasts
Getting There:
Continuing on from (Big) Maho Bay about 1.5 miles from where the road leaves the beach and curves to the right, you will come to an intersection; turn left along the water's edge. Proceed to the stone building on the right at the intersection of the Francis Bay and Little Maho Bay Campground roads. Turn left and go up the hill to the parking area. Park and make your way down the 224 wooden stairs to the beach.
Little Maho can also be approached via the Maho Bay Goat Trail, which connects Big and Little Maho Bays. It begins near the northern portion of the beach at (Big) Maho Bay where the road turns sharply to the right and inland. It is about a 15-minute uphill walk from Maho Bay to the campground. On the upper portions of the trail, you will be treated to excellent views of Maho Bay Beach and the north shore of St. John. Two tamarind trees at the summit provide a shady place to sit and rest on the exposed roots between the two trees.
The trail ends below the general store at Maho Bay Camps. From here the beach at Little Maho can be reached by descending the wooden stairs. (The general store being at a lower elevation than the parking lot only requires a descent of 182 steps to reach the bay.)
Facilities:
Day visitors may use most of the facilities at the campground including the activities desk, restaurant, general store, telephones and rest rooms.
Windsurfers, kayaks, sunfish and snorkeling equipment can be rented at Maho Bay Watersports located near the beach. Also available at the water sports shop are SCUBA dive packages, lessons and certification and night snorkeling expeditions.
On Sunday afternoons pick up volleyball is played from about 3:00 to 5:00.
For a bit more seclusion, check out the quiet little pocket beach between the Campground and Francis Bay, which is just a short swim or rock scramble to the north.
Snorkeling
From the beach the best snorkeling is along the rocks on either side of the bay.
Ethel McCully
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Francis Bay.
Francis Bay is a beach that really invites you to settle down and stay a while. It's an ideal beach for a picnic. The bay faces west, leeward of the trade winds and tends to be calmer than other north shore beaches.
During the week, there are not many visitors here, and because the beach is so big, it is almost always possible to find a nice private spot.
Getting There
If you are coming from Cruz Bay via Route 20, proceed to Maho Bay where the road leaves the shoreline and turns inland towards the right. From here, continue about 1.5 miles where you will come to an intersection with the road that runs along the Leinster Bay shoreline. Turn left and go to the stone building, which will be on your right. You can park here and take the walking trail or continue straight to the end of the road where you can park near the beach.
If you are arriving from Cruz Bay via Centerline Road, turn left at the Colombo Yogurt stand. Go down the hill and turn right at the first intersection. This will take you to the Leinster Bay shoreline where you will turn left and proceed to either the parking area by the stone building and take the walking trail or directly to the parking area by the beach.
Facilities
Portable toilets are located at the main parking area where there is also a dumpster for trash. Picnic tables and barbecues can be found nestled between the trees at the edge of the beach.
The Francis Bay Trail runs along the salt pond behind the beach and is an excellent place for bird watching, especially early in the morning.
Francis Bay Pond Overlook
Snorkeling Francis Bay
Snorkelers take note, Francis Bay can be crowded - not with people, but with fish and sea birds.
Millions of fry frequent the shallow fringing reef along Francis Bay's rocky north shore. These small silvery fish travel in close proximity to one another in large schools that look like underwater clouds.
On the outskirts of these living clouds, in slightly deeper water, lurk predators, such as jacks, yellowtail snapper, Spanish mackerel, barracuda as well as some respectfully-sized tarpon and pompano. Every now and then, one of these larger fish will attack, moving quickly into the glittery mass. The fry are extremely sensitive to minute changes in water currents and can sense the approach of the hunters. In a burst of speed they move away from the oncoming predators. Some are successful and some are eaten. Some breach the surface of the water, fly through the air and splash back into the sea. This splash, however, puts them into yet more danger. Waiting pelicans, gulls and brown boobies swoop down in the vicinity of the splash scooping up their unsuspecting prey.
In the midst of all this activity, large schools of French grunts, oblivious to the drama around them, hover, almost motionless, over and around colorful live coral. Parrotfish and blue tang swim about, grazing on algae. Little damselfish defend their self-proclaimed territories by darting menacingly at intruders that are often much larger than them.
A closer look will reveal all sorts of beautiful and mysterious sea creatures like small eels, feather duster and Christmas tree worms, brightly colored sponges and gracefully swaying gorgonians like the colorful sea fan.
In the underwater grasslands just seaward of the reef, snorkelers may be fortunate enough to see large green sea turtles often accompanied by bar jacks that follow along just inches above the turtle's back. In this area, one may also see southern stingrays, conch and trunkfish.
Novices who feel more comfortable close to shore can have a rewarding snorkel around the rocks on the south side of the bay between Francis and Little Maho or over the seagrass that lies in shallow water on the other end of the beach.
Bring your snorkel gear and join the crowd!
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Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay
Excerpted from St. John Beach Guide
Leinster bay.
From the small and tranquil sand beach at the east end of Leinster Bay, you can access Waterlemon Cay (not Watermelon) for what most visitors describe as the "best snorkeling on St. John." This beach also makes an excellent cooling-off stop after a hike on the Leinster Bay, Johnny Horn or Brown Bay Trails.
Directions
Facilities
There are pit toilets and a trash bin near the parking lot.
Historical Note
Because dueling was illegal in the Danish West Indies, those convinced of the necessity of settling disputes or defending their honor in this manner would travel to Tortola where the practice was legal. In 1800, however, the British Virgin Islands also prohibited dueling. Consequently, the remote and uninhabited island of Waterlemon Cay, far from the eyes of Danish or British authorities, became the new "field of honor."
Snorkeling Waterlemon Cay
From the beach, you can access the fine snorkeling around Waterlemon Cay, the small island just offshore. (Many visitors name this as their favorite snorkel.)
Enter the water from the beach and snorkel to the island. The shoreline water is shallow, and the bottom is a mixture of sand and coral rubble. It is about a 0.2-mile snorkel to the fringing reef off Waterlemon Cay. Between the beach and the island you will snorkel over an environment of seagrass in about twenty feet of water where you can often see starfish, sea cucumbers, green turtles and stingrays.
To decrease the snorkeling distance to the island, follow the trail at the far end of the beach. Bear left at the first fork in the trail, which runs along the coastline. At the end of this trail, walk along the shore and choose a convenient place close to Waterlemon Cay to enter the water. The distance across the channel to the island is only about 0.1 mile. This entry is from the rocky shoreline to a rocky bottom. Be careful not to step on live coral or sea urchins.
From this entry point to the eastern part of Waterlemon Cay, you will snorkel over an area of seagrass and scattered reef. Closer to the island, the water becomes quite shallow. Here you will see schools of blue tang and some very large parrotfish. You can sometimes hear the parrotfish crunching their beak-like teeth along the surface of the rocks and dead coral. They do this to scrape off algae. Chunks of coral and algae pass through the parrotfish's unique digestive system and are excreted as fine coral sand. Much of the sand on our beautiful beaches is produced in this manner.
The south and east sides of Waterlemon Cay are bordered by a shallow-water fringing reef. The reef on the west and north sides of the cay is deeper, descending to a depth of about twenty feet. The reef is teeming with fish and other sea creatures. There are several varieties of coral to be found here, all healthy and colorful and the sea fans and sea plumes found in the deeper parts of the reef will give you the impression of swimming about in an underwater forest.
Look for eels in holes in the reef and for octopus where you find opened seashells piled together.
Caution
There is often an offshore current around Waterlemon Cay, especially on the western side of the island, which will be stronger during new and full moons. If you are not a strong swimmer, keep this in mind. If you get into trouble, follow the current; go around the island and return on the other side.
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Blue Cobblestone Beach
Excerpted from St. John Off The Beaten Track
The Blue Cobblestone Beach snorkel offers the opportunity to explore an underwater environment that usually occurs further offshore and in deeper waters. Here, protected by the hilly Ram Head Point, the seas are generally clear, calm and tranquil and the reef is colorful and diverse.
Getting There
From the Salt Pond Bay Parking lot, take the short trail down to the bay. Walk to the other end of beach and start out on the Ram Head Trail, which begins as a shoreline walk along the west side of the Ram Head Peninsula and take the trail as far as the Blue Cobblestone Beach. See Map
Snorkeling Blue Cobblestone Beach
Enter the water at the north end of the beach near the large black rocks. The bottom is cobblestone and getting into the water is almost easy as from a sandy beach.
Begin by snorkeling around the large rocks at the corner of the beach. These rocks are encrusted with the mustard yellow fire coral, which can give snorkelers a mild sting if touched. There are also many colorful sponges and various types of hard coral in this area.
As you continue north around the point you will start to see underwater channels, known as spur and groove systems and the reef fringing the rocky coast gets larger, deeper and more colorful. At the seaward edge of this reef is a channel of sand about ten yards wide that separates the fringing reef from a neighboring patch reef farther offshore. The patch reef is surrounded by sand and lies in about twenty-five feet of water forming a pinnacle, which rises to a depth of about six feet.
This area is full of life, diverse and colorful. To fully appreciate it, the snorkeler should have the ability to pressurize and dive down in order to explore the lower areas of the reef.
There is a good deal of fire coral encrustation, but true hard coral varieties are also extremely plentiful. Look for pillar, star, staghorn, elkhorn and lettuce corals. Try to identify all the different colors of sponges found here. Gorgonians, such as sea fans, sea whips, sea rods and sea plumes grow on many sections of the reef and sway gracefully with the currents.
This healthy reef community is the habitat of many species of fish, including reef fish, grazing fish and fast swimming predators such as mackerel, yellowtail, blue runners and tarpon.
On the fringing reef across the sand channel from the patch reef is an area of coral outcropping called a ledge. Dive down and explore under the ledge to see different species of coral and interesting marine life.
The good snorkeling continues as you progress southward along the coast and towards the beach at Salt Pond Bay.
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Frank Bay
Getting There:
Starting from the one way street that goes past Wharfside Village in Cruz Bay, turn right at the end of the road by the Catholic Church. Go about one quarter mile, bearing right until you get to the beach.
Frank Bay is the closest swimming beach to Cruz Bay and is within easy walking distance. You will rarely find more than one or two people here.
Enjoy the spectacular view from the beach while sitting in the shade of a palm tree.
From the beach you can see the islands of Little St. James, Great St. James, St. Thomas, Stevens Cay, Thatch Cay, Hans Lolick, Grass Cay and Mingo Cay.
Be careful of sea urchins when entering the water and be aware of surf and waves caused by times of ground sea or when the wake of a ferry or other large vessel comes ashore.
This beach was the favorite of the late Ivan Jadan who frequented it almost daily playing with an octopus that lives in a hole in the reef.
Frank Bay is the home of Coconut Coast Studios, which is well worth a visit.
On the other side of the road is there is a bench where you can sit to observe the tranquil Frank Bay salt pond.
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Brown Bay
Brown Bay.
Brown Bay's white sand beach is almost certain to be deserted as there is no vehicle access and the trail entrance is far from the more populated areas of the island. Also, Brown Bay is a poor anchorage for vessels coming by sea, so it is uncommon to see yachts at anchor here.
When you are out hiking the trails, Brown Bay Beach is a perfect place to cool off,
relax, take a swim and explore the ruins. There are shady places to sit, and usually a cooling ocean breeze. This is a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch in a natural and private setting where you can often enjoy having such an idyllic spot all to yourself.
Getting There: (see map)
Starting from the Coral Bay Moravian Church, go east about a mile on the East End Road (Route 10.) After you pass Estate Zootenvaal, you will cross a small concrete bridge. Turn left just after the bridge and park on the dirt road. Twenty yards up the road you will come to a fork. As Yogi Berra, the famous baseball player, once said, "When you get to the fork in the road, take it!" The right fork is the beginning of the Brown Bay Trail. It is a three-quarter mile hike to the beach.
Brown Bay can also be reached by taking the Brown Bay spur trail off the Johnny Horn Trail. The Johnny Horn Trail connects Waterlemon Cay and the Moravian Church in Coral Bay. The Brown Bay spur trail is not maintained and can be very unfriendly because of the abundance of thorny "catch and keep" bushes.
Brown Bay Ruins
Brown Bay has some of the most extensive ruins on the island of St. John. To explore them proceed to the western end of the beach and then make your way further along the shoreline until you see the beginning of the ruins.
Here you will find the remains of an estate house bearing an old concrete plaque inscribed with the date1872 and bearing the initials "G-N". Notice the exceptionally well-crafted stone and brickwork that went into the construction of the old walls. You will also find ruins from an even earlier time including a sugar factory with its boiling room, cisterns once used for rum distillation, an old copper boiling pot, two horsemills from different periods, a storage building, an old well, an ox pound and two graves, one being that of a child.
Beachcombing
Also, an abundance of flotsam washing up along the beach makes for excellent beachcombing.
Snorkeling Brown Bay:
The bottom of the bay is sand and grass, offering an easy entry. It is quite shallow at first, but deepens gradually providing access to excellent snorkeling further out from the beach. The snorkeling here is best on calm days when the water is not churned up and murky.
The most colorful and interesting area to snorkel in Brown Bay is around the point on the eastern side of the bay where there is a relatively shallow fringing reef, which slopes down to a depth of about twenty feet. There are several beautiful specimens of hard corals near the top of the reef, and on the sloping hillside is a garden of gorgonians, such as sea fans, sea whips and sea plumes. You will often see larger fish here due to the proximity of the deep Sir Francis Drake Channel.
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Kiddel Bay
Looking for a real “Off the Beaten Track Beach?â€Â
Frustrated when trying to find parking at a North Shore National Park beach?
Are the waves breaking on the north making for difficult swimming or snorkeling?
If you don’t mind sacrificing a sand beach for a cobblestone and coral rubble beach, an ideal alternative might be Kiddel Bay on the South Shore located just west of salt Pond Bay.
Park under the two huge Tamarind Trees and its just steps to the beach.
There are no facilities, but you can string up a hammock, bring a picnic and enjoy the fine snorkeling in the bay.
Snorkeling:
If you snorkel out to on the western shore of Kiddel Bay, you will come to a reef which extends out off the point. A series of rocks rises above the surface.
This area is extremely interesting. There are deep depressions, grooves and arches and tunnels full of colorful corals, and sponges where you will invariably see a vast array of tropical reef fishes. The arches and tunnels are about 15 – 20 feet deep and are usually full of small fish. It’s a great challenge for free divers who can swim through one or a series of tunnels depending on their skill.
For less skilled snorkelers the rock lined coasts on both sides of the bay still offer plenty to see and to enjoy.
Rock Scrambling:
Rock scramblers can walk out to the point on the west coast from where there are spectacular views of the bay, the reef and the rocky cliffs of the southern coast.
The Salt Pond:
There’s a beautiful salt pond just behind the beach that’s easy to explore. Great for birdwatchers; especially in the early morning. Look for Pintail ducks in the winter.
SOMETHING TO READ
http://www.usvi.net/usvi/stj.html
http://www.usvi.net/usvi/ferry.htm
The beach at Salomon Bay.
Is hard to get to, but very beautiful.
That also makes it a little more secluded. You can hike to it from town.
Take the Lind Point Trail, which begins at the National Park Visitors Center in Cruz Bay. From there, it is less than one mile to the beach at Salomon Bay. When you get to the fork in the trail, you can go either way.
The lower trail is slightly shorter and less hilly.But the upper trail is often better maintained and more scenic, passing by the beautiful Lind Point Overlook.
From either the upper or lower trails, take the spur trail to Salomon Bay, which will be on your left and leads downhill.
From Salomon Bay you can see most of the islands of Pillsbury Sound. you will see St. Thomas, Thatch, Grass, Mingo, Lovango, Ramgoat and Henley Cays and Jost Van Dyke, one of the British Virgin Islands. (The word “cay is pronounced “key†in the Virgin Islands.)
Lovango Cay
There is a popular but untrue rumor concerning how Lovango Cay got its name. According to the story, there was once a brothel on the island and sailors would “love and goâ€Â. Actually the names Mingo and Lovango (and Congo which is behind Lovango and cannot be seen from Salomon Bay) were named after sections of Africa from which slaves were brought to the islands. The three small cays in the middle of the channel between St. John and Lovango, Henley Ram Goat and Rata Cays collectively are called the Durloe Cays after Pieter Durloe the founder of the Klein Caneel Bay Plantation (today called Caneel Bay).
Snorkeling is very good in the reef around Salomon and Honeymoon Bays on the northeast corner of Salomon beach.
Most of the reef lies in calm, shallow water, but some sections rise above the surface at low tides. So make sure you avoid the too shallow water.
The reef is in good condition, with a colourful reef filled with fish.
It is perhaps the best protected and easiest accessible shallow- water snorkel in St. John, and is good for snorkelers of all experience levels.
Honeymoon Bay.
It lies to the east of Salomon and has the same beautiful views. The reef fringes the point between the two bays and is just as easily accessible from either beach.
Like Salomon there is no road to Honeymoon. You need to walk the trail or go by boat.
The short walk is steep, so be warned.
it is less than a half mile, with a descent of 250 feet.
Take Route 20 past Mongoose Junction and up the hill. Turn left at the top of the hill by the blue Virgin Islands National Park sign.
Immediately on the right hand side, is a parking area for approximately four vehicles. Park here if you drove. The Caneel Hill Spur Trail intersects Route 20 and is marked with a sign that reads: "To Lind Point Trail." Take this trail north and downhill bearing to the right at the Lind Point Trail junction.
The Easiest Walk.
Is by using the The Caneel Bay Resort public land access to Caneel and Honeymoon Beaches.
Unlike the narrow forest trail that winds down a rocky hillside, the dirt road from the Caneel Bay parking lot is well-maintained and there are no hills to climb. On your way to the beach, you can enjoy the magnificent landscaping that borders the road.
If you would rather walk from town, Honeymoon can also be reached by taking the Lind Point Trail. It will be a little over a mile from Cruz Bay to Honeymoon. Follow the directions to Solomon Bay, but when you get to the Solomon Bay spur, continue on the Lind Point Trail instead of turning left.
There are some portable toilets at Honeymoon bay. Plus shade trees.
Caneel Bay Beach resort.
You can relax and swim and snorkel, and when you are hungry you can eat in the resort, or in the informal Beach Terrace Bar. There are gift shops and rest rooms. Good for snorkeling.
To get there.
From Mongoose Junction, go east 1.2 miles on Route 20. Turn left on the road leading into the Caneel Bay Resort. Park in the parking lot and walk down the beach.
There is a ruin of an old sugar works, which have been restored.
NOTE: The Caneel Bay resort provides public access to Caneel and Honeymoon Beaches only. Use of the beach chairs, kayaks, sunfish and paddle boats are reserved for registered guests of the hotel.
Scott Beach
Scott Beach is part of the Caneel Bay Resort property So you can only get to it by boat, and can not use the resorts facilities.
Good snorkeling, but watch out for the strong current and boat traffic.
Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay, like Scott Beach, is the property of the Caneel Bay Resort and land access is restricted to guests. All others must arrive by sea.
The Beaches of Hawksnest Bay
There are four beaches on Hawksnest Bay. Caneel Hawksnest formerly known as Sheep Dock, which is part of the Caneel Bay Resort, Hawksnest, the National Park beach, replete with parking facilities, picnic tables, barbecues, covered pavilions, changing areas, and bathrooms, Little Hawksnest, which lies just west of Hawksnest and Gibney Beach at the eastern end of the bay.
Hawksnest beach.
Hawksnest Beach is a St. John locals' favorite and the preferred beach for families with children. The reason for this is that Hawksnest is not only one of the most beautiful beaches on St. John, it is also the most convenient. It's the closest north shore beach that you can drive to from Cruz Bay and the parking lot is close to the beach, so there's no need for a long walk carrying your beach accoutrements. Snorkel only when the bay is calm.
“To the right facing the water, there is a formation of black rocks that separates Hawksnest Beach from Gibney Beach. Snorkeling around these rocks is an excellent way for beginning snorkelers to practice and gain confidence in a safe, shallow and non-threatening environment while still being able to observe colorful fish, corals and sea creatures. Look for schools of small fish such as grunt, fry and goatfish. Watch the parrotfish grazing the algae and the spunky damselfish defend its territory against all intruders regardless of size.â€Â
from Mongoose Junction, go 1.8 miles east on route 20. Park in the Hawksnest parking lot.
There is lots of parking spaces. There are pit toilets, but no running water, no showers, sinks or flush toilets.
tables and barbecue grills are also available.
Little Hawksnest
Little Hawksnest is a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach to the west of Hawksnest Beach. This is the place to go to get away from everyone. Just go over the rocks to the left when you are facing the sea.
Gibney Beach
With excerpts from St. John Beach Guide and St. John Off The Beaten Track
Gibney Beach
Gibney Beach is 0.3 mile east of Hawksnest Bay or 2.1 miles east of Mongoose junction on Route 20. You will enter via the second driveway on your left after passing Hawksnest Beach. Limited parking is available in places where you can pull your vehicle completely off the road. Enter the driveway through the door in the iron gate and walk down the driveway to the shore.
Gibney Beach is a magnificent stretch of white sandy shoreline. The beach has a fascinating history that is largely responsible for the unique characteristics of, and the unique characters found on, the beach today.
Snorkeling .
Snorkeling is best from the Oppenheimer section of the beach. The entry into the water is on soft sand and the snorkel is suitable for beginners.
Right off the Community Center (the old Oppenheimer house) is a shallow reef, which occasionally breaks through the surface of the water Close to the beach is a section of beautiful brain coral. The reef here is colorful and there is an abundance of small and medium size fish. Look for parrotfish, angelfish, squirrelfish, trunkfish and trumpetfish. Also, observe the predators such as yellowtail snapper and blue runners prowling the reef edges on the lookout for fry and other small prey.
More experienced snorkelers can continue along this eastern coast to the point and around to Perkins Cay and Denis Bay. Along the way is a small beach where you can stop and rest. Just before you come to this pocket beach you may see the remains of a sunken sailboat. As you progress northward along the coast you will encounter scattered areas of colorful coral, sponges, fish and other marine life in depths of about six to ten feet. Snorkeling here is best in the summer when there are no ground seas to churn up the water.
Denis Bay is now part of the Virgin Islands National Park, but the structures and some of the land behind the beach have been leased to private interests. Please confine your visit to the area between the sea and the line of first vegetation.
Denis Bay existed as a prosperous plantation and a good portion of the lower valley was either planted in sugarcane or devoted to pasture. A horse mill, and later a windmill, was constructed on top of Peace Hill. A long conduit brought the cane juice down to a boiling room near the beach where there was also an estate house, a warehouse, a rum distillery, and a slave village. These buildings have been partially restored and lie just behind the beach.
Jumbie Bay
Excerpted from St. John Beach Guide
If you're looking for a small, private, intimate beach without having to walk a long trail to get there, then Jumbie is an excellent choice.
Heading east on the North Shore Road 2.5 miles from Mongoose Junction or 0.2 miles from Peace Hill, is the small parking area on the right side of the road for Jumbie Bay. Cross the road and walk east about twenty yards to the rustic wooden stairs on your left. At the bottom of the stairs is a short trail leading to the beach.
Jumbie Bay is situated in such a way that it cannot readily be seen from passing vehicles on Route 20 or from boats sailing to and from Cruz BayWant More Jumbie Bay is more exposed to the trade winds than most of the neighboring north shore beaches and the water can get choppy on windy days. On the positive side, the breeze can be refreshing and the rough water can lend a certain drama and intensity to the beach.
From the beach at Jumbie Bay you can see Trunk Bay and the islands of Jost Van Dyke, Green Cay, Whistling Cay, Trunk Cay and Great Thatch.
There are no facilities at this beach other than garbage cans made available and emptied by the National Park Service.
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Trunk Bay :
has the most modern and convenient facilities and receives the most visitors of any beach on St. John. It is a breathtakingly beautiful beach, with perfect soft white powdery sand extending into the sea. The beach is bordered coconut palms, seagrapes and beach mahos and the lush tropical vegetation extends into the flat valley floor where the Trunk Bay facilities are located. The turquoise and blue water is crystal-clear and the panoramic view from the beach picture-perfect.
The beach is over a quarter-mile long with a spit of sand that juts out in the direction of Trunk Cay giving the bay a heart-shaped appearance.
The St. John Virgin Islands National Park maintains an underwater snorkeling trail at Trunk Bay with under water signs providing a wealth of interesting information. The water is calm and clear, warm and inviting, enjoy!
Cinnamon Bay.
Cinnamon is a great place for beach activities and water sports. There is snorkeling. windsurfing, kayaking, volleyball, and camping.
It is 3.9 miles east of Mongoose Junction on Route 20. Park in the parking lot and walk to the beach, which is about a quarter mile away over a flat and shady paved track.
There is a regular taxi bus service to Cruz Bay for those without vehicles. (Call Neal or Ponche at Sprauve Taxi Service for schedules at 776-6140.)
Facilities
Cinnamon Bay is operated as a campground and offers facilities designed to support the campers staying there. These facilities are also available to the public. They include a small general store carrying basic provisions, the T'ree Lizards restaurant, a snack bar, lockers, restrooms, changing rooms, showers, telephones, picnic tables and barbeque grills.
An activities desk offers snorkel trips, SCUBA, snorkel and windsurfing lessons, day sails, cocktail cruises and National Park activities such as the Reef Bay Hike and the Water's Edge Walk.
Entrances to the Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail and the Cinnamon Bay Trail are located across the road from the main parking lot.
At the end of the road to the beach on your left (west), you will find Cinnamon Bay Watersports where you can rent sea and surfing kayaks, beach floats, windsurfers and sailboats. Cinnamon Bay Watersports also offers windsurfing and sailing lessons.
On the east side of the track is an old historic Danish building, which houses the temporary archeological museum in the western part of the building and the Beach Shop on the eastern side, which offers swimsuits, toys, souvenirs, snacks and drinks as well as snorkeling equipment and beach chair rentals.
The temporary museum features Taino and plantation day artifacts found at the Cinnamon Bay Archeological Dig. The excavation site is just east of the museum on the inland side of the dirt track.
Beginning snorkelers can explore the area around the rocks at the eastern end of the beach or between Cinnamon and Little Cinnamon Bay. The entrance into the water is easy and there are a fair amount of fish and sea creatures to be observed.
Going a little further out, there is very good snorkeling around Cinnamon Cay, the little island just offshore from the beach.
Windsurfing
Cinnamon Bay offers the best windsurfing on St. John. The winds are relatively calm near shore, which is good for beginners. As you go offshore, however, more advanced windsurfers will find strong, steady winds, but without the waves that are usually associated with forceful wind conditions.
Surfing
Cinnamon is the only beach on St. John where surfers and experienced boogie boarders can take advantage of the north swell that comes in the winter.
Volleyball
On Sundays, locals organize pick-up volleyball games beginning at about 11:00 A.M.
Little Cinnamon
Want some seclusion? Try Little Cinnamon Bay.
Getting There
When you get to the beach at Cinnamon Bay go left (west) and walk to the end of the sand where you will pick up a narrow trail that leads through the bush along the shoreline and over a section of rocks, before emerging at the beach at Little Cinnamon.
The trail at the center of the beach leads to a National Park Service controlled house and is off limits to the public.
Snorkeling Little Cinnamon
At Little Cinnamon, snorkelers may find the remains of an old Cessna aircraft that crashed and sank years ago. The propeller, the engine and one of the wings are visible most of the year. The wreck is in shallow water and can be found by snorkeling out from the eastern portion of the beach between the old stone wall and the first set of coconut palms.
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Maho
Maho is the only north shore beach that you can drive right up to. It's the very informality of this beautiful and often-photographed beach that makes it so special. It's right there by the side of the road, no parking lots or signs, just the beach. Stately groves of coconut palms line both sides of the road. Just pull over under a maho tree and there you are!
In addition to its convenience, Maho Bay is calm and shallow, making it a great place to bring the kids, get them used to the water or teach them how to swim.
Getting There
Maho Bay is located about 1.25 miles past Cinnamon Bay or 5.2 miles past Mongoose Junction going east on Route 20. Park off the side of the road.
Facilities
There is a National Park pavilion on the extreme western portion of the beach. A permit must be obtained from the park in order to use this facility. This permit will also entitle you to use the bathrooms to the west of the pavilion, which are otherwise locked and not available to the general public. The park will explain the rules and conditions pertaining to the use of the pavilion. (Call the National Park at 776-6201.)
At the eastern part of the beach there is a trail, called the Goat Trail, which leads to the Maho Bay Campground at Little Maho Bay.
Snorkeling Maho Bay
The waters off Maho Bay are calm and shallow. The bay is well sheltered and is a popular anchorage for yachts from the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, especially on long weekends. The sea bottom is a mixture of soft sand and seagrass, although there has been a proliferation of algae lately. In the past, Maho Bay was a great source of conch and sea turtles. The stresses of sand removal, anchor damage and over-fishing have all but eliminated the conch population, but sea turtles, now protected by law, can still often be found here.
The shoreline on the southern coast of the bay provides an interesting area to explore, as is the rocky shoreline and fringing reef on the north going out towards the Campground at Little Maho Bay, especially around the point that separates the two bays.
Little Maho Bay (Maho Bay Camps)
Excepted from St. John Beach Guide
"…a half-crescent of beach, small but perfect with lush green hills rising beyond it,"-Ethel McCully.
Little Maho is a miniature version of Cinnamon Bay, having most of the same facilities and things to do. It is smaller, more intimate and calmer than Cinnanmon, which may make it easier for beginning windsurfers and water sports enthusiasts
Getting There:
Continuing on from (Big) Maho Bay about 1.5 miles from where the road leaves the beach and curves to the right, you will come to an intersection; turn left along the water's edge. Proceed to the stone building on the right at the intersection of the Francis Bay and Little Maho Bay Campground roads. Turn left and go up the hill to the parking area. Park and make your way down the 224 wooden stairs to the beach.
Little Maho can also be approached via the Maho Bay Goat Trail, which connects Big and Little Maho Bays. It begins near the northern portion of the beach at (Big) Maho Bay where the road turns sharply to the right and inland. It is about a 15-minute uphill walk from Maho Bay to the campground. On the upper portions of the trail, you will be treated to excellent views of Maho Bay Beach and the north shore of St. John. Two tamarind trees at the summit provide a shady place to sit and rest on the exposed roots between the two trees.
The trail ends below the general store at Maho Bay Camps. From here the beach at Little Maho can be reached by descending the wooden stairs. (The general store being at a lower elevation than the parking lot only requires a descent of 182 steps to reach the bay.)
Facilities:
Day visitors may use most of the facilities at the campground including the activities desk, restaurant, general store, telephones and rest rooms.
Windsurfers, kayaks, sunfish and snorkeling equipment can be rented at Maho Bay Watersports located near the beach. Also available at the water sports shop are SCUBA dive packages, lessons and certification and night snorkeling expeditions.
On Sunday afternoons pick up volleyball is played from about 3:00 to 5:00.
For a bit more seclusion, check out the quiet little pocket beach between the Campground and Francis Bay, which is just a short swim or rock scramble to the north.
Snorkeling
From the beach the best snorkeling is along the rocks on either side of the bay.
Ethel McCully
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Francis Bay.
Francis Bay is a beach that really invites you to settle down and stay a while. It's an ideal beach for a picnic. The bay faces west, leeward of the trade winds and tends to be calmer than other north shore beaches.
During the week, there are not many visitors here, and because the beach is so big, it is almost always possible to find a nice private spot.
Getting There
If you are coming from Cruz Bay via Route 20, proceed to Maho Bay where the road leaves the shoreline and turns inland towards the right. From here, continue about 1.5 miles where you will come to an intersection with the road that runs along the Leinster Bay shoreline. Turn left and go to the stone building, which will be on your right. You can park here and take the walking trail or continue straight to the end of the road where you can park near the beach.
If you are arriving from Cruz Bay via Centerline Road, turn left at the Colombo Yogurt stand. Go down the hill and turn right at the first intersection. This will take you to the Leinster Bay shoreline where you will turn left and proceed to either the parking area by the stone building and take the walking trail or directly to the parking area by the beach.
Facilities
Portable toilets are located at the main parking area where there is also a dumpster for trash. Picnic tables and barbecues can be found nestled between the trees at the edge of the beach.
The Francis Bay Trail runs along the salt pond behind the beach and is an excellent place for bird watching, especially early in the morning.
Francis Bay Pond Overlook
Snorkeling Francis Bay
Snorkelers take note, Francis Bay can be crowded - not with people, but with fish and sea birds.
Millions of fry frequent the shallow fringing reef along Francis Bay's rocky north shore. These small silvery fish travel in close proximity to one another in large schools that look like underwater clouds.
On the outskirts of these living clouds, in slightly deeper water, lurk predators, such as jacks, yellowtail snapper, Spanish mackerel, barracuda as well as some respectfully-sized tarpon and pompano. Every now and then, one of these larger fish will attack, moving quickly into the glittery mass. The fry are extremely sensitive to minute changes in water currents and can sense the approach of the hunters. In a burst of speed they move away from the oncoming predators. Some are successful and some are eaten. Some breach the surface of the water, fly through the air and splash back into the sea. This splash, however, puts them into yet more danger. Waiting pelicans, gulls and brown boobies swoop down in the vicinity of the splash scooping up their unsuspecting prey.
In the midst of all this activity, large schools of French grunts, oblivious to the drama around them, hover, almost motionless, over and around colorful live coral. Parrotfish and blue tang swim about, grazing on algae. Little damselfish defend their self-proclaimed territories by darting menacingly at intruders that are often much larger than them.
A closer look will reveal all sorts of beautiful and mysterious sea creatures like small eels, feather duster and Christmas tree worms, brightly colored sponges and gracefully swaying gorgonians like the colorful sea fan.
In the underwater grasslands just seaward of the reef, snorkelers may be fortunate enough to see large green sea turtles often accompanied by bar jacks that follow along just inches above the turtle's back. In this area, one may also see southern stingrays, conch and trunkfish.
Novices who feel more comfortable close to shore can have a rewarding snorkel around the rocks on the south side of the bay between Francis and Little Maho or over the seagrass that lies in shallow water on the other end of the beach.
Bring your snorkel gear and join the crowd!
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Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay
Excerpted from St. John Beach Guide
Leinster bay.
From the small and tranquil sand beach at the east end of Leinster Bay, you can access Waterlemon Cay (not Watermelon) for what most visitors describe as the "best snorkeling on St. John." This beach also makes an excellent cooling-off stop after a hike on the Leinster Bay, Johnny Horn or Brown Bay Trails.
Directions
Facilities
There are pit toilets and a trash bin near the parking lot.
Historical Note
Because dueling was illegal in the Danish West Indies, those convinced of the necessity of settling disputes or defending their honor in this manner would travel to Tortola where the practice was legal. In 1800, however, the British Virgin Islands also prohibited dueling. Consequently, the remote and uninhabited island of Waterlemon Cay, far from the eyes of Danish or British authorities, became the new "field of honor."
Snorkeling Waterlemon Cay
From the beach, you can access the fine snorkeling around Waterlemon Cay, the small island just offshore. (Many visitors name this as their favorite snorkel.)
Enter the water from the beach and snorkel to the island. The shoreline water is shallow, and the bottom is a mixture of sand and coral rubble. It is about a 0.2-mile snorkel to the fringing reef off Waterlemon Cay. Between the beach and the island you will snorkel over an environment of seagrass in about twenty feet of water where you can often see starfish, sea cucumbers, green turtles and stingrays.
To decrease the snorkeling distance to the island, follow the trail at the far end of the beach. Bear left at the first fork in the trail, which runs along the coastline. At the end of this trail, walk along the shore and choose a convenient place close to Waterlemon Cay to enter the water. The distance across the channel to the island is only about 0.1 mile. This entry is from the rocky shoreline to a rocky bottom. Be careful not to step on live coral or sea urchins.
From this entry point to the eastern part of Waterlemon Cay, you will snorkel over an area of seagrass and scattered reef. Closer to the island, the water becomes quite shallow. Here you will see schools of blue tang and some very large parrotfish. You can sometimes hear the parrotfish crunching their beak-like teeth along the surface of the rocks and dead coral. They do this to scrape off algae. Chunks of coral and algae pass through the parrotfish's unique digestive system and are excreted as fine coral sand. Much of the sand on our beautiful beaches is produced in this manner.
The south and east sides of Waterlemon Cay are bordered by a shallow-water fringing reef. The reef on the west and north sides of the cay is deeper, descending to a depth of about twenty feet. The reef is teeming with fish and other sea creatures. There are several varieties of coral to be found here, all healthy and colorful and the sea fans and sea plumes found in the deeper parts of the reef will give you the impression of swimming about in an underwater forest.
Look for eels in holes in the reef and for octopus where you find opened seashells piled together.
Caution
There is often an offshore current around Waterlemon Cay, especially on the western side of the island, which will be stronger during new and full moons. If you are not a strong swimmer, keep this in mind. If you get into trouble, follow the current; go around the island and return on the other side.
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Blue Cobblestone Beach
Excerpted from St. John Off The Beaten Track
The Blue Cobblestone Beach snorkel offers the opportunity to explore an underwater environment that usually occurs further offshore and in deeper waters. Here, protected by the hilly Ram Head Point, the seas are generally clear, calm and tranquil and the reef is colorful and diverse.
Getting There
From the Salt Pond Bay Parking lot, take the short trail down to the bay. Walk to the other end of beach and start out on the Ram Head Trail, which begins as a shoreline walk along the west side of the Ram Head Peninsula and take the trail as far as the Blue Cobblestone Beach. See Map
Snorkeling Blue Cobblestone Beach
Enter the water at the north end of the beach near the large black rocks. The bottom is cobblestone and getting into the water is almost easy as from a sandy beach.
Begin by snorkeling around the large rocks at the corner of the beach. These rocks are encrusted with the mustard yellow fire coral, which can give snorkelers a mild sting if touched. There are also many colorful sponges and various types of hard coral in this area.
As you continue north around the point you will start to see underwater channels, known as spur and groove systems and the reef fringing the rocky coast gets larger, deeper and more colorful. At the seaward edge of this reef is a channel of sand about ten yards wide that separates the fringing reef from a neighboring patch reef farther offshore. The patch reef is surrounded by sand and lies in about twenty-five feet of water forming a pinnacle, which rises to a depth of about six feet.
This area is full of life, diverse and colorful. To fully appreciate it, the snorkeler should have the ability to pressurize and dive down in order to explore the lower areas of the reef.
There is a good deal of fire coral encrustation, but true hard coral varieties are also extremely plentiful. Look for pillar, star, staghorn, elkhorn and lettuce corals. Try to identify all the different colors of sponges found here. Gorgonians, such as sea fans, sea whips, sea rods and sea plumes grow on many sections of the reef and sway gracefully with the currents.
This healthy reef community is the habitat of many species of fish, including reef fish, grazing fish and fast swimming predators such as mackerel, yellowtail, blue runners and tarpon.
On the fringing reef across the sand channel from the patch reef is an area of coral outcropping called a ledge. Dive down and explore under the ledge to see different species of coral and interesting marine life.
The good snorkeling continues as you progress southward along the coast and towards the beach at Salt Pond Bay.
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Frank Bay
Getting There:
Starting from the one way street that goes past Wharfside Village in Cruz Bay, turn right at the end of the road by the Catholic Church. Go about one quarter mile, bearing right until you get to the beach.
Frank Bay is the closest swimming beach to Cruz Bay and is within easy walking distance. You will rarely find more than one or two people here.
Enjoy the spectacular view from the beach while sitting in the shade of a palm tree.
From the beach you can see the islands of Little St. James, Great St. James, St. Thomas, Stevens Cay, Thatch Cay, Hans Lolick, Grass Cay and Mingo Cay.
Be careful of sea urchins when entering the water and be aware of surf and waves caused by times of ground sea or when the wake of a ferry or other large vessel comes ashore.
This beach was the favorite of the late Ivan Jadan who frequented it almost daily playing with an octopus that lives in a hole in the reef.
Frank Bay is the home of Coconut Coast Studios, which is well worth a visit.
On the other side of the road is there is a bench where you can sit to observe the tranquil Frank Bay salt pond.
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Brown Bay
Brown Bay.
Brown Bay's white sand beach is almost certain to be deserted as there is no vehicle access and the trail entrance is far from the more populated areas of the island. Also, Brown Bay is a poor anchorage for vessels coming by sea, so it is uncommon to see yachts at anchor here.
When you are out hiking the trails, Brown Bay Beach is a perfect place to cool off,
relax, take a swim and explore the ruins. There are shady places to sit, and usually a cooling ocean breeze. This is a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch in a natural and private setting where you can often enjoy having such an idyllic spot all to yourself.
Getting There: (see map)
Starting from the Coral Bay Moravian Church, go east about a mile on the East End Road (Route 10.) After you pass Estate Zootenvaal, you will cross a small concrete bridge. Turn left just after the bridge and park on the dirt road. Twenty yards up the road you will come to a fork. As Yogi Berra, the famous baseball player, once said, "When you get to the fork in the road, take it!" The right fork is the beginning of the Brown Bay Trail. It is a three-quarter mile hike to the beach.
Brown Bay can also be reached by taking the Brown Bay spur trail off the Johnny Horn Trail. The Johnny Horn Trail connects Waterlemon Cay and the Moravian Church in Coral Bay. The Brown Bay spur trail is not maintained and can be very unfriendly because of the abundance of thorny "catch and keep" bushes.
Brown Bay Ruins
Brown Bay has some of the most extensive ruins on the island of St. John. To explore them proceed to the western end of the beach and then make your way further along the shoreline until you see the beginning of the ruins.
Here you will find the remains of an estate house bearing an old concrete plaque inscribed with the date1872 and bearing the initials "G-N". Notice the exceptionally well-crafted stone and brickwork that went into the construction of the old walls. You will also find ruins from an even earlier time including a sugar factory with its boiling room, cisterns once used for rum distillation, an old copper boiling pot, two horsemills from different periods, a storage building, an old well, an ox pound and two graves, one being that of a child.
Beachcombing
Also, an abundance of flotsam washing up along the beach makes for excellent beachcombing.
Snorkeling Brown Bay:
The bottom of the bay is sand and grass, offering an easy entry. It is quite shallow at first, but deepens gradually providing access to excellent snorkeling further out from the beach. The snorkeling here is best on calm days when the water is not churned up and murky.
The most colorful and interesting area to snorkel in Brown Bay is around the point on the eastern side of the bay where there is a relatively shallow fringing reef, which slopes down to a depth of about twenty feet. There are several beautiful specimens of hard corals near the top of the reef, and on the sloping hillside is a garden of gorgonians, such as sea fans, sea whips and sea plumes. You will often see larger fish here due to the proximity of the deep Sir Francis Drake Channel.
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Kiddel Bay
Looking for a real “Off the Beaten Track Beach?â€Â
Frustrated when trying to find parking at a North Shore National Park beach?
Are the waves breaking on the north making for difficult swimming or snorkeling?
If you don’t mind sacrificing a sand beach for a cobblestone and coral rubble beach, an ideal alternative might be Kiddel Bay on the South Shore located just west of salt Pond Bay.
Park under the two huge Tamarind Trees and its just steps to the beach.
There are no facilities, but you can string up a hammock, bring a picnic and enjoy the fine snorkeling in the bay.
Snorkeling:
If you snorkel out to on the western shore of Kiddel Bay, you will come to a reef which extends out off the point. A series of rocks rises above the surface.
This area is extremely interesting. There are deep depressions, grooves and arches and tunnels full of colorful corals, and sponges where you will invariably see a vast array of tropical reef fishes. The arches and tunnels are about 15 – 20 feet deep and are usually full of small fish. It’s a great challenge for free divers who can swim through one or a series of tunnels depending on their skill.
For less skilled snorkelers the rock lined coasts on both sides of the bay still offer plenty to see and to enjoy.
Rock Scrambling:
Rock scramblers can walk out to the point on the west coast from where there are spectacular views of the bay, the reef and the rocky cliffs of the southern coast.
The Salt Pond:
There’s a beautiful salt pond just behind the beach that’s easy to explore. Great for birdwatchers; especially in the early morning. Look for Pintail ducks in the winter.
SOMETHING TO READ
http://www.usvi.net/usvi/stj.html
http://www.usvi.net/usvi/ferry.htm