Hiking on St John can fun & beautiful
It also can be easy or challenging and often end up at a great beach
Most people come to St John to enjoy the magnificent beaches and there are many. However, there are also magnificent hiking trails, many of which have a great beach and snorkeling at the end as your 'reward'! While most of the St John hiking trails are relatively short (~ 1 mile) many can be challenging so don't get fooled. Bring water, sunscreen, shades, good walking shoes, and a bathing suit in case you stumble onto a beach!
'The Trail Bandit' map, shown below, is a wonderful source and, while I have never met him (yes, Virginia, THE TRAIL BANDIT actually exists in the name of Bob Garrison) I understand he is a wonderful character who is passionate about hiking and St John. Bob has been coming to St John for years and over this time has mapped 34 St John hiking trails. He has his own website where you can see this map in much larger scale and actually purchase it for a nominal fee. It is well worth getting this map in advance of your trip so you can plan your hikes while on St John.
Cinnamon Bay Trail Loop: Natural Born Hikers reports that this 0.5 mile self-guided trail leads through a dense forest of native tropical trees that surround the ruins of a sugar factory—it will take approximately one hour to complete. Along the trail, you will be able to see kapok trees, mango, bay rum, and the only cacao tree on St. John—the trail also passes the site of an old Danish cemetery. The ruins of the sugar factory are perfect for exploring, especially if you are interested in the wildlife of the island—we saw millipedes, snails, golden orb spiders, and dew flap lizards. The ruins themselves were built from a combination of brick and coral, and the coral used in the building still shows intricate detail. You can find this trail across the road from the entrance to the Cinnamon Bay Campground. And, possibly the best part is after you finish the trail you can just walk across the road to the Cinnamon Bay beach with its silky sand and pristine waters.
Reef Bay Trail: One of our favorite hikes is the Reef Bay Trail & Petrogyphs hike which starts on Centerline Road and descends to a wonderful beach.
