| Brown Bay Shoreline
Walk, St. John USVI Brown Bay Beach on St. John’s undeveloped northeastern shore, normally accessed by the Brown Bay Trail, can also be reached by following the St. John shoreline between Waterlemon Beach and Brown Bay. This is an absolutely delightful shoreline hike offering spectacular views, refreshing tropical breezes and fascinating beachcombing. This hike is definitely “off the beaten track,” and demands athletic ability and knowledge of rock scrambling. Don't attempt this (or any) hike alone and be careful!
Ghost with beachcombing treasures Begin by taking the three-quarter mile Leinster Bay Trail from the Annaberg Sugar Mill parking lot to the beach at Waterlemon Bay. The shoreline walk between Waterlemon Bay and Brown Bay Beach is about a mile and a half long. Allow at least four hours for a leisurely and careful roundtrip journey from Annaberg to Brown Bay and back.
Leinster Bay Trail, St. John Virgin Islands Once you arrive at the beach at Waterlemon Bay, follow the shoreline north. There is a rudimentary trail that will take you a short distance along the coast, but when that ends you will be on your own. At the saddle between the hills, just before you get to the tip of the headland called Leinster Point, you may find a donkey trail that will lead you across the peninsula, or you may just find it easier to walk and scramble around the point.
Waterlemon Bay St. John US Virgin Islands On the eastern side of Leinster Point you will come to a coral and cobblestone beach fringed by beach maho trees. The ground cover is the salty, but edible, sea purslane. A shallow fringing reef lies just off the beach. Scramble over the black rocks at the end of the beach or take a donkey trail through the bush and go around them. On the other side of the rocks is a coral rubble beach. There is no reef on the western corner of the beach and you can get into the water and take a cooling swim if you so desire. At the center of the beach are several water mampoo, or loblolly trees that can provide a welcome shady area where you can rest and enjoy your surroundings.
Leinster Point, St. John USVI The view from this beach is impressive. To the west, you can see the top of Mary Point and the headland called Leinster Point that you just crossed. These two headlands define the well-protected Leinster Bay. Looking more to the north you will see the British islands, Great Thatch and Little Thatch. Between them, further to the north, is Jost Van Dyke. Tortola is the large island just to the east of Great and Little Thatch. The tall mountain that you see on Tortola is called Sage Mountain, which at 1740 feet is the highest point in the Virgin Islands. This secluded northestern coast of St. John has become a favorite entry point for illegal Chinese, as well as some Dominican and Haitian immigrants. It is common to find the discarded clothing left by these people, who apparently change into their saved dry clothing at this stage of their journey.
clothing discarded by illegal Chinese immigrants At the end of the beach you will come to some high rocks. The scramble over these rocks is facilitated by the presence of conveniently located hand and foot holds. On the other side of these rocks is a coral rubble beach back dropped by a steep bluff about 40 feet high.
rock scramble At the end of this beach, a short scramble leads to another stretch of coral rubble beach bordered by a high steep hillside and fringed by century plants and sea grape trees.
century plant in bloom At the end of this beach is a stretch of rocky shoreline which leads around Threadneedle Point. This is a colorful, impressive and secluded area. To the east you can see the British Virgin Islands that border the beautiful Sir Francis Drake Channel all the way to the Baths at Virgin Gorda and looking west you can see as far as St. Thomas and Hans Lollik. After rounding Threadneedle Point there will be one more long stretch of coral rubble beach. From there to the beach at Brown Bay is a section of rocky coast, which goes past the Brown Bay plantation ruins.
View into Brown Bay You can return to civilization the way you came or via the Brown Bay Trail. Question: Any geologists out there that can tell me what caused this geological formation commonly seen in the Virgin Islands?
Geological rock formation along northeast coast of St. John, USVI |
