Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Francis Bay Trail
(900 yards, easy) Pick up the path at the west end of the Mary
Creek paved road, where an old stone sugar mill stands sentry. The trail follows the
rim of a salt pond that usually harbors a good collection of wading birds. It continues
through a mangrove forest before reaching the broad crescent beach at Francis Bay.
South Shore Trails
Reef Bay Trail
(2.2 miles, rugged) The most famous of all the island trails, it starts
on Centerline Rd about 4.75 miles east of Cruz Bay and makes a steep descent around
Bordeaux Mountain (1277ft), the highest point on St John. Along the way, you pass
the ruins of four sugar plantations before reaching the South Shore at Reef Bay. Take
the park's guided hike and you won't have to make the slog back up.
PetroglyphTrail
(530 yards, moderate) This is a spur that veers west 1.5 miles down
the Reef Bay Trail. It leads to waterfalls and mysterious rock carvings attributed to
pre-Columbian Taíno people.
Lameshur Bay Trail
(1.5 miles, moderate) If you want a sandy beach at the end or
beginning of your assault on Bordeaux Mountain, follow this spur that breaks off the
Reef Bay Trail at the Petroglyph Trail intersection and heads east. Near the base, an-
other spur breaks off to the coral rubble beach on Europa Bay.
BordeauxMountainTrail
(1.2 miles, rugged) This trail leaves from Little Lameshur
Bay and climbs to an elevation of 1000ft, where it joins the dirt Bordeaux Mountain
Rd that continues north, 1.7 miles to Centerline Rd. The vistas and the challenge of
this trail make it well worthwhile.
YawziPointTrail
(530 yards, moderate) It begins on the east side of Little Lameshur
Bay Beach and winds through thorny scrub to isolated coves. Years ago people afflic-
ted with yaws (a contagious skin lesion disease) had to live on this narrow peninsula,
hence the name.
Drunk Bay Trail
(530 yards, easy) The trail leaves the south end of Salt Pond Bay
Beach and follows the rim of the salt pond to the extremely wild and rocky beach that
faces east to Sir Francis Drake Channel and the BVI. Swimming is dangerous here, as
the trade-wind-driven seas pile up on this shore. The waves carry all manner of flot-
sam and jetsam, including wrecked yachts. Beachcombing here can be fascinating.
