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Denis Beach question
Denis Beach question
When we were on the ferry yesterday, Denis Beach looked like a good beach. We have never been there and the FF & F book refers to there being some private land and may not be able to walk to this beach.
Of course I don't want to trespass, has anyone been to this beach and is public access allowed? thanks.
Of course I don't want to trespass, has anyone been to this beach and is public access allowed? thanks.
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I'm not sure what Ferry you can see Denis Beach from...but there is a public path that goes to the beach...it is a nice beach. There is a private residence you can see on the map, it is nearly on the beach, but I think the entire beach is public.
The link below shows the location...
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 77ac9c2c33
The link below shows the location...
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 77ac9c2c33
STJ Villa Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 2&t=h&z=14
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 2&t=h&z=14
We snorkeled it last week and yes it is possible. We were going to go up on the beach past the old piers but headed back to Jumbie as the snorkel by then did not look that promising. There used to be a sign on the beach asking visitors to go no further because of the private residence. It is an old in holding that had been a fishing club than hotel at one time.
Lots of people have done it...I haven't. I snorkeled at both but not between/across...all depends on what you are comfortable with. Be safe, have fun!scubamom5 wrote:Hi Sherban, do you think it is possible to snorkel from Jumbie to Denis? My family loves Jumbie and we're looking forward to trying the new pathway this summer. Thanks
STJ Villa Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 2&t=h&z=14
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 2&t=h&z=14
My Wife and I visited Denis last June, so hopefully this info is still pretty accurate...
Don’t let all the “it’s off-limits and the trail is not maintained” talk dissuade you…the trailhead for Denis is like 20 paces (on the right) up the Peace Hill trail from the Parking Lot (just look for a small opening along the right side). It's pretty much downhill all the way, but not too steep.
You can hike it in flip-flops, but sandals or tennis shoes would be better…some steepness along the way, but there are tons of trees that line the trail that can double as handrails.
We didn't time it, but I doubt it took more than about 5 minutes to hike down.
The entrance to the beach spits you out on the far left side near Perkins Cay. And it's very rocky around the point.
Depending on the tide, the bay can be very shallow and the reef runs along the majority of the beach. (check out the google link posted above). So you’ll want to walk to the right until you get passed the rock scramble and hit the soft sand. The “private” area seems to be all the way at the right side of the beach behind about 8 or 9 piers jutting out into the water that may have supported a dock years ago.
To snorkel, I suggest walking down the beach towards the piers and enter the water as soon as you see the reef turn into sand. Swim out 30 or 40 yards and turn left (back towards Perkins Cay) where the reef drops off into deeper water. As you approach Perkins Cay, it does get pretty shallow, especially at low-tide, and you can find yourself barely a foot of the deck if you know what I mean. So it's good to stay in the deeper water...just watch out for dinghies, there isn't a ton or room for them to maneuver and they'll undoubtedly want to use the same entry point to the beach as the snorkelers.
One other “titbit” - There are some neat ruins (or suspiciously stacked rocks) just beyond the beach in the forest. Don’t know if they’re also on what is considered private property, but you can see them through the trees from the sand.
Anyway, hope that helps. Gibney is still our fave, but Denis is a close second and when all the other beaches are cramped, I think you can almost always count on Denis to be mostly empty. When we were there, we saw only two other people the entire afternoon and I think they were locals.
Don’t let all the “it’s off-limits and the trail is not maintained” talk dissuade you…the trailhead for Denis is like 20 paces (on the right) up the Peace Hill trail from the Parking Lot (just look for a small opening along the right side). It's pretty much downhill all the way, but not too steep.
You can hike it in flip-flops, but sandals or tennis shoes would be better…some steepness along the way, but there are tons of trees that line the trail that can double as handrails.
We didn't time it, but I doubt it took more than about 5 minutes to hike down.
The entrance to the beach spits you out on the far left side near Perkins Cay. And it's very rocky around the point.
Depending on the tide, the bay can be very shallow and the reef runs along the majority of the beach. (check out the google link posted above). So you’ll want to walk to the right until you get passed the rock scramble and hit the soft sand. The “private” area seems to be all the way at the right side of the beach behind about 8 or 9 piers jutting out into the water that may have supported a dock years ago.
To snorkel, I suggest walking down the beach towards the piers and enter the water as soon as you see the reef turn into sand. Swim out 30 or 40 yards and turn left (back towards Perkins Cay) where the reef drops off into deeper water. As you approach Perkins Cay, it does get pretty shallow, especially at low-tide, and you can find yourself barely a foot of the deck if you know what I mean. So it's good to stay in the deeper water...just watch out for dinghies, there isn't a ton or room for them to maneuver and they'll undoubtedly want to use the same entry point to the beach as the snorkelers.
One other “titbit” - There are some neat ruins (or suspiciously stacked rocks) just beyond the beach in the forest. Don’t know if they’re also on what is considered private property, but you can see them through the trees from the sand.
Anyway, hope that helps. Gibney is still our fave, but Denis is a close second and when all the other beaches are cramped, I think you can almost always count on Denis to be mostly empty. When we were there, we saw only two other people the entire afternoon and I think they were locals.
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow
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patches&itchy
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Ohio
Denis is a sweet beach for sure!
We timed it down and back with snorkel gear, big cooler filled, 2 beach chairs, towels, umbrella, 2 back packs in 5 minutes down.
6 minutes back up with almost empty cooler!
Path is very well worn.
Once you hit the beach walk east (to right) between the two reefs!
Beautiful!
I think the secret is out though.....parking lot a peace hill was packed several times when we left!
We got there early and were the only ones there for the first hour or so!
We timed it down and back with snorkel gear, big cooler filled, 2 beach chairs, towels, umbrella, 2 back packs in 5 minutes down.
6 minutes back up with almost empty cooler!
Path is very well worn.
Once you hit the beach walk east (to right) between the two reefs!
Beautiful!
I think the secret is out though.....parking lot a peace hill was packed several times when we left!
We got there early and were the only ones there for the first hour or so!
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Pete (Mr. Marcia)
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:48 pm
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Patches, do you think it was packed because of Denis or because of the Peace Hill look out? When we went, there were six or seven cars in the lot, but only two other people on the beach. I figured the rest were up top.
And I guess I'm not helping keep the secret, but I've gotten so much good info about STJ from the forum that when I see a rare opportunity to help someone else with something I'm actually familiar enough with to discuss, I jump at it, trying in some dumb way to repay that knowledge debt I guess.
Gotta love the forum...and I'm not sure Denis is really a big secret. It just doesn't get the press the other beaches do because it's not as easily accessed.
And I guess I'm not helping keep the secret, but I've gotten so much good info about STJ from the forum that when I see a rare opportunity to help someone else with something I'm actually familiar enough with to discuss, I jump at it, trying in some dumb way to repay that knowledge debt I guess.
Gotta love the forum...and I'm not sure Denis is really a big secret. It just doesn't get the press the other beaches do because it's not as easily accessed.
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow
Pete, can't remember where I read it (maybe Feet-Fins...), but I'm fairly confident Melanie Griffith's dad owned that house on the end of the beach for a while. I don't think she ever owned it herself, but I'm sure she spent a lot of time there.
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow
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Pete (Mr. Marcia)
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:48 pm
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
I think I've clarified this a few times on the forum-- Melanie's father, Peter, was the renter/caretaker of Denis Bay for quite a few years,in the later 70s-80s with his 3rd wife, and 2 children from his second marriage. Melanie was the product of his first marriage, and was already a starlet and living with her mother, Tippi Hendron, in LA. I only remember her coming to Denis Bay twice during Peter's time there, for a week or so. She did vacation here on St. John as a little girl--10-12 year-old or so--at least a few times with her father and half siblings,in the late 60s, but they rented the Oppenheimer house when that was still a house -- one of Sis Frank's Holiday Homes rentals--probably a total of 6 or 7 were available on island then.