Francis Bay

[luvinsun]

Happy Sunday forumites -- It's coooold here in Northeast Ohio, but the Browns are winning (so far)...

I'm definitely interested in hitting Francis Bay on this trip, can someone tell me how hard of a walk it is to get there? What challenges will I enounter?

Thanks all...

[kirk]

If you're staying at Maho bay camp grounds you can walk there. if not you will need a car or taxi. Go Bengals!!!!

[luvinsun]

I mean the trail to get to the beach... We are staying in Fish Bay so we'll have a car...

[lprof]

The parking lot for Francis is right at the beach... a few steps and you can be in the water.
You will drive past a parking area for the walking trail which now has a nice boardwalk through the mangroves.
http://www.seestjohn.com/beaches_francis.html

[Coconuts]

When you get to Francis, its worthwhile to snorkel along the shore to the left, past the Maho Bay Campground beach, and to the rocks shortly after the beach, where the point rounds into the east end of Maho Bay. The coral there isn't that great, but there are usually lots of fish, and on our last few trips, these included pairs of Queen Angelfish. You can also stop at the Campground beach on the snorkel back and head up the steps for lunch (at least, for the next few months). I'm still hoping that some deep-pocketed benefactor, private or public, steps in to save the day.

Kevin

[EagleRayLover]

We always hike the Francis Trail as we like putting in to snorkel to the right. The trail is short and you get a beautiful "ruins" though it's just smaller than most. We have seen some great birds, hermit crabs, crabs. and we know donkeys travel that path by what they leave behind
We don't find it difficult at all and we love the snorkeling on the right side- we have seen some amazing creatures! Have fun!!

[luvinsun]

excellent.. thank you for your replies... We've always just stopped at Maho, I think it's time to branch out...

P.S. The Browns won -- woo hoo!

[Teresa_Rae]

As long as you park in the parking lot, Francis is the most easily accessed beach on STJ. It’s less of a walk than Maho because you don’t have to cross a road. There is a parking lot on the way to the beach for one of the trails, so don’t park there unless you want to hike through the woods to the beach. The parking lot you want is visible from the beach. There’s a porta potty there.