Johnny Head Road - Catherineberg area

mnfun2bme · Post by **mnfun2bme** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 6:34 pm

Hi All,
I know some of you have stayed in the Catherineberg area... .can you tell me about the Johnny Head Road and whether it's paved? Is it a tough drive from Catherineberg down to Cinnamon? One you would do at night?

Thanks!

Coconuts · Post by **Coconuts** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:05 pm

Lisa: As long as you take it slowly, you'll be fine and won't bottom out; just plan on a bouncy ride. You can use it at night, but some attention to wheel paths is in order, so keep it slow and very sober. The poured concrete swales can be worse than the rough dirt sections. It is really only wide enough for one car, so running into a vehicle going the other way involves a negotiated pull-aside at the nearest opportunity. I haven't seen them recently, but last year there were signs just when you were beginning to really worry advising drivers "Beyond this point monsters lie", followed by the yet more ominous "Turn Back!". The John Head Road makes for an interesting shortcut, but unless you are willing to push things, it can be just as fast to proceed on Centerline to the smoothie stand and head down the North Shore Road. There are some ritzy homes along that road, and I suspect that they prefer the rough road to the tourist traffic it would draw if it were ever paved. I was in a tearing hurry one night to get a sunset alignment shot from Trunk Bay, and set a personal record of twelve minutes from the door of Coconuts to the parking lot at Trunk Bay, but that was solo, and involved more airtime than is advisable.

All the best,

Kevin

JJShaw · Post by **JJShaw** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 8:43 pm

We went down it once...and that was enough...I felt like my insides were shaken loose when we got to the bottom...so from now on..we just go around...but it was interesting to do it once...

GotToGetAway · Post by **GotToGetAway** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 8:50 pm

Take a look for yourself & enjoy:

http://www.on-stjohn.com/2010/12/03/jee ... horn-road/

sherban · Post by **sherban** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 8:25 am

I used the road every time I drove from Cinnamon Tarn villa to the north shore beaches...I liked it! That was 2008...

It was a bit like "light" four wheeling....why get a rental jeep if you aren't going to do some four wheeling?

And my jeep was from STT!

steve · Post by **steve** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:16 am

For those who are not aware, John Head Rd is now almost completely paved from the Catherinberg Ruins near centerline to just below Wattapama rd. (Wattapama is a dead end that goes to several villas: La Jolla Caribe, Peace and Plenty, Anole etc) It used to be rough getting to many Villas from Centerline now all but 2 have paved access ( Jungle Stone and Hakuna Mattata are below the paved sections however). Below Wattapama pretty much only the turns are paved. We have used this road for years and never had a problem but... we use 4 wd and be extra careful coming up in the rain!

mnfun2bme · Post by **mnfun2bme** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 12:21 pm

Thanks for the great information!

burgec · Post by **burgec** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 10:10 am

The slower you take it the easier it is on your passengers so go slow. We love Catherineberg thinking the views are unmatched but your mileage may vary. Would agree the stretch from Centerline to Catherineberg is improved with Catherineberg to North Shore remaining fairly rough but if we are going to North Shore from the house, down we go.

We did get a flat tire last year which I can't blame for certain on more aggressive than necessary driving down the goat trail but strongly suspect it. So again, for our passengers sake and maybe your tires take it easy.

We were there in April and are booked to return later this summer, can't wait. The road is a minor inconvenience for a location we love.

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