USVI-On-Line

Pia has really peaked my interest in the Brown Bay Hike. My husband and I would like to hike it when we are there in July. Is it better to do that hike early in the day because of the heat? Where does it begin, how long does it take, and is it a difficult hike? Is it a good snorkle when you get there?

Head out to East End, past Zootenval Estate, parking area on left where it says Police Firing Range, trail to right. I am not a hiker by any means and this hike was my idea!! It's about 8/10 of a mile if I remember correctly. Not too tough and not too steep. I did have to stop several times along the way, and we just took it slow. We were there in December and we did the hike around 11AM, had a picnic and hiked back around 3PM or so and heat was not really a factor then. The beach was deserted, but there was lots of seaweed and debris in the water. The sea had been really rough that week so I'm not sure if it is always like that, but it is a really nice beach. We found the conch shells that used to line the path and they were all lined up in a square formation and some were turned up showing the pink side so that it spelled HI !! Someone took a lot of time!! We did not snorkel here. PM or email me and I can send photos as I still can't seem to post here!!

There is some info here---
http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Trails/ ... amble.html

Also download the Trail Bandit map and look it over, that might help too...
http://www.trailbandit.org/maps.htm

Brown's Bay is one our favorite beaches to explore and snorkel. Though we haven't done it in the summer I would expect early morning would be a desirable time to go. Essentially you will be climbing up and over a ridge line beginning on the desert like southern face, up and over to the more tropical forest like northern face. So you get to see the two distinct kind of flora on St. John in one easy hike. I think lazylane's description of its' difficulty is accurate.

As for snorkeling, it is best to pick a day when there is little to no wind out of the east as the beach is east facing or nearly so. The snorkeling, like in a lot of places on St John, can be exhilarating or slightly disappointing. On the whole if the the water is calm it should be good and the smaller reef fish plentiful. The best should be on the left or west side of the bay in the shallows much like Haulover North. Remember to take your time and lurk. We've also snorkeled the the right side and found lots of interesting stuff out around the point.

There are ruins to explore there also. In fact you can make Brown's a day of it. Hike in, snorkel the left side, explore the ruins, have lunch, take a nap in the shade, snorkel the right side and hike out at the end of the day when it starts to cool off.

Just to prepare you, because it is relatively remote, the beach is a popular drop off point for aliens. You will find various articles of clothing in the undergrowth behind the beach. In case you wonder. You will find the same thing at both Haulovers. To me Brown's encompasses all of what I like best about St John. I hope by writing this it doesn't become too popular. We like having it to ourselves once in awhile. Enjoy.

I did the Brown Bay hike on our last trip and returned via the Johnny Horn Trail. Wife dropped me off and waited at the Moravian church. There are some steep climbs on the Johnny Horn portion.

If you're into history, do some reading on the Brown Bay area before the hike. The ruins are at the far end of the beach.

In case you'd be interested, you can also access Brown Bay from the Johnny Horn trail. This is not the shorter, easier way but is a nice hike if you like hiking. To go that way, you could park at Annaberg, take the Leinster/Waterlemon path, then pick up the Johnny Horn just past the sandy beach. The trail runs over to Coral Bay but there's a cutoff down to Brown Bay. You could snorkel around Waterlemon on your return if you had any energy left.

Out of curiousity, would ya'll say this is an easier/harder/equal difficulty than the Ram Head hike?

Nothintolose- if you are asking about just the Brown Bay hike and its relation to Ram's Head, its much shorter and therefore, easier IMO. As for the Johnny Horn connection, I cannot report at this time. But hope to when I return in May.

I've been to Brown Bay in the summer and the mosquitos here ate me ALIVE! As soon as I arrived, I had to jump in the water to escape the bites and could not linger post snorkeling. Had to get out of there!

In the winter, the bugs were non-existent, but the water was too rough for snorkeling due to windy conditions.

I recall someone posting that the Conch Shell Trail had been removed...sad...as it certainly was a highlight of the hike.

me and my wife thought it was a little harder than the ram head hike.

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We did the Johnny Horn/Brown bay hike (most of it) back in June. The overlook above waterlemon cay was one of the coolest places we found (IMO)...
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ght=#89571

Has anyone been there in June and not had mosquitos? My husband is dying to do this hike and after looking at all of the pics I really want a picnic lunch at that table. I am starting to exercise so I can do the hike without holding everyone back!

When we did the hike in June bugs weren't a problem. But it is probably hit and miss, kinda like the weather...

The picnic table is above waterlemon cay, near the top set of ruins above Leinster point...

The picture is in my trip report from June 2008

So the picnic table is on what trail? Do I have to hike to Brown Bay from the Johnny Horn Trail to get to it? Maybe I'll pass and just take the trail to get to Brown Bay the short way. Hubby wants to see the beach and the ruins there. I just hate to miss a photo opportunity!