USVI-On-Line

Can someone tell me the easiest and quickest way to get to Brown Bay?

park at th trailhead and walk on down-- it's not a long hike at all

Ioria,
Don't you mean walk up and then down?
All kidding aside,it is worth the hike.

After about 1.1 miles past the Moravian Church on Rte 10 (the road that goes past Skinny Legs) and past Estate Zootenvaal there is a small concrete bridge. Just after the bridge turn left off the road and park. Brown's Bay is a 1 mile hike up the ridge and down. This is my favorite beach. Pick a calm day because the easterly trades can really pound the reef on the west end of this beach. While there are sandy spits that go out into the water from the beach, keep an eye out for urchins in the grassy areas.

is the snorkeling good at Brown Bay? Or just a nice beach to hang out?

I'm going to hate myself for advertising this place but I think the snorkeling is good. Like most snorkeling on STJ some days are good, some days not so good. But again, pick a calm day because it is not as protected from the easterly trades as Maho and Francis. On the west side keep in mind that there is a out flowing current so leave yourself enough energy to get back as you float along.

it's lovely -- and well, a bit up a bit down....but really not at all taxing!

B&J in VA wrote:is the snorkeling good at Brown Bay? Or just a nice beach to hang out?

I would definitely not call Brown Bay a "hang out" type of beach. It's actually a bit "unkempt". I've never snorkeled there, but have heard good things about it, as BillVT eludes to. It usually just ends up being a stop on a hike over to the ruins above Waterlemon (via part of Johnny Horn Trail.) Lord knows I've had my snorkeling stuff with me at Brown Bay; I don't know why I've never gone in.

There are also some very cool, but rather creepy ruins up there. Very much a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" feel to them. I posted some pics a couple of years ago, but I don't know how to find them now.

Lovermont, I don't believe you've never snorkeled there. The left side is the best with a really nice shallow water reef but as I mentioned before reserve some energy for the swim back. There is good snorkeling around the point on the right side also if you want to make a day of it.

I did find the pictures from a while ago and brought the thread back up. Look for a "Brown Bay Pics."

Here are some pics from my Brown Bay Hike to the Johnny Horn Trail last May. I thoroughly enjoyed the hike and enjoyed scrambling on the rocks at Brown Bay. I did not snorkel or swim at Brown Bay but I did watch a couple of pelicans gorge themselves.

The view from the Johnny Horn Trail overlooking Leinster and Waterlemon is amazing.

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvjfCNh

John

BillVT wrote:Lovermont, I don't believe you've never snorkeled there.

Next visit... I promise. We walk through there at least once every trip. I just don't know why I've never gone in, especially since I've heard such good reports. No trip in my future right now; might have to change that.

Follow the directions that BillVT posted. The trail starts here in the East End.



One time our snorkeling at Brown Bay started out in the calm water with excellent visibility. There were still some currents around and beyond the point (so go as far as you feel comfortable). Towards the end of our 3-hour-long snorkeling, we began noticing some more currents and soon after the visibility dropped inside the bay. The sediment on the bottom of the bay can easily get stirred up, unfortunately. Glad we had most of our snorkeling in by then. The left/west side offers better snorkeling and it gets better around the point – although we really enjoyed snorkeling all around the bay. There is a lot to see there - if the water is calm.

As BillVT said, watch your step if you are wading barefoot. Sea eggs (a kind of sea urchin) are spread around the bottom of the bay.

We snorkeled it the first year but it must have been one of those days when the bottom was stirred up because we couldn't see much. Loved the hike.
We did hear a story about Brown Bay when we were there in January. This story did not take place this year but I'm not sure when. A couple hiked to Brown Bay. The wife stays on the beach and the husband goes in snorkeling. Soon another couple arrive and they both get in the water and start snorkeling. Soon a small cruise ship or large private ship pulls into the bay. It sort of sucks the water from the beach and then sends it crashing back. The wife is running around grabbing her stuff and the other couples stuff. Her husband gets tossed out of the water onto the beach, luckily. They then spent time getting fish from behind the beach and putting them back in the water. The other couple never came out of the water. Later that night they ride by the parking lot and the other car is still there. Same the next day. They go and report it and never hear anything else about it. The next week before they leave the island they drive out again and the car is still there with a ticket on it. We heard this on the beach, from a couple who said they got it from another couple that was on the beach. So make what you will of it. I will say that the possibility of that happening and a family never knowing the full story kind of freaked me out.