Best hiking trails

kristen1206 · Post by **kristen1206** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:53 am

we are under the 3 month mark so I must get in gear and start planning our beaches and hikes.

Hubby and I have only done Ram's Head and Salomon before. I don't really count the trail to Salomon a hike but raaher a means to and end

Though we did get lost coming back up last time...planning to put markers on the signs as we go down this time!

Anyway, we want to take the kids (16, 13 and 7) on a at least a couple of hikes. Aside from Ram's Head, what other trails have great views and/or ruins and/or a cool beach at the end? here must be a "prize" like this or else it seems pointless to me!

If memory serves, the Brown Bay trail is cool but very very long? looking for something comparable to Ram's Head in terms of length and difficulty as I want my 7 year old to ebe able to do it.

Thanks!

Lovermont · Post by **Lovermont** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:43 pm

Hiking up to the top of Caneel Hill (either from town, near Mongoose Junction, of from the North Shore road) has a reward of an observation tower with a great 360 degree view. It's BEAUTIFUL! Short video:

<embed width="440" height="420" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://v5.tinypic.com/player.swf?file=1 ... ><br><font size="1"><a href="http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=11tbxmp&s=5">Original Video</a> - More videos at <a href="http://tinypic.com">TinyPic</a></font>

Also, if you're walking out to Waterlemon, just extend the hike a little further to the two sets of ruins above Waterlemon. Here's the view from the upper set of ruins:

I recommend the Trail Bandit map. Visit his website at http://www.trailbandit.org

kristen1206 · Post by **kristen1206** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:47 pm

gorgeous. thank you! we actually do have an awesome trail map that the bartender (big hiker) from the Beach Bar gave us last year. Plan to consult that for directions and info on any trails we decide to do.

54b · Post by **54b** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:21 pm

Reef Bay Trail - It may be a bit longer than you'd prefer, but I know a 7-year old could handle it. Plus, if you did it thru the park service and did their tour (which means you'd hike down to the beach - about 2 miles almost all down hill - and then take a boat back to Cruz), that would actually be easier and shorter than than Ram Head hike including trip back to Salt Pond parking lot.

Sidenote: Pound for pound, I think Ram Head is the better hike...Reef has the ruins, petroglyphs, and the signs about the flora/fauna, but Ram Head has better views and Cobblestone/Salt Pond are better for snorkeling than Reef/Genti.

Denis - Definitely off the beaten track and a little hard to find, but it would probably be fun for your family. Park at the Peace Hill parking lot on North Shore road (between Hawksnest and Jumbie) and start walking up like you're going to that Windmill...maybe like 15/20 yards from the parking lot you'll see the entrance to a smaller trail off to the right...it goes down to Denis Beach. Maybe a 5 or 10 minute hike at most. And since it's unmarked, you usually have the beach mostly to yourself. There is some private property down at the end next to the wooden piers sticking out of the water, but as long as you don't approach it and stay on the beach, you're good.

There's a huge reef right next to the beach and a small cay. Fun for snorkeling.

bdkane · Post by **bdkane** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:20 pm

kristen1206 wrote:If memory serves, the Brown Bay trail is cool but very very long? looking for something comparable to Ram's Head in terms of length and difficulty as I want my 7 year old to ebe able to do it.

Thanks!

You may have take the Brown Bay spur trail off the Johnny horn, I believe that is the long way, if you take Rte 10 past Skinny's about a mile or so there is trail head for Brown Bay, its near a little bridge, going this way the hike is only about 1 mile, and you are likely to have the beach to yourself

augie · Post by **augie** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:22 pm

bdkane wrote:
kristen1206 wrote:If memory serves, the Brown Bay trail is cool but very very long? looking for something comparable to Ram's Head in terms of length and difficulty as I want my 7 year old to ebe able to do it.

Thanks!
You may have take the Brown Bay spur trail off the Johnny horn, I believe that is the long way, if you take Rte 10 past Skinny's about a mile or so there is trail head for Brown Bay, its near a little bridge, going this way the hike is only about 1 mile, and you are likely to have the beach to yourself

Yeah, every time we've taken the Brown Bay trail (except the time that we went all the way to Leinster!) it's been almost exactly a twenty minute walk from the trail head to the bay.

kingConch · Post by **kingConch** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:57 pm

WOW, Lovermont! You've mapped my 1st hike! Thanks

kristen1206 · Post by **kristen1206** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:23 am

many thanks!

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