USVI-On-Line

We will be on St. John in one week, YAHOO ! My wife has trouble walking and I'm looking for advise on the easiest beaches to get to from the parking areas.

Maho is definitely the easiest. There is a large lot across the street from the beach and several parking spots in the wooded areas along the road. The beach is nice and calm too - definitely one of my favorites.

Trunk and Cinnamon have parking areas, but the walk to the beaches is a bit farther than at Maho.

I second that Maho is your best bet, particularly if you get there early enough to score one of the spots on the beach side of the road by the pavillion.

Hawksnest is a short walk from the parking lot, although there can be a big step down from the picnic area to the sand.

Jumbie looks like a long walk from the road, but the well maintained path is actually pretty short and an easy walk.

Francis is another choice - especially if you get there early enough to get one of the spots closest to the beach entrance. I too have some problems walking (bad knees!). Little Lamshur is another choice for close parking. Only concern would be some of the entrance areas from beach to water are rocky and that can be troublesome if you have difficulty walking.

Maho is #1. My Dad used to walk right in with his cane. Francis is good, but there is a small dropoff close to the entry. Dad's #2 spot was Hawksnest.

Cheers, Rick

All the easiest have been mentioned, I think, starting with Maho. Access to Miss Vie's beach is also very easy, over flat and stable ground, and if you're early enough, there are loungers there to use for free (after you pay a couple of bucks for admission to the beach. I want to second the warning about Lameshur water entry. We had to help a lady out of the water there once, who was sliding on the rocks with each gentle wave. Look for good entry before allowing your loved one to enter here!

I second the Little Lameshur entry caution. Two years ago, my husband had to help so elderly people out of the water there. At that time, there was a lot of loose, slippery rocks and we even had a hard time ourselves. The stable, sandy entry was right in the center, we were off to the left.

Back when I was carrying a baby, I remember Maho being the best access because of the parking and the stable bottom. Francis was ok depending on if there was a drop off or not.

Great Lameshur, Kiddle, and Grootpan are rock beaches, but are very close to where you park. As long as walking over the rocks is ok. Also haulover south is very close to the parking. I too have problems walking long distances and like these.