Your Guide to the North Shore by Dinghy
So you want to be your own captain and beach hop at your own pace? Nine out of 10 St. John lovers will testify that a highlight of their vacation was to rent a dinghy and explore the North Shore to see the most beautiful beaches in the world up close and personal. Let’s get started!
Pack your sunscreen, snorkel gear and cooler and head northeast from Cruz Bay. You can’t miss the first two most picturesque beaches on island, Salomon and Honeymoon, an optimal location to scope out sailboats and motoryachts of all sizes cruising the Sir Francis Drake Channel. If you can drag yourself away, head around the corner to Caneel, Scott and Turtle Bay; although, refrain from using chairs and towels which are reserved for Caneel Resort guests.
Hawksnest Bay is next with four breathtaking beaches: Hawksnest, Little Hawksnest, Gibney and Oppenheimer. If not for the famous tire swing, it’s difficult to determine where Gibney ends and Oppenheimer begins. Don’t miss Mermaid’s Chair, a little pocket beach just yards off Oppenheimer along the eastern shoreline. At low tide, there’s just enough sandy ground to spread out and pretend you’re on your own private island.
Continue on to remote and charming Denis Bay, distinguishable only by the remnants of a few pylons jutting out to sea. You’re likely to have the place all to yourself. Jumbie is right around the corner, fringed with Seagrape trees and lined with smooth beach rock. Kiss the solitude goodbye as you migrate on to the most photographed beach in the Caribbean, Trunk Bay. Mooring balls are provided for you to tie up to, to snorkel the famous underwater trail.
You may be ready for a snack when you reach our island’s mile-long stretch of sand known as Cinnamon Bay Beach. Bathroom/shower facilities, a restaurant and souvenir shop make it a popular destination. As you round the next corner, it’s hard to miss postcard-worthy Maho Beach lined with towering palm trees. Calm water and a shallow entry makes Maho a likely place to see turtles, sea rays and other marine life. Little Maho is connected by a crescent-shaped beach to the east.
On the leeward side of the bay lies Francis Bay, a serene wide sandy beach with ample shade. If you’re feeling adventurous, walk the Francis Bay Trail which runs along a salt pond behind the beach, an excellent place for bird watching.
For the finale, Waterlemon Cay and Leinster Bay are often ranked the number one spot for snorkeling on St. John, with diverse conditions along the sea floor including seagrass, coral, sand and cobblestone. A reef bordering the west and north sides of Waterlemon descends to a depth of about 20 feet and is home to abundant sea life. Often overlooked, Mary Creek (on the west bank of Leinster Bay) is worth a look. Here you’ll find an expansive shallow bay surrounded by mangroves on one side and coral formations protecting nurseries of reef fish on the other. Dinghy renters often trek to Waterlemon/Leinster first and work their way back so as not to miss this notable bay.
You can’t go wrong no matter where you venture along the North Shore, so take your time and savor every moment. You’ll want to remember every sight, sound and smell when you return to reality.
