Historical Sites
Cinnamon Bay Plantation Ruins
Of all the sugar plantation ruins on St. John, the ones at Cinnamon Bay are the most accessible. The factory ruins are located right along the main road as you drive past Cinnamon Bay. The trail that runs through the ruins is comprised of paved and wooden pathways. Overall the trail is quite level and partially shaded.
There is accessible parking in the Cinnamon Bay parking lot. But, keep in mind that Cinnamon Bay is one of the most popular beaches, so getting there early in the morning is your best bet for beating the crowds and securing a parking spot without having to wait.
8:00 to 10:00AM should be safe. Getting there before the noon crowd is key!
Annaberg Plantation Ruins
Unlike the Cinnamon Bay ruins, Annaberg is situated on top of a hill. A paved trail runs along the sugar factory, jail, slave quarters and sugar mill. Some portions of the trail are rather steep while others are level.
At the top of the hill where the sugar mill stands there are a couple of picnic tables and a stunning view of Tortola and Waterlemon Cay, the small island out in the middle of Leinster Bay.
At the very base of the hill there is a parking lot. Halfway up the hill there is a spacious roundabout right in front of the entrance to the ruins. There you can drop off passengers.
Sightseeing
Francis Bay Boardwalk
Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Just before the beach, on the right side of the road, there is a boardwalk that runs through the trees and along a pond where you can see some of St. John’s wildlife like crabs and aquatic birds.
Beaches
Hawksnest
Hawksnest has a paved path directly from the parking lot down to the beach. Along the path, there are several amenities including toilets, showers, garbage cans, stationary grills, and pavillion picnic table seating that looks out onto the beach.
Trunk Bay
Wheelchairs are available at Trunk Bay on a first come, first serve basis.
Trunk Bay, St. John’s most famous beach, has paved and wooden pathways that lead up to the sand. When you pass the fee booth and cross the bridge, you will see the showers and restrooms. A little bit past the restrooms the path will fork. Turn left and you will find a pavillion with several picnic tables. Turn right and the path will take you toward the far end of the beach where you’ll find a couple more picnic tables in the sand.
Trunk Bay has some shops where you can rent things like beach chairs and snorkel gear, order food and drinks, and buy souvenirs.
Maho Bay
Maho Bay is very narrow and the sand tends to be fairly compact. It is located right along the main road, so the distance from your car to the beach is only a few yards.
At the far left of the beach there is accessible parking. In front of the parking spot is a very short paved path that takes you from the parking lot to a small pavilion with picnic table seating. There is a bathroom to the left of the pavilion, and across the street there some shops and food vendors.
Cinnamon Bay
Cinnamon isn’t as accessible as the last three beaches mentioned and the sand there is very shifty. However, there is a paved walkway from the parking lot that takes you right up to the edge of the beach where the Cinnamon Bay Archeology Museum used to be (this building was destroyed in hurricanes Irma and Maria).
The distance from the parking lot down to the beach is close to 1,000 feet. Halfway to the beach there are bathrooms and showers on the right. The path has a gradual slope, so you will be traveling downhill on the way to the beach and uphill on the way back to the parking lot.
Restaurants & Shopping
Wharfside
Wharfside has lots of places to eat and shop all in one spot. Located right beside the ferry dock, Wharfside offers several restaurants and bars with beautiful oceanfront views, and most of the shops on the ground level are wheelchair accessible.
Restaurants in Wharfside:
Banana Deck
Beach Bar
High Tide
Joe’s Rum Hut
Marketplace
Marketplace is three stories high and is equipped with elevators. There are two parking lots: one on the base level and the other on the second floor.
First Floor:
Starfish Market (grocery store)
Papaya Cafe (bookstore/coffee shop)
First Bank
Second Floor:
Chelsea Drug Store
Shaibu’s Gourmet Grab & Go
Kimberly Boulon Fine Art Gallery
Third Floor:
Grapevine Salon
Sam & Jack’s Deli
Mongoose Junction
Mongoose Junction is not very accessible. It has many stairs and several levels. However, there are two food spots that are wheelchair accessible.
St. John Scoops
Scoops ice cream is located on the base level of Mongoose Junction and is right next to the accessible parking spots in the front left corner of the shopping center.
Sun Dog Cafe
Sun Dog can be accessed through the back parking lot of Mongoose Junction. Sun Dog Cafe is located in a small courtyard, and on either side of the seating areas there are a few shops.
Accessible Parking
Cruz Bay
Mongoose Junction--along the road and in both the side and back parking lots
National Park Visitors Center parking lot (there are also accessible restrooms here)
Ferry dock parking lot
Wharfside Village parking lot
Marketplace parking lot
Post Office
Public Bathrooms to the right of the ferry dock (the bathrooms are also wheelchair accessible)
Coral Bay
Dolphin Market (paved lot)
Note: Most of the parking lots in Coral Bay are gravel or unpaved
Honorable Mention
National Park Visitors Center
Learn more about St. John from our expert park rangers. Take a look at the exhibits at the Visitors Center and pick up some informational pamphlets. If you’re interested, ask a staff member if they’re offering guided tours of the plantation ruins.
The Visitors Center is located across from Mongoose Junction. There is a ramp leading into the building. There are also accessible bathrooms outside and a paved walkway along the harbor.