Trails & Hiking · St. John

Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop

An easy half-mile nature loop through Cinnamon Bay plantation ruins and shaded forest, with an accessible opening boardwalk.

Trail details

Distance: 0.5-mile loop
Estimated time: 30-60 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Route type: Loop
Terrain: Boardwalk followed by moderately sloped packed earth with occasional roots and rocks
Shade / exposure: Deep shade through much of the forest section
Accessibility: The first 0.09 mile is a four-foot-wide concrete and wooden boardwalk with very little slope; the remaining loop is not fully accessible

Highlights

Cinnamon Bay plantation ruins
Interpretive waysides
Bay rum trees
Birding
Historic tombs

Plan the route

Access: Located across North Shore Road from the Cinnamon Bay Campground entrance; use the beach parking lot.
Pets: Leashed dogs are allowed on trails with restrictions

Important hazards

Roots and rocks occur beyond the boardwalk
Cross North Shore Road carefully between parking and the trail area

Conditions and access can change. Check current notices before setting out.

Where it fits

The setting and how to plan for it

Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop makes a useful middle stop between a beach morning and a longer St. John drive. The opening boardwalk is gentle and easy to pair with a quick look at the plantation remains; beyond it, the loop feels more like a forest walk, with roots, rocks, and interpretive stops under bay rum and other tropical trees. Because the full route is short, it works well for families, mixed-ability groups who can use the partial boardwalk section, and travelers who want history without spending half a day on a trail.

Nearby

Cinnamon Bay beach and North Shore Road
Cinnamon Bay Trail toward Centerline Road
Annaberg Sugar Plantation and other North Shore history stops

Keep exploring nearby

Before you go

The trail is across North Shore Road from the Cinnamon Bay campground entrance; use the beach parking area and cross the road carefully. The boardwalk is the most approachable part, but the rest of the loop includes uneven ground. Bring water and allow extra time if you are combining it with the beach or nearby historic sites.