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If you are looking for a beach with great amenities and plenty to do, Cinnamon Bay Beach on St. John USVI is the perfect choice. This stunning North Shore beach is perfect for taking walks, renting beach equipment, and exploring historic ruins. Visitors can easily reach Cinnamon by taxi and can purchase food and drink just steps from the water.
Cinnamon Bay offers signature panoramic views stretching from Peter Bay all the way over to Francis Bay. It’s where you’ll find the longest beach on the island, as well as the oldest standing structure on the island. Not to mention, the water at Cinnamon Bay Beach is a mesmerizing spectrum of shimmering blue that can be soothingly calm or have waves crashing into seafoam due to bigger swells.
The adventures extend even beyond Cinnamon Bay Beach, whether you are attending an educational program offered by the Cinnamon Bay Campground or hiking a nearby trail. If a full day of beach fun sounds like your speed, below I am sharing everything you need to know for the perfect day at Cinnamon Bay Beach on St. John.
What to Know About Cinnamon Bay Beach on St. John
Things to Know
- Reachable in a fifteen-minute drive from the Cruz Bay Ferry Dock via North Shore Road. There is a decent-sized parking lot just steps away from the water.
- Cinnamon Bay Beach is also home to the Cinnamon Bay Campground, which has food, real bathrooms and even showers. Keep an eye out for free evening events held Monday through Friday, including astronomy talks.
- Beach chair, kayak, and snorkel equipment rentals are available.
- There is no entry fee to visit Cinnamon Bay Beach.
- Always bring reef safe sunscreen. All other varieties have been outlawed to prevent further damage to the coral reefs in Virgin Islands National Park. You can purchase this and other items at the campground’s general store.
The Scenery
Your eyes will not be disappointed during a visit to Cinnamon Bay Beach. Right from your chair you can count the shades of turquoise in the water.
Look left down the beach to find numerous shade spots before a rocky area that marks the division from Little Cinnamon Beach. Further in that direction are views of the Peter Bay mansions perched on a lush hill above their namesake beach. Rumor has it Kenny Chesney once owned a home there (he’s since moved).
Look towards your right to see Cinnamon Cay and the British Virgin Islands on the horizon. Continuing even further right beyond the beach entrance is an extra long stretch of sand, which initially follows a pretty curve around a bend. Beyond the bend, the beach becomes more rugged with giant rocky boulders extending down from the road above.
The crowds near the entrance thin out heading toward the rocky cove at the end of the beach, which has a mermaid rock (if you don’t know what this is, then you aren’t a mermaid). Behind the hill containing this cove is Maho Bay; depending on where you’re sitting, you might even be able to see Francis Bay.
You’ll also see birds at Cinnamon Bay, who are likely to take a keen interest in your lunch. Never leave any food out, and always throw away all trash! If you’re paying attention, you might catch a pelican circling the water before it takes a dramatic plunge to catch its next meal.
Parking at Cinnamon Bay on St. John
There is a relatively large parking lot at Cinnamon Bay Beach, and it is usually possible to find a spot during any time of the day. Note that taxis are often coming in and out of this beach, and some spaces are reserved for them.
Drive slow, as people are constantly walking about the campground, heading to and from the parking lot, or getting off taxis.
Amenities at Cinnamon Bay Beach
As far as amenities go, Cinnamon Bay offers more than any other beach, thanks to the extensive facilities provided by the Cinnamon Bay Campground. There is no other place that offers real bathrooms, food, shopping, and watersport rentals all in one location. This is super convenient if you are day tripping to St. John from St. Thomas or aren’t renting a car.
Additionally, there is the added bonus of exploring extensive historical ruins and one of St. John’s best hiking trails a short distance away. In essence, there are many types of adventures you can have at Cinnamon Bay Beach.
Avoiding Crowds at Cinnamon Bay Beach
The first way to navigate crowds at Cinnamon Bay Beach, or any busy beach like famous Trunk Bay for that matter, is to arrive in the morning by 10am. That way, you have your pick of parking spots and shady beach areas to set up camp.
The second way is to move further down the beach away from the entrance, as most people don’t seem to venture too far from there. I get it, walking in the sand with all your things is hard, but if you’re willing to do it, you’ll be rewarded with lots of personal space.
Best Things to do at Cinnamon Bay Beach
Cinnamon Bay has St. John’s longest beach and offers more things to do than any of its counterparts in Virgin Islands National Park. Here are the top 9 things to do:
1. Rent a Kayak or SUP
Upon making your way into Cinnamon Bay Beach from the parking lot, you’ll pass a few little stands. One such place will have a rack of kayaks and stand-up paddle boards available for rent.
Paddlers should take advantage of this, as Cinnamon is a wonderful place to glide over translucent waters that range from bright aqua to dark cobalt. There are even a select number of see-through kayaks available to further enhance your experience. Confident kayakers could navigate all the way over to Maho Bay on a calm day.
2. Go Snorkeling
Snorkeling is a popular thing to do all over the pristine waters around St. John. Good swimmers will find the most sea life to observe in the waters around Cinnamon Cay, which sits about 100 yards from shore.
Alternatively, sea turtles are occasionally spotted on the eastern end of the beach. As an inexperienced snorkeler and okay swimmer, I stayed in the shallow waters near shore and found myself in the midst of a large school of tiny fish! If you do not have your own snorkel equipment, you can rent it at a stand to your left as you walk towards the beach from the parking lot.
3. Take a Beach Walk
St. John is a small island and the beaches are not as lengthy as you might find in South Carolina or the Outer Banks. Therefore, if you like long beach walks, Cinnamon will best suit this need since it’s the longest beach on the island. Along the way, you can check out the ruins of the 17th century Danish Warehouse near the water and even stop for a beverage at the snack stand.
4. View Danish Colonial Ruins
It is easy to find ruins from the time of Danish colonization at Cinnamon Bay Beach, which is a significant archeological area within Virgin Islands National Park. You only have to head towards the shore to find the 17th century Danish warehouse that is the oldest standing structure on St. John. The building was actually fully intact until September 2017, when Hurricane Irma tragically destroyed it.
Just to the right of this ruin, facing the water, is a small plot dedicated to the slaves, landowners, and natives who once lived on Cinnamon Bay.
Right across the street from the beach parking lot, you will find ruins of a former sugar plantation along the half-mile Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail. This well-shaded area features the remains of many structures with informative signs that give insights into life when plantations dominated St. John.
5. Hike to the Views on America Hill
One of my favorite hikes on St. John is just a short walking distance up the road from the Cinnamon Bay parking lot. This is the Cinnamon Bay Trailhead, which leads all the to Centerline Road. However, most visitors prefer to only take this trail about .2 miles before turning left onto the America Hill Trail.
The Cinnamon Bay to America Hill hike is .6 miles each way (1.2 miles in total), but is entirely uphill on the way out. Thankfully, the trail is well-shaded and in good shape, although you’ll want to wear good shoes and bring plenty of water. Pause at the estate ruins at the top to take in the sweeping view out to the BVI before making your way back down.
There are dirt parking spots right next to the trailhead, or simply park at Cinnamon Bay and go to the beach afterwards!
6. Get Lunch and Drinks
The Cinnamon Bay Campground offers two dining options. One is the Rain Tree Cafe, which an informal restaurant with breakfast, dinner, and free WiFi.
This space is meant for visitors to gather and meet other travelers while sharing stories and playing board games. The Rain Tree Cafe is also where Friends of Virgin Islands National Park holds weekly informational talks about nature, history, and other topics related to the island’s heritage.
The other dining option is more of a concession stand, which has fun snacks like hot dogs and pulled pork nachos. Beware that eating at the picnic tables will make you a sitting duck for birds! Alcoholic beverages like light beer and seltzer are available over here as well.
7. Shop at the General Store
Did you forget something at home? No worries, as the Cinnamon Bay Campground general store has you covered. You’ll find the likes of towels, reef-safe sunscreen, and sun shirts available, as well as a selection of cute souvenirs. Do expect prices to be a bit higher on the island than you would typically find at home or online.
8. Scramble Over to Little Cinnamon Beach
Little Cinnamon Beach is one of the most underrated on St. John. It is basically big Cinnamon, except a little less convenient and practically deserted. The few people who do manage to reach this beach usually come by boat.
This lack of other beach-goers is mostly because reaching this beach by foot requires a bit of a scramble over large boulders near the water. However, if you are motivated, this trek is possible.
9. Visit at Night for an Astronomy Talk with a Park Ranger
To see Cinnamon Bay in a totally different light, I totally recommend returning in the evening for an astronomy talk with Ranger Mark.
These weekly talks happen every Wednesday at 8:15pm right at Cinnamon Bay Beach, and run for about an hour. During this time, Ranger Mark will point out different stars, planets, and constellations in the sky, as well as explain the importance of darkness to St. John’s ecosystems. You can even look through a telescope to view the likes of Venus or the craters of the moon.
There is no fee to attend and no prior registration is necessary. All you have to do is show up and head towards the man standing by the large telescope. Deep woods bug spray is a necessity!
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Cinnamon Bay Beach offers some of the best views out of all the beaches on St. John, USVI. It offers plenty of convenience, the longest stretch of sand on the island for beach walks, as well as the oldest structure on the island. If you want to explore beyond a day spent beside stunningly beautiful water, return at night to view the stars come out over the sea.
Do you plan to spend a day adventuring around Cinnamon Bay Beach during your next trip to St. John?
