Francis Bay Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The boardwalk section can be slippery when wet, especially after rain — watch your footing on the turns near the viewing platforms.
Mosquitoes and no-see-ums thrive in the mangrove section, particularly in the late afternoon. Apply insect repellent before you start, not after you are already being eaten alive.
Trail Details
- 1
Hit the trail early morning — before nine — when the salt pond is most active with birdlife and the light through the mangroves is at its warmest and most photogenic.
- 2
Bring binoculars, not trekking poles. This trail is flat and gentle, but the birding opportunities are world-class, and you will regret squinting at that green heron from fifty yards away.
- 3
After the boardwalk, walk the extra few minutes down to Francis Bay Beach itself — one of the quieter north shore beaches on St. John, and a perfect reward for a morning spent on your feet.
Photos
NPS
