Few photos better illustrate a hike than this photo taken along the Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop in Saint John. That said, it’s a cute little hike. There’s a lot more to nature walks than strenuous adventures.
soft.
cute.
Doesn’t it sound like one of our classic trips into the wilds of the Caribbean?
Yeah, it’s not like that. Still, the Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop is worth checking out under the right circumstances.
For my wife and I, the “right circumstances” during our November 2024 STJ escape centered on our 25th wedding anniversary as the primary reason for the trip.
Of course, my wife and I love hiking. In fact, she is the one who rekindled my love of wandering in the bush during a trip to Nevis in June 2010.
(For more on a dramatically more challenging adventure, see our posts The Source Hiking Trail and Rekindling Romance in Nevis.)
But we planned a St. John escape that was all about unwinding and reconnecting. Nothing is too hard. At least outside of our romantic hideaway, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, after lunch and a dip in Cinnamon Bay we decided to give this gentle adventure a try. Almost immediately we were glad we did.
The Nature Loop begins across the street from the Cinnamon Bay parking lot entrance. In total, it only increases by half a mile. The foundation is generally good throughout, especially since part of the trail crosses a wooden boardwalk.
Useful signage in pretty good shape is also scattered along the route, giving insight into points of interest.
Among the points of interest are the ruins of the former Cinnamon Bay Sugar Plantation.
In the shadow of the forest and filtered sunlight, the ruins took on a heightened poignancy, their ghostly legacy hanging heavy in the air.
These eerie tombs support that emotion…
I would like to say that I did not expect anything like this.
We encountered two other clusters of graves along the Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop. The final resting place of Margarethe Berner Hjardemaal, one of the pair pictured here, dates back to 1836.
But the eerie feeling I got on the Nature Loop was more than alleviated by the cute forest friends pictured at the beginning of this post.
We encountered over 20 white-tailed deer during our half-mile trip.
Unlike the deer I grew up knowing on St Croix, these guys weren’t at all scared or shy. In fact, they seemed quite happy and comfortable welcoming us into their world. They grazed a few feet away from us and didn’t even hint at being startled in any way as we passed.
Yes, the Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop is very short and easy. But it’s also full of surprises. If you’re looking for a gentle yet rewarding introduction to your St. John hiking adventure, this is the book!
