Hawksnest Bay has several fine beaches. From west to east they are: Caneel Hawksnest, Little Hawksnest, Public Hawksnest and Gibney and Oppenheimer Beaches. But on the eastern side of Hawksnest Bay about 100 yards north of Gibney Beach there is a small sandy beach that except for its size shares almost all of the wonderful characteristics of St. John's world renowned north shore beaches. Because the name "Little Hawksnest has already been taken, and because up until now no one has named it, I will take the liberty of naming this little treasure "Very Little Hawksnest." (Actually I named it once already in the first edition of my St. John Beach Guide, where I referred to it as "Hawksnest East," but I like "Very Little Hawksnest" better.

picnic at a very little beach

Very Little Hawksnest has the same soft coral sand, but tidal conditions will determine how much beach you actually have. The soft sand extends into the water making it easy entry into the water. There's shade it the mornings, beautiful views and and nice snorkeling along the coast in both directions. Just to the south are the remains of an old sunken boat that once belonged to the son of the original owners of the lumberyard, when it actually was a lumberyard. It wrecked when the mooring failed during a windy night.

In the early 1970s, there were several tents occupied by hippies on the ridge of the headland who frequented this very private and out-of-the-way little beach. The hillside was once referred to as "scunt hill" by some island residents unsympathetic to the hippie way of life.

Very Little Hawksnest

This tiny beach is accessible by boat, by kayak or by a moderate swim or snorkel from the Oppenheimer side of Gibney Beach, although at one time there was a rugged trail through thick bush leading to a section of the rock cliff behind the beach where a rope was placed to facilitate the decent and ascent of the rocks.