Shawn Bags The Salt Water Pond Walk – Cayman Brac

Published by Shawn on

When I set out to do this hike, I could find very little information about it online. I figured I would post some info for future hikers. You can start the hike on either side of the island, but I chose to start on the South side at Rebecca’s cave. To get to the trail-head, take South side road and turn onto Rebecca’s Cave road. Follow the road to the end and park in the shade.

2023 update. It sounds like the local quarry is potentially destroying this trail. Go and enjoy it while you can. But be very careful of flying rocks from the quarry hitting this trail. More details can be found here: https://www.caymancompass.com/2023/08/28/conservation-council-brac-quarry-damaging-historic-trail/ 
View at the trail-head. Trail is on the left, Rebecca’s cave on the right.
Might as well take a look inside Rebecca’s cave before setting out. Rebecca was the 18-month-old daughter of Helena and Raib Boden. She died during the devastating hurricane of 1932. The trail we are hiking today is the same path the Boden’s, and many others used to escape a 30-foot storm surge on the other side of the island. They followed this same path to seek shelter inside this cave.
After visiting the cave and walking up the concrete steps, the trail is wide and obvious. Can’t go wrong here.
Enormous cactus here. 1 Shawn for scale.
In short time, the ground turns to the typical razor sharp ironshore but fortunately, the Cayman Trust has built a nice wooden walkway over the rock.
This guy made an appearance on the boardwalk. He didn’t seem to be bothered by our presence.
Unfortunately, the boardwalk ends in short time. Now is a good time to ask yourself, do you feel comfortable navigating through the forest without a well-defined trail over razor sharp Ironshore? If not, now would be a good time to head back.
This sign isn’t kidding. It is a very rocky trail, don’t be surprised if your shoes get sliced open on the ironshore.
In places, the trail can be very overgrown making navigating a bit tricky. This is a picture of the actual trail! The Caymans are home to at least 6 poisonous plants including the deadly Manchineel tree. The Manchineel tree has the proud distinction of being one of the most dangerous plants in the world. The fruit, bark and leaves are poisonous. Even sitting under the tree can put you in contact with the sap that will burn your skin. Burning the tree results in poisonous smoke that can cause blindness. Yikes! Although I didn’t see any on this trail, make sure you educate yourself and be on the lookout. This website has a helpful list:
https://www.caymanhealth.com/2019/03/22/potentially-harmful-cayman-plants/
Somebody has placed markers in the trees to help you find your way. They are just far enough apart that as soon as you start wondering if you are off route and lost, you find another marker (hopefully).
If poison plants, razor sharp rock and navigation issues haven’t upped the difficulty level enough for you, there are also caves, right in the middle of the trail. Unfortunately, you can’t see it, but I’m standing beside a hole in the ground that leads into a cave.
I can’t help myself; I had to stop to explore the cave.
I decide that outside the cave must be the high point of the trail. Traditional Summit Selfie!
Eventually, the trail will pop out of the North side of the island. It would be possible to start your hike here instead of on the South side.
The parking area if you start on the North side.
If you keep walking North, you will eventually encounter the mass grave from the devastating 1932 hurricane. The hurricane had winds over 300Km/h and a 30-foot storm surge. The 19 people that died from drowning in the tidal wave during the storm are buried here. Those that survived the 30-foot wave used this exact same trail to escape to the other side of the island to take refuge in what is now called Rebecca’s cave.
If you keep walking just a little further, you will find yourself on the other coast. A great place to stop for a snack before turning around and following the trail back across the island.
Of course, the return journey requires the same navigation and route finding. This is the trail, seriously. I imagine in the past this trail was far more obvious as it was used by Brac’ers to cross the island before roads were built.
It’s a pleasant relief to get back onto the easy trail. It’s only a short walk back to the parking lot and a post hike rum.



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1 Comment

ปั้มไลค์ · July 22, 2020 at 7:48 am

Like!! Thank you for publishing this awesome article.

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