U.S. Virgin Islands · 7 trails · picked by Nova Bound
Photo: Navin75, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The park covers more than half of St. John, which means turquoise bays, coral reefs and forested hills with very little development in between. Mornings are for trails, when it is cooler and the light on the water is best; afternoons are for snorkeling. The island also carries a hard history: sugar plantations built and worked by enslaved Africans, whose ruins still stand along the trails. Take the ferry over from St. Thomas, give it at least three days, and remember to drive on the left.
TRAILS
1 OF 7
Reef Bay Trail
Difficulty
Hard
Length
About 6 mi
Elevation gain
900 ft
South shore · Centerline Road trailhead — The best hike on the island drops about three miles through shady forest past old estate walls to the ruins of a sugar mill at Reef Bay. A short spur leads to a pool below a seasonal waterfall where Taíno people carved petroglyphs into the rock. The walk down is easy; the 900-foot climb back out in the heat is not. Some guided hikes arrange a boat back from the beach.
⚠︎ Steep, rocky and hot on the way out. Start early and carry plenty of water.
Photo: mollystevens, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 7
Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkel Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
Short snorkel
Elevation gain
Flat
North shore · Trunk Bay — Swim out from one of the Caribbean's most photographed beaches and follow a line of underwater signs that name the corals and fish around you. The water is calm and clear on most days, which makes it a good first snorkel for kids. Arrive early to beat the cruise-ship crowds, and climb the overlook on North Shore Road for the classic photo afterward.
⚠︎ $5 amenity fee for ages 16 and up. Use reef-safe sunscreen and never stand on coral.
Photo: Fred Hsu, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 7
Ram Head Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
About 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
About 300 ft
South shore · Salt Pond Bay — Walk down to Salt Pond Bay, follow the beach, then climb a rocky path through cactus scrub to the windy headland of Ram Head, with cliffs dropping straight to the sea. It is one of the best sunset spots on the island. There is no shade, so go early or late, and finish with a snorkel back at Salt Pond.
Photo: Scott Long, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 7
Annaberg Sugar Plantation
Difficulty
Easy
Length
Under 0.5 mi loop
Elevation gain
About 50 ft
North shore · Annaberg parking — A short loop through the stone windmill tower, horse mill and boiling house of a sugar factory built and run by enslaved people. Signs tell their story honestly, including the escapes across the channel to freedom on Tortola, which earned Leinster Bay a place on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The views over the channel to the British Virgin Islands are wide and beautiful.
Photo: Amaury Laporte, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 7
Leinster Bay Trail to Waterlemon Cay
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
About 1 mi plus the swim
Elevation gain
Flat
North shore · Annaberg parking — An easy shoreline walk from Annaberg to a narrow beach, then a snorkel out over coral heads and sea grass toward little Waterlemon Cay. Sea turtles, eagle rays and starfish are common here. The walk is easy, but the swim around the cay is for confident swimmers, so we rate it moderate overall.
⚠︎ Currents around the cay can be strong. Snorkel with a buddy and a flotation vest.
Photo: Gruepig, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 7
Lind Point Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
About 2 mi
Elevation gain
About 200 ft
Cruz Bay · Visitor Center — Start right behind the visitor center in Cruz Bay and climb over Lind Point to Salomon and Honeymoon beaches, no car needed. A short side path leads to an overlook of Cruz Bay harbor. It is a perfect first morning after the ferry: hike over, swim, and walk back for lunch in town.
Photo: Scott Long, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
7 OF 7
Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.5 mi loop
Elevation gain
Flat
North shore · Cinnamon Bay — A flat loop through shady forest and the ruins of the Cinnamon Bay sugar estate, with signs naming the trees and their old uses. It is a good break from the sun and easy for any group. Then cross the road to one of the longest beaches in the park.
Photo: Amaury Laporte, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Virgin Islands trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.