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General Information
Virgin Islands National Park is open year round with highest visitation Dec through Apr, and lowest May through Nov. The park covers more than one half of Saint John Island and Hassel Island in Saint Thomas harbor and includes quiet coves, blue green waters, and white sandy beaches fringed by lush green hills. Here, too, are early Carib Indian relics and the remains of Danish colonial sugar plantations.
Visitor Center and Facilities
At the visitor center, Park Rangers are available to help plan your visit, which may include guided island hikes, historical tours, snorkeling trips, cultural crafts demonstrations, and evening campground programs. Advanced registration and transportation fees are required in some cases.
Cruz Bay Visitor Center
Only a five minute walk away from the public ferry dock, the visitor center is the ideal place to start your park explorations. The center contains exhibits, a park video, brochures, maps, and books.
Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Contact Station is open daily, 8:00am to 4:30pm. The Station is closed Christmas Day. Park areas are open 24 hours a day year-round.
Phone: 340-776-6201 ext 238
Location: Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Closures: Contact center for latest information.
Special Programs: Call for additional information.
Exhibits: Currently under construction.
Available Facilities: Eastern National Sales Outlet. Restroom Facilities.
Cinnamon Bay Watersports Shop
Available Facilities: A watersports shop at Cinnamon Bay rents snorkeling equipment, sea kayaks, sailboards, and small sailboats and provides lessons.
Trunk Bay Kiosk
Open: All Year Special Programs: A kiosk staffed by Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park volunteers at Trunk Bay provides Park information. Information is also posted on bulletin boards located throughout the Park. Available Facilities: Facilities at Trunk Bay include showers; a snack bar that sells sandwiches, snacks and drinks; a watersports shop that rents snorkeling equipment and beach chairs; and a small gift shop.
Ranger Led Programs
Call the Visitor Center for more information on the activities offered during the time frame of your visit.
| Activity | Days | Time | Location | Description |
| Cinnamon Bay Walk | Mon / Thu | Cinnamon Bay Amphitheater | Visit the ruins of Cinnamon Bay Estate , one of the first plantations on the island, and hike the loop trail. Contact park to verify current schedule, 340-776-6201 ext.238. | |
| Discover Annaberg | Mon - Sat | 10:00 am 2:00 pm |
Annaberg Sugar Mill | Learn about the importance of agriculture in the V.I. from slavery to present times. Demonstrations include gardening, cooking, and baking (you get to sample!), to craft weavers creating baskets, brooms, and other unique items using old traditional standards, techniques and materials. $4 user fee for visitors 17 and over. Contact park to verify current schedule, 340-776-6201 ext.238 |
| Discover Bird Watching | Sun | 7:30 am 9:00 am |
Francis Bay Trail Trailhead | Birdwalk on Francis Bay Trail. Reservations are required. Contact park to verify current schedule, 340-776-6201 ext.238. |
| Ranger's Choice Evening Program | Mon | 7:30 pm 8:30 pm |
Cinnamon Bay Amphitheater | Informal talks and illustrated presentations examine plants, animals, marine life and culture of the island. Contact park to verify current schedule, 340-776-6201 ext.238 |
| Reef Bay Hike | Mon / Thu | 9:30 am 3:30 pm |
Cinnamon Bay Trailhead | Additional hikes are added on Wednesdays and Fridays during the busy months of winter and early spring. Experience the secrets of St. John's tropical forests, petroglyphs, and sugar mill ruins, as they come alive on this three-mile downhill hike. Although down-hill, it is not necessarily easy due to it's length, steep rocky terrain, short but strenuous uphill sections, and the prevailing heat and humidity. In addition, there is the remote possibility that deteriorating sea conditions may require hiking back uphill to the trailhead. Participation is limited, and therefore reservations are required. The hike includes a boat pickup at Reef Bay which returns participants to the service dock at Cruz Bay. There is a $15.00 transportation fee payable on the boat. Contact park to verify current schedule, 340-776-6201 ext. 238. |
| Snorkeling Trip | Tue | 12:00 pm | Trunk Bay's west lifeguard stand | Experience the park's underwater resources as you snorkel above a tropical coral reef. See the vast diversity of reef fishes and soft and hard coral. This trip is not for novice snorkelers. Trunk Bay users fee, $4.00 for visitors 17 and over.(Contact park to verify current schedule) 340-776-6201 ext. |
| Waters Edge Walk | Sun | 10:30 am | Leinster Bay Trailhead | Learn about coastal plants and animals and marine life in Leinster Bay. Bring water and wear shoes you can get wet. (Contact park to verify current schedule) 340-776-6201 ext. |
Special Events and Programs
Annual two to three day event to commemorate Black History Month is held at Annaberg Sugar Plantation the latter part of February and includes crafts, storytelling, cooking demonstrations. St. John's Carnival on July fourth includes parade and island cultural activities during the week prior. The park presents interpretive theater during the winter season at Cinnamon Bay campground; productions are free and include a puppetry program on the Coral Reef as well as a historical rendition of St. John's Slave Revolt.
Hurricane season extends from June through November. The park provides ongoing information for visitors including where to go in the event of a serious storm.
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This site is in no way associated with the United States Government, the Department of the Interior or the National Park Service
