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Hiking in the Virgin Islands National Park can be a fun and rewarding experience as in other national parks. It is a great way to both see and experience the park.
There are a variety of hiking trails, including numerous old Danish plantation roads, that beckon you to discover the Virgin Islands National Park. The area has lovely beaches and bays, rugged mountain forests, dry cactus woodlands, historic sugar factory ruins and inspiring vistas of blue seas and green islands.
Plan your hike with a map.
Notify friends of where you are going, when and when to expect you back.
Plan for ample time to compensate for uphill terrain, exploring, swimming, and scenic rests.
Stay on the trail.
Many trailheads are accessible by vehicle.
Some trails cross private property, do not short-cut or trespass.
Wear loose clothing that includes long pants, shirt and a hat to protect against sunburn, insects and thorny vegetation.
Carry a swimsuit and towel.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, boots or sneakers. Sandals are not recommended.
Extra energy and water is needed for hiking on this rugged tropical island.
A half gallon per hour of water is recommended.
No safe drinking water is available along trails.
Carry a first aid kit, sun screen, insect repellent and an extra handkerchief or sweatband.
Avoid hiking alone.
Watch footsteps on wet rocks and trails
Do not eat unknown fruits, nuts or berries, some are poisonous.
Feeding marine and terrestrial wildlife is prohibited and may be dangerous to you.
Pets are not allowed on Park beaches, in the campground or in picnic areas, but may be walked - leashed - on trails.
Glass bottles are not permitted on Park beaches.
Avoid handling or picking plant life that may harbor stinging insects, cause rashes, scratches or skin punctures.
Do not climb on fragile, historic structures.
Collecting plants and animals, dead or alive, or inanimate objects, including cultural artifacts, coral, shells, and sand is prohibited. Metal detectors are not allowed anywhere in the Park. Leave artifacts in place.
Coral is very fragile and easily damaged by anchors, human touch, feet, and flippers. Coral damaged by one person can take hundreds of years to regrow. Remember, "If it's not sand, don't stand." Coral and other sea life can also cause injury to people when touched.
It is illegal to dump litter in park waters or on land. Dispose of litter in designated receptacles located throughout the park.
Vehicles drive on the left, when walking along the road, walk facing traffic.
Hike early and return early
Coral is very fragile and easily damaged by anchors, human touch, feet, and flippers. Coral damaged by one person can take hundreds of years to regrow. Remember, "If it's not sand, don't stand." Coral and other sea life can also cause injury to people when touched.
It is illegal to dump litter in park waters or on land. Dispose of litter in designated receptacles located throughout the park.
| Trail | Length (miles) | Time (hours) | Description |
| Annaberg Area | 0.2 | .5 | Area adjoins the paved Leinster Bay Rd. Mangrove forest and shallow reef flats provide good wildlife viewing of land crabs, wading birds, and marine organisms. |
| Annaberg School Area | 0.2 | .25 | Ruins of one of the Caribbean's oldest public school houses. From here you have views of Mary Point, Leinster Bay and Tortola. |
| Annaberg Sugar Mill Historical | 0.2 | 1.0 | Learn about St John's sugar plantation era as you walk around these well preserved sugar factory ruins. There is also a fine view of the British Virgin Islands. |
| Brown Bay | 1.6 | 2.0 | This un-maintained trail starts from the ridge saddle 0.7 mile out of Johnny Horn trail from Waterlemon Bay. Branches east and descends through a dry scrub and open hot valley. For a short distance, trail borders Brown Bay and ascends over ridge overlooking Hurricane Hole. Ends at the East End Rd, 1.2 miles east of the Emmaus Moravian Church. |
| Caneel Hill Spur | 0.8 | .75 | Starts from Lind Point trail, crosses Northshore Rd at point overlooking Cruz Bay and Caneel Bay. Joins the Caneel Hill trail at 0.4 miles. |
| Caneel Hill | 2.4 | 2.0 | Joins Cruz Bay village with Northshore Rd entrance to Caneel Bay. A 0.8 mile climb from Cruz Bay to scenic overlook atop Caneel Hill (elev 719 ft), continues on to Margaret Hill (848 ft), then descends to Northshore Rd through a forest environment. |
| Cinnamon Bay | 1.1 | 1.0 | Beginning 100 yards east of the entrance road into Cinnamon Bay Campground, forested trail follows an old Danish plantation road uphill to its junction with Centerline Road. The Reef Bay trailhead is 0.9 miles east of this junction along Centerline Road. |
| Francis Bay | 0.5 | 0.5 | Begins at the west end of Mary Creek paved road. Passes through dry scrub forest, historic Francis Bay Estate House and onto the beach. A mangrove forest and brackish pond provide good bird habitat. Swimming and snorkeling allowed, avoid deep water passages of Mary Point, strong currents and boat traffic. No life guards. |
| Johnny Horn | 1.8 | 2.0 | Passing through sunny, upland dry forest and scrub, this historic track begins at Watermelon Bay and crosses the ridges southward to the paved road at Emmaus Moravian Church in Coral Bay. |
| Leinster Bay | 0.8 | 0.5 | Follow the old Danish Road eastward along the seashore from the Annaberg picnic site to Watermelon Bay. Good boat anchorage and swimming. Great snorkeling around Watermelon Bay. No life guards. |
| Lind Point | 1.1 | 1.0 | Connects the National Park Visitor Center at Cruz Bay with Honeymoon Beach at Caneel Bay. Trail ascends 0.4 mile to scenic Lind Point overlook (elev 160 ft). At 0.7 miles, a side trail leads to Salomon Beach. Open dry forest with cactus scrub environment. |
| Peace Hill | 0.1 | 0.25 | Scenic grassy overlook with old sugar mill tower and figure of Christ. 2.8 miles from Cruz Bay just off the Northshore Road. |
| Trunk Bay Snorkel | 200 yards | 0.5 | Explore the coral reef on this signed underwater trail starting near the life guard stand at Trunk Bay. |
| Turtle Point | 0.6 | 0.5 | Trail begins at north end of Caneel Bay Plantation. Hikers wishing to use this trail should enter property through the main gate and register at the front desk. |
| Water Catchment | 1.0 | 0.5 | A forest-canopied trail between Centerline Road and the Northshore Road. Trail joins the Caneel Hill trail over a portion of its route. |
| Trail | Length (miles) | Time (hours) | Description |
| Bordeaux Mountain | 1.2 | 1.5 | This steep, open to the sun trail connects the shady Bordeaux Mountain Road with Lameshur Bay, 1,000 feet below. Centerline Road is 1.7 miles northwest of the trail junction with the Bordeaux Road. |
| Drunk Bay | 0.3 | 0.25 | Walk to the south end of Salt Pond Bay Beach and turn east following the Drunk Bay trail along the northside of the salt pond. Some island residents harvest the accumulated salt during May and June. Notice the windswept, stunted plant growth as you approach Drunk Bay Beach. Dangerous swimming conditions. |
| Lameshur Bay | 1.5 | 1.25 | Trail connects Lameshur Bay with Reef Bay Trail. Open dry forest hike. 1.2 miles from the Reef Bay junction, a spur trail leads 0.3 mile to a salt pond and coral rubble beach at Europa Bay. |
| Petroglyph | 0.2 | 0.25 | Trail starts 1.5 miles down the Reef Bay trail. The many rock carvings by the pools are attributed to early Arawak Indians. |
| Ram Head | 1.0 | 1.0 | Trail starts at the south end of Salt Pond Bay Beach. Rocky, exposed trail leads to a unique blue cobble beach and then switchbacks up the hillside to its crest 200 ft above the Caribbean Sea. |
| Reef Bay | 2.2 | 2.0 | Trail begins 4.9 miles east of Cruz Bay on the Centerline Road. Descends through a shady, moist forest and a dry forest, both with a wide variety of plant life. Remains of 4 sugar estates and abandoned farming communities are along the way. |
| Salt Pond Bay | 0.2 | 0.25 | Trail begins at the parking area 3.9 miles south of Coral Bay. Hike graded trail down to Salt Pond Beach and picnic area through arid cactus scrub land. Good swimming and snorkeling. Area is hot and sunny. Extra drinking water and hat recommended. |
| Yawzi Point | 0.3 | 0.25 | Trail leads from Little Lameshur Bay Road through thorny scrub vegetation to isolated coves. Years ago people afflicted with the disease yaws had to live on this narrow peninsula. |
The US and British Virgin Islands offer hidden harbors, beaches and dive spots. Charter operations provide from a half day to many weeks, power or sail, crew or uncrewed "bare-boat."
Caneel Bay, Francis Bay, and Maho Bay are popular anchorages for overnight stays. Anchor in sand well away from coral and seagrass beds, or use moorings. Anchoring is not permitted in Saltpond, Great Lameshur, Little Lameshur, and Reef Bay; moorings must be used in these areas. Contact the park for more information about moorings and their use. Living aboard a boat in the park waters is limited to 14 days in any 12-month period.
Coral is very fragile and easily damaged by anchors, human touch, feet, and flippers. Coral damaged by one person can take hundreds of years to regrow. Remember, "If it's not sand, don't stand." Coral and other sea life can also cause injury to people when touched.
Kayaks, dinghies, rafts or any other motored or rowed vessels must stay outside demarcated swim areas. Boats 26 feet or less may access the beach using channels marked by red and green buoys, but may not anchor in this channel. Boats may moor or anchor in sand outside of swim areas in Park waters on the north shore.
Boat anchoring is prohibited in Park waters on the south shore and boats must use moorings provided. This includes all the bays from Cocolobo Point to Ram Head.
Boats are limited to 14 nights per calendar year in Park waters. Moorings are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Boats must be 55' or less to use moorings and may not be anchored while using the moorings. No rafting is permitted while moored. No anchoring is permitted within 20 feet of any mooring or regulatory marker.
Boats 125 feet to 210 feet (length on deck) may anchor only in Francis Bay, in sand, and must be in depths greater than 50 feet.
It is illegal to dump litter in park waters or on land. Dispose of litter in designated receptacles located throughout the park.
Park waters are open to fishing with hand-held rods and is allowed outside of swim areas. Fishing is not allowed in Trunk Bay and in buoy-designated swimming areas. Possession of spearguns within the park is prohibited. For world class deep sea fishing, charter boats are available in Red Hook, St Thomas.
Coral is very fragile and easily damaged by anchors, human touch, feet, and flippers. Coral damaged by one person can take hundreds of years to regrow. Remember, "If it's not sand, don't stand." Coral and other sea life can also cause injury to people when touched.
Caribbean spiny lobster catch is limited to two per person per day and the carapace must be at least 3.5". Whelk season is October 1 - March 30. Whelk must be larger than 2.5" and take is limited to 1 gallon per person per day. Conch season is October 1 - June 30. Conch must be 9" long and take is limited to two per person per day.
It is illegal to dump litter in park waters or on land. Dispose of litter in designated receptacles located throughout the park.
Scuba Diving is not permitted off designated swim beaches. Waterskiing and the use of personal watercraft are prohibited in park waters.
Coral is very fragile and easily damaged by anchors, human touch, feet, and flippers. Coral damaged by one person can take hundreds of years to regrow. Remember, "If it's not sand, don't stand." Coral and other sea life can also cause injury to people when touched.
Beach fires are prohibited.
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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
