Petroglyph Trail
Trail starts 1.5 miles down the Reef Bay trail. The many rock carvings by the pools are attributed to early Arawak Indians.
(.2 mile, 15 minutes)
Reef Bay Trail
Trail begins 4.9 miles east of Cruz Bay on Centerline Road. The trail descends through a shady, moist forest and a dry forest, both of which incorporate a wide variety of plant life. The visible remains of four sugar estates and more recently abandoned farming communities are along the way. A small picnic site and pit toilets are in the vicinity of Reef Bay sugar mill near the beach. NO LIFEGUARDS.
Guided hikes are provided by National Park Service personnel on a scheduled basis along the trail. Check with the Park Service Visitor Center in Cruz Bay if you would like to join a tour.
(2.2 miles, 2 hours)
Lameshur Bay Trail
Trail connects Lameshur Bay with Reef Bay trail. Open dry forest hiking, 1.2 miles from the Reef Bay juntion a spur trail leads .3 mile to a salt pond and coral rubble beach at Europa Bay.
(1.5 miles, 1.4 hours)
Bordeaux Mountain Trail
This steep, open to the sun trail connects the shady Bordeaux Mountain Road with Lameshur Bay 1000 feet below. Centerline Road is 1.7 miles northwest of the trail junction with the Bordeaux Road.
(1.2 miles, 1.2 hours)
Yawzi Point Trail
Trail leads from Little Lameshur Bay Road (near beach) through thorny scrub vegetation to isolated coves. Years ago people afflicted with the disease yaws had to live in isolation on this narrow peninsula.
(.3 mile, 20 minutes)
Ram Head Trail
Trail starts at the south end of Salt Pond Bay Beach. This rocky, exposed trail leads to a unique blue cobble beach and then switchbacks up the hillside to its crest 200 feet above the Caribbean Sea. Magnificent windswept scenery. Danger: Watch your footing near the cliff edge.
(1 mile, 1 hour)
Drunk Bay Trail
Walk to the south end of Salt Pond Bay Beach and turn to the east following the Drunk Bay trail along the north side of the salt pond. Some island residents harvest the accumulated salt during May and June. Note the windswept, stunted plant growth as you approach rocky Drunk Bay Beach. Caution: Dangerous swimming conditions.
(.3 mile, 20 minutes)
Salt Pond Bay Trail
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, chemical toilet. Caution: area is extremely hot and sunny. Extra drinking water and hat are recommended. NO LIFEGUARDS.
(.2 mile, 15 minutes
Brown Bay Trail
Caution: This trail is not maintained.
Trail starts from the ridge saddle .7 mile out of Johnny Horn trail from Waterlemon Bay. Trail branches to the east and descends through a dry thorn scrub and open hot valley. For a short distance trail borders Brown Bay and then ascends over ridge overlooking Hurricane Hole. Trail ends at the East End Road 1.2 miles east of the Emmaus Moravian church.
(1.6 miles, 2 hours)
Johnny Horn Trail
Passing through sunny, upland dry forest and scrub, this historic track begins at Waterlemon Bay and crosses the ridges southward to the paved road at Emmaus Moravian Church in Coral Bay.
(1.8 miles, 2 hours)
Leinster Bay Trail/Road
Follow the old Danish Road eastward along the seashore from the Annaberg picnic site to Waterlemon Bay. Good boat anchorage and swimming. Snorkeling is excellent around Waterlemon Cay. NO LIFEGUARDS.
(.8 mile, 30 minutes)
Annaberg Area
Area adjoins the paved Leinster Bay Road. Mangrove forest and shallow reef flats provide good wildlife viewing opportunities with land crabs, wading birds, and marine organisms generally viewable. A self-guiding walking tour of the Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins is a short distance up the hill from the area's picnic site. A scenic overlook from these ruins provides a fine view of the British Virgin Islands.
(.2 mile, 30 minutes)
Annaberg School Area
This trail leads to ruins of the Caribbean's oldest public school houses. The site was stabilized and an exhibit placed here by the St. John Historical Society in 1987. From the school, you'll have fine views of Mary Point, Leinster Bay, and Tortola. Caution: Pay attention to road traffic when entering and exiting the trail.
(.2 mile, 15 minutes)
Francis Bay Trail
Begins at the went end of the Mary Creek paved road. Trail passes through a dry scrub forest, past the historic Francis Bay Estate House and onto the beach. A mangrove forest and brackish pond provide good bird habitat. A boardwalk provides for easy viewing of pond birdlife. Swimming and snorkeling are favored activities from the beach. NO LIFEGUARD SERVICE. Caution: Avoid deep-water passage of Mary Point because of strong currents and boat traffic.
(.5 mile, 30 minutes)
Cinnamon Bay Trail
Beginning approximately 100 yards east of the entrance road into Cinnamon Bay campground, this forested trail follows and old Danish plantation road uphill to its junction with Centerline Road. The Reef Bay trailhead is .9 miles east of this junction along Centerline Road.
(1.1 miles, 1 hour)
Cinnamon Bay Self-Guiding Trail
Shady, signed, history-nature loop trail passes through old sugar factory site and native tropical tres. Trail begins approximately 76 yards east of entrance into Cinnamon Bay campground.
(.5 mile, 1 hour)
Peace Hill
Scenic grassy overlook with old sugar mill tower ruin. 2.8 miles from Cruz Bay just off the Northshore Road. Easy walk (unless you try to go down to the beach), good with kids. Great views to St. Thomas and The British Virgin Islands.
(.1 mile, 10 minutes)
Caneel Hill Spur Trail
Starts from Lind Point trail. Crosses Northshore Road at point overlooking Cruz Bay and Caneel Bay. Joins the Caneel trail at .4 miles.
(.8 mile, 40 minutes)
Caneel Hill Trail
Joins Cruz Bay village with Northshore Road entrance to Caneel Bay. A .8 mile climb from Cruz Bay leads to scenic overlook atop Caneel Hill (elev. 719 ft.) Train continues to Margaret Hill (elev. 848) then descends to Northshore Road through a forest environment.
(2.4 miles, 2 hours)
Lind Point Trail
Connects the National Park Visitor Center at Cruz Bay with Honeymoon Beach at Caneel Bay. Trail ascends .4 miles to scenic Lind Point overlook (elev. 160 ft). At .7 miles, a side trail leads to Salomon Beach. Open dry forest with cactus scrub environment.
(1.1 miles, 1 hour)
Virgin Islands National Park St. John
The Virgin Islands National Park's hills, valleys and beaches on St. John are breath-taking. However, within its 7,000 plus acres on the island is the complex history of civilizations - both free and enslaved - dating back more than a thousand years, all who utilized the land and the sea for survival.
History
Civilizations lived on St. John long before the Europeans arrived to the region, as evidenced by the petroglyphs, or rock carvings left by the Taino people. These carvings are found especially on the Reef Bay hiking trail. These people were all but driven into extinction by Europeans in the 17th century seeking new territories as colonial properties.
Natural History
Much of the vegetation on the Island is second generation growth. Almost the entire Island was clear-cut to make way for sugar cane production during the colonial era. Some native species like the tyre palm remain, but much growth today are introduced species.
Submerged Lands
In 1962, Congress expanded the boundary of Virgin Islands National Park to include 5,650 acres of submerged lands to protect and preserve the beautiful coral gardens and seascapes. Today, the Park conducts research, and has developed policies and practices aimed at protecting the fragile coral reef systems.
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
The need to protect reefs from further degradation led to a Presidential Proclamation establishing the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument in January 2001. Hurricane Hole is the only area of the Monument accessible by land. Virgin Islands Coral Reef Monument includes federal submerged lands within the 3 mile belt off of the island of St. John. These waters support a diverse and complex system of coral reefs, and other ecosystems such as shoreline mangrove forests and segrass beds that contribute to their health and survival.
Climate
Climate is temperate year-round ranging from low eighties during the winter months to the low - mid nineties in the summer.
