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Schedule for Reef Bay Trail Hike
Schedule for Reef Bay Trail Hike
Good Morning:
How does one schedule a guided hike on the Reef Bay Trail? Apparently there is a Park Service Office in Cruz Bay. Are they given just once per day? Do you know approximately what time(s) they are given.
Thanks
How does one schedule a guided hike on the Reef Bay Trail? Apparently there is a Park Service Office in Cruz Bay. Are they given just once per day? Do you know approximately what time(s) they are given.
Thanks
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California Girl
From the National Park website (they don't make it very easy to find!):
Reef Bay Hike
Date: Every Monday Weekly & Every Thursday Weekly from 10/19/2009 to 12/31/2009
Time: 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Visitor Center
Details:
The secrets of St. John`s tropical forest, petroglyphs, and sugar mill ruins come alive on this three-mile downhill hike. Participants should bring lunch, 1 - 2 liters of water per person, any special medication (taken daily), and a swimsuit for a quick swim at the trails end. Wear good hiking shoes (no open-toed footwear or aqua socks), and cool comfortable clothing.
The hike is mostly downhill, but is not necessarily easy due to its 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 might require hiking back uphill to the trail head. Visitors with circulatory or joint/muscle problems, other medical conditions, or with small children, should carefully evaluate their ability to do this hike.
Participation is limited and the list fills up fast; therefore you must call (340) 776-6201, ext. 238 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM to make reservations at least two weeks in advance. Please do not attempt to make reservations via the internet.
This hike includes transportation - a shuttle ride to the trail head (cost $6.00 per person) and a boat pick-up which returns hikers to the Visitor Center (cost $15.00 per person). All hikers MUST meet at the Visitor Center by 9:30 AM.
Fees:
21.00 per person for transportation
Contact:
Visitor Information Desk
(340) 776-6201, ext. 238
Click here to email us for more information.
Reef Bay Hike
Date: Every Monday Weekly & Every Thursday Weekly from 10/19/2009 to 12/31/2009
Time: 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Visitor Center
Details:
The secrets of St. John`s tropical forest, petroglyphs, and sugar mill ruins come alive on this three-mile downhill hike. Participants should bring lunch, 1 - 2 liters of water per person, any special medication (taken daily), and a swimsuit for a quick swim at the trails end. Wear good hiking shoes (no open-toed footwear or aqua socks), and cool comfortable clothing.
The hike is mostly downhill, but is not necessarily easy due to its 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 might require hiking back uphill to the trail head. Visitors with circulatory or joint/muscle problems, other medical conditions, or with small children, should carefully evaluate their ability to do this hike.
Participation is limited and the list fills up fast; therefore you must call (340) 776-6201, ext. 238 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM to make reservations at least two weeks in advance. Please do not attempt to make reservations via the internet.
This hike includes transportation - a shuttle ride to the trail head (cost $6.00 per person) and a boat pick-up which returns hikers to the Visitor Center (cost $15.00 per person). All hikers MUST meet at the Visitor Center by 9:30 AM.
Fees:
21.00 per person for transportation
Contact:
Visitor Information Desk
(340) 776-6201, ext. 238
Click here to email us for more information.
-
toes in the sand
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:21 pm
Below is from the site
http://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/e ... navigation
which is the schedule of events page for the VI NPS.
Reef Bay Hike
Date: Every Monday Weekly & Every Thursday Weekly from 10/19/2009 to 12/31/2009
Time: 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Visitor Center
Details:
The secrets of St. John`s tropical forest, petroglyphs, and sugar mill ruins come alive on this three-mile downhill hike. Participants should bring lunch, 1 - 2 liters of water per person, any special medication (taken daily), and a swimsuit for a quick swim at the trails end. Wear good hiking shoes (no open-toed footwear or aqua socks), and cool comfortable clothing.
The hike is mostly downhill, but is not necessarily easy due to its 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 might require hiking back uphill to the trail head. Visitors with circulatory or joint/muscle problems, other medical conditions, or with small children, should carefully evaluate their ability to do this hike.
Participation is limited and the list fills up fast; therefore you must call (340) 776-6201, ext. 238 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM to make reservations at least two weeks in advance. Please do not attempt to make reservations via the internet.
This hike includes transportation - a shuttle ride to the trail head (cost $6.00 per person) and a boat pick-up which returns hikers to the Visitor Center (cost $15.00 per person). All hikers MUST meet at the Visitor Center by 9:30 AM.
http://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/e ... navigation
which is the schedule of events page for the VI NPS.
Reef Bay Hike
Date: Every Monday Weekly & Every Thursday Weekly from 10/19/2009 to 12/31/2009
Time: 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Visitor Center
Details:
The secrets of St. John`s tropical forest, petroglyphs, and sugar mill ruins come alive on this three-mile downhill hike. Participants should bring lunch, 1 - 2 liters of water per person, any special medication (taken daily), and a swimsuit for a quick swim at the trails end. Wear good hiking shoes (no open-toed footwear or aqua socks), and cool comfortable clothing.
The hike is mostly downhill, but is not necessarily easy due to its 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 might require hiking back uphill to the trail head. Visitors with circulatory or joint/muscle problems, other medical conditions, or with small children, should carefully evaluate their ability to do this hike.
Participation is limited and the list fills up fast; therefore you must call (340) 776-6201, ext. 238 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM to make reservations at least two weeks in advance. Please do not attempt to make reservations via the internet.
This hike includes transportation - a shuttle ride to the trail head (cost $6.00 per person) and a boat pick-up which returns hikers to the Visitor Center (cost $15.00 per person). All hikers MUST meet at the Visitor Center by 9:30 AM.
"got a drink in my hand and my toes in the sand"
We did the hike last summer through the NPS.
2 bits of advice:
At the end, swim to the boat...instead of taking the Zodiac. That was a lot of fun.
Once you get to the boat, climb to the roof and jump off. It's a really bad idea, but a lot of fun...until that moment when you're falling towards the water and your 35 year old brain screams "Hey jackass! You're not 18 and this is gonna..." OUCH!
It's a long day and you'll sleep well that night but it's really cool and the guide points out a lot of neat stuff.
Take more water than you think you need and plenty of bug spray. You'll end up sharing both with a lovely family from Kansas who brought an empty coffee cup as their only supplies for the day.
2 bits of advice:
At the end, swim to the boat...instead of taking the Zodiac. That was a lot of fun.
Once you get to the boat, climb to the roof and jump off. It's a really bad idea, but a lot of fun...until that moment when you're falling towards the water and your 35 year old brain screams "Hey jackass! You're not 18 and this is gonna..." OUCH!
It's a long day and you'll sleep well that night but it's really cool and the guide points out a lot of neat stuff.
Take more water than you think you need and plenty of bug spray. You'll end up sharing both with a lovely family from Kansas who brought an empty coffee cup as their only supplies for the day.
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2beachbums
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:08 pm
- Location: Southern WI
We are contemplating doing this hike on our own or the reef bay coastal hike. We (4 adults) are all in pretty good shape in our 30-40's, but have never hiked before. What advice would you give. I like the idea of learning more from the guided tour, but not taking the whole day to do the hike. Also, not sure if we are well equiped for it being newbies to hiking and all!
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California Girl
I haven't done the Reef Bay hike, but I know it's something I would do with a guide the first time. Since you are new to hiking, you could learn a whole lot on a guided hike, and then use that knowledge on another hike on your own. The Reef Bay trail is all downhill.... until you decide to hike back. That's the beauty of the NPS guide... they will pick you up in a boat at the bottom!2beachbums wrote: We (4 adults) are all in pretty good shape in our 30-40's, but have never hiked before. What advice would you give.
How's your patience level? An important thing to remember with this hike is that the group will move as fast as the slowest member. We ditched the guided tour after about 5 minutes, did a self guided tour and got a nice 45 minute lunch and snorkel in before the the tour showed up at Reef Bay. The boat ride back, not having to hike back up, was worth the $21.
Don't forget The Tap Room is right across the street from the NPS dock in Mongoose Junction!
Don't forget The Tap Room is right across the street from the NPS dock in Mongoose Junction!
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toes in the sand
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:21 pm
good afternoon
So, what do you bring along? do you take your snorkel gear and a towel? Trail mix for lunch? Do you wear your swimsuit under your clothes? They say the hike is from 9:30 'til about 3:00. I realize that there's transportation time, but that seems like a looong time for a 2 1/2 mile downhill hike, no?
So, what do you bring along? do you take your snorkel gear and a towel? Trail mix for lunch? Do you wear your swimsuit under your clothes? They say the hike is from 9:30 'til about 3:00. I realize that there's transportation time, but that seems like a looong time for a 2 1/2 mile downhill hike, no?
Wear your swim suit under your clothes and bring a towel, lots of water and your lunch. You'll stop at the petroglyphs for a lunch break. The hike is interesting and very worthwhile. We really enjoyed it.
I wouldn't bother with snorkeling gear as we didn't find Reef Bay a good snorkel spot. You'll be hot from the hike down the mountain so you'll probably enjoy the swim out to the boat (we did).
I wouldn't bother with snorkeling gear as we didn't find Reef Bay a good snorkel spot. You'll be hot from the hike down the mountain so you'll probably enjoy the swim out to the boat (we did).
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California Girl
Thank you for the information!Diana2 wrote:Wear your swim suit under your clothes and bring a towel, lots of water and your lunch. You'll stop at the petroglyphs for a lunch break. The hike is interesting and very worthwhile. We really enjoyed it.
I wouldn't bother with snorkeling gear as we didn't find Reef Bay a good snorkel spot. You'll be hot from the hike down the mountain so you'll probably enjoy the swim out to the boat (we did).
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California Girl
I'm just guessing here, but I'm pretty sure it's a matter of not just the hike, but also time spent getting everyone from the NPS dock to the trail, stopping along the trail for the guide to explain the flora & fauna, stop for lunch break, stop at the Petroglyphs, waiting for the boat to come pick you up at the bottom, and getting back to the dock. That sounds like about 6 hrs. worth to me! Please report back and let me know how close I am! 