USVI-On-Line

Hi everyone,

How do you sign up for the Guided Reef Bay Hike where you hike down and then take a boat back to St. John??
Can you do this before you get to the islands?

Sorry, I meant boat back to Cruz Bay!!!

This is from the NPS website:

The Reef Bay hike takes almost six hours, starting from the Visitor Center at 9:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays (schedule changes during the winter months). Reservations are required and there is a transportation fee. Hikers should bring adequate water, lunch and a swimsuit. See the Weekly Programs brochure for more details.

Go here to make a reservation and get other info: http://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/index.htm

Have fun!

If you like hiking, this is a fun hike with a lot too see. We didn't do it guided though, so I'm guessing thats why it's 6 hours with the NPS.

Have fun

Back in 2000 I did the park guided tour and enjoyed it very much.Make sure that you have protection for your camera's though.I ruined a video camera on that trial when a suprise rain shower came in. It was a nice sunny day and then...Boom! Here comes the rain.In 2006 I did the hike without the park service.I wanted to see the Reef Bay Greathouse that the park guide skips,and take in all that the trail has to offer at my own pace.Yes ,I did walk back up and it wasn't all that bad...Make sure to take plenty of water and pace yourself.Parafins..

Does it really take 6 hours??

The National Park hike takes so long cause they stop and smell the roses. If you are in good shape, you can easily hike down and back on your own.

If you are in good shape, you can easily hike down and back on your own.

I'm not sure I'd use the word "easily" in describing the hike back up the trail

I'm in good shape and it was pretty tough. We did do the hike at the hottest and most humid part of the day (which I wouldn't recommend), but I wouldn't call the hike up "easy," even for someone who is in good shape.

I'm in good shape and it was pretty tough

You're right. The hike back up is harder than the hike down. Not easy, but doable.

I feel better hearing that you both thought it was not an easy hike.

My thoughts before reading your posts were . . .

well, I think I am in good shape . . .

that was so hard!

Even my very in shape teenage son's were winded going back up the hill.

We will have our three kids with us, so i think we will have to boat back. The teenagers could surely hike back up, but I am not so sure about our 8 year old.

Do you think they will like the hike, or should we find a different hike for this trip?? We have done Waterlemon, Cinnamon, Annaberg. I just thought it sounded fun and somewhat educational.

what do you all think??

Just my humble, living-at-a-high-altitude-so-nothing-really-winds-us opinion is that the hike back up Reef Bay is easier than the Ram Head hike. For one, you're not in the sun so it's much cooler. Just my opnion, of course.

We did the hike last December. We called and made reservations before leaving home. The woman took our name and the name of the villa we were staying in. She did not request a credit card, or anything to hold our space.

We took pbj sandwiches and pringles and bottled water. Plus we sprayed down before we got on the trail.

The hike down was great, then we hung around the petroglyph's eating our lunch and listening to the guide, then we headed up a hill to go to the beach to swim and then to get on the boat. The boat is anchored off shore and you had an option of swimming to the boat or taking a ride to it in a dinghy.

Some of the 6 hours is spent getting from Cruz Bay to the trails head, and then from the beach back around to Cruz Bay. Plus, you stop and go on the trail to listen to the guide. I think we finished up about an hour early, or close to it anyway.

Have a cooler packed in your car and then hit Solomon or Honeymoon afterwards while you are in town. You've already hiked some, do just a bit more.

Have fun!!

Badger, I think your kids will enjoy the guided hike. It's mostly shaded except for the trail to the beach at the end. I think going one way is pretty easy and definitely doable for your eight year old. The only tricky part, if you can call it that, is you need to watch your footing because there are rotting leaves on the trail. The ranger is informative and there's lots to look at. There's time to swim at Genti Bay before the boat comes to get you, and the boat ride back is fun!

Thank you everyone. We have decided to go ahead and do the guided hike and boat back. We did a guided hike in Costa Rica when we were there last winter and it was quite fun. I think the kids (and parents) will enjoy it as well.

Badger