The Virgin Islands National Park is a hiker’s dream. The lush forest and unexpected viewpoints of the Caribbean Sea will leave you in awe.
Located on the quiet island of St. John in the United States Virgin Islands, The Virgin Islands National Park has 30 trails and covers 60% of the island!
After hours and hours of hiking in St. John, I have organized and created a detailed hiking guide to the Virgin Islands National Park.
Where To Stay On The Virgin Islands
While the Virgin Island National Park is located on St. John there are limited places to stay on this island. The few hotels that you can stay at in St. John are often booked up during the peak months (December – April). These are the best hotels to stay in on St. John.
Luxury St. John Hotels
- The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef – Located in Cruz Bay, The Westin, offers luxurious accommodation on St. John. With two restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and easy access to the beach and The Virgin Islands National Park trails, The Westin is perfect for a tropical getaway on St. John.
- Sea Shore Allure – The Sea Shore Allure is a lovely hotel in Cruz Bay that allows easy access to The Virgin Islands National Park Hiking Trails. You will find ocean views and comfortable accommodation at Sea Shore Allure in St. John.
- Suite St John at Gallows Point – Located just a short walk from Cruz Bay, this aparthotel has multiple room options with one-bedroom suites sleeping between four and six people. Each apartment has a kitchen with a refrigerator, a stovetop, a microwave, and a dishwasher.
Mid-Range St. John Hotels
- JJ’s Getaway – JJ’s Getaway, located in Cruz Bay, is a two-bedroom holiday home perfect for groups. With ocean views, an outdoor pool, a balcony, a fully equipped kitchen, and more, JJ’s Getaway is the perfect place to stay on St. John.
- Gallows Point Resort – The Gallows Point Resort is also located in Cruz Bay. Complete with a bar, outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant, ocean views and more. The Gallows Point Resort is a relaxing place to enjoy your vacation in St. John.
- Luxurious Caribbean Suite – This one-bedroom one-bath villa can sleep up to four people. The villa is located in Cruz Bay and is within a five-minute walk of Cruz Bay beach and Battery.
Budget St. John Hotels
- Grande Bay Sunswept Studio – Grande Bay Sunswept Studio is located in Cruz Bay and offers stunning views of the water and is a comfortable accommodation option for your time on St. John.
- St John Inn Boutique Hotel Suite – Located on St John, this aparthotel has multiple room options with queen beds. It offers a free continental breakfast and Rum Punch Happy Hour.
Where To Stay On St. Thomas
- At Home In The Tropics – Staying on St. Thomas? Many people will do day trips to St. John and keep St. Thomas as their home base. At Home In The Tropics is a lovely little bed and breakfast in Charlotte Amalie that offers stunning views, delectable breakfast every morning, attention to detail, and more.
Top 7 Virgin Islands National Park Trails
1) Caneel Hill Trail
The Caneel Hill Trail was the most challenging hike I did in the Virgin Islands National Park. The 4-mile hike is full of rock and obstacles, and it is mainly uphill and downhill (there are not many level treks). The Caneel Hill Trail took me about three hours to hike, but allow for more time because it can get tricky at points.
Located in the northeastern part of St. John, the Caneel Hill Trail is a treacherous hike that offers stunning views of Cruz Bay and the Atlantic side of the island. At the summit, you will find a viewing deck that is perfect for photos or a picnic.
2) Reef Bay Trail
Starting at Reef Bay Beach, the Reef Bay Trail is beautiful and goes through historic landmarks such as ancient petroglyphs and Danish sugar plantations. The Reef Bay Trail will take you around 2 – 3 hours to complete, depending on how long you spend admiring the landmarks.
The ancient petroglyphs were placed on rocks throughout the Reef Bay Trail before the Danish or Europeans stepped foot on St. John. The pre-Colombian Taino people left these carvings behind.
On a side trail about one and a half miles into the hike, you will find a gorgeous waterfall that is definitely worth a little extra walking.
3) Cinnamon Bay Trail
The Cinnamon Bay Trail, starting at Cinnamon Bay Beach, is a fan favorite in St. John. It is just about two miles long and takes around an hour and a half to complete. On the trail, you can find Danish sugar plantations and a campground.
The Cinnamon Bay Campground is less like camping and more like glamping. You can stay in eco tents or cottages.
4) Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkel Trail
When it comes to trails, the Trunk Bay Underwater trail is not what usually comes to mind. However, this snorkel trail in the Virgin Islands National Park is a must-do activity. The 0.2-mile underwater loop is full of coral reefs, colorful fish, and crystal-clear water.
You will find plaques underwater that will tell you all about the marine life and coral reefs. Be careful not to touch the coral as touching it could damage the reef and it is sharp.
Snorkel gear is important. If you don’t have any, you can rent some at the Trunk Bay gift shop.
5) Leicester Bay Trail
The Leicester Bay Trail is a lovely hike if you are looking for beautiful ocean views. Situated along the Atlantic side of St. John, it is an easy two-mile hike. The trail is mostly flat and has beach access, which is perfect for snorkeling.
Make sure to stop by Watermelon Bay on the Leicester Bay Trail – it is stunning! The Leicester Bay Trail is a great option if you are hiking with kids or older people.
6) L’Esperance Trail
The L’Esperance Trial is one of the Virgin Islands National Park’s longest and most remote trails. It starts in the center of the island near Cinnamon Bay Beach and stretches to the opposite side of St. John. The 5.8-mile hike is mostly flat and easy, but keep in mind that it is long. The L’Esperance Trail will take around three and a half hours to complete.
You can also see petroglyphs on the L’Esperance Trail!
7) Lind Point Trail
Lind Point Trail is best if you don’t have a rental car and are taking the ferry into Cruz Bay. The trail starts at the Cruz Bay Visitor Center. From there, you will find a sign that reads Lind Point Trail, and from there, you can start your hike.
The Lind Point Trail is only 2.3 miles and takes an estimated one hour to complete. It will take you along the northeastern part of St. John and has stops at gorgeous hidden beaches (Salomon Bay Beach and Honeymoon Bay Beach). The only way to get to Salomon Bay Beach and Honeymoon Bay Beach is by hiking the Lind Point Trail, as there is no road to these incredible beaches. You will find that these beaches are stunning and are not busy at all.
The Lind Point Trail is an easy hike and is doable for all levels and ages. The hardest part of the hike is hiking downhill to the beaches, but other than that, the trail is level.
Best Tours To Do In St. John
- Eco Hike and Snorkel – This eco hike and snorkel starts off with hiking the Lind Point Trail and ends with a guided snorkeling adventure. This tour is perfect for anyone new to hiking or snorkeling.
- Guided Tour of The Virgin Islands National Park – This guided tour of the Virgin Islands National Park is a lovely way to hike and see all of the hidden gems without worrying about directions or getting lost. On this tour, you will visit Trunk Bay, the Annaberg Plantation, and more.
Where To Dine On St. John
Coffee and Breakfast in St John
- St. Johns Provisions – St. Johns Provisions is an adorable hole in the wall cafe perfect for a casual breakfast. It is an easy walk from the ferry terminal, St. Johns Provisions serves delicious coffee, pastries, bagels, and more.
- Cruz Bay Landing – Also located in Cruz Bay and only steps away from the ferry is a great breakfast and lunch joint, Cruz Bay Landing. The welcoming cafe offers sit-down breakfast and lunch: coffee, breakfast, and lunch!
- Love City Cafe – Located by Coral Harbor on the eastern side of the island is Love City Cafe, a charming breakfast and coffee shop offering freshly made products. Perfect if you happen to be on the eastern side of the island for breakfast.
Lunch and Dinner in St John
- Lime Out – Lime Out is one of the most unique restaurants you will probably ever go to. The taco joint is located in Coral Harbor and offers swim up tacos. You can enjoy your tacos in the harbor on a raft or in the water.
- The Lime Inn – Want to try Lime Out tacos on land? The Lime Inn located in Cruz Bay offers the same delicious tacos as Lime Out, but it’s just a bit more accessible.
- Ocean 362 – Ocean 362 offers fine dining in Cruz Bay. Serving Caribbean cuisine, this island-to-table restaurant is perfect if you are looking for a fancy dinner. Reservations are necessary.
- The Longboard – The Longboard is a trendy restaurant located in Cruz Bay. You can find fun cocktails and dishes made with locally sourced ingredients at The Longboard.
Best Time To Visit The Virgin Islands National Park
The best time to visit the Virgin Islands National Park is between December and April when the weather is at its best. Hurricane season in the West Indies runs from June 1st to November 30th, so you may have bad weather if you plan a trip during this time.
While the best weather is in the spring you will always be greeted with warm days in St. John. When it is rainy, hiking in the Virgin Islands National Park can be difficult.
Getting To The Virgin Islands National Park
The Virgin Islands National Park is located on St. John, the smallest of the three main US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix).
You will most likely be arriving in the USVI in St. Thomas by plane or cruise ship. The largest airport is the Charlotte Amalie Airport (Cyril E. King Airport) in St. Thomas.
Direct flights to St. Thomas are available from New York, Newark, Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, Chicago, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale.
St. John is only accessible by boat. This sounds intimidating, but it is actually easy to get to St. John from St. Thomas. You can catch ferries every hour on the hour from Red Hook, St. Thomas, to Cruz Bay, St. John. The Red Hook ferry only takes 20 minutes. There is usually a 10am ferry from Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay that is about 45 minutes.
You can rent a car from Cruz Bay to explore the National Park or just start hiking, as you can find trails that start right in Cruz Bay.
Virgin Islands National Park Hiking Guide Wrap Up
If you are looking for a trip full of adventure, island vibes, and a laid-back spirit, then St. John is for you. The Virgin Islands National Park is often overlooked, but it is a must-visit destination for nature lovers.
You can find different trails for every hiking level in The Virgin Islands National Park. I loved my trip to the US Virgin Islands and I am sure that you will too!
We hope that this article has inspired you to visit St John and the US Virgin Islands National Park! If you have questions or tips to share with our readers please leave these in the comments.
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We Are Travel Girls Ambassador Daisy MacLellan
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