Hiking St. John

Hike in and around Virgin Islands National Park. There's so much nature and wildlife to explore on the island itself.

 

For a rocky hike that's about a mile and lasts about an hour, give Ram Head Trail a try. You'll get a beautiful view of the Caribbean Sea after you walk along a blue cobble beach.

 

Or for something a little shorter with more history, choose the Cinnamon Bay Self-Guided Trail. you'll hike half a mile through forested areas and through the ruins of a sugar plantation. Placards along the way designate points of interest.

 

One you won't want to miss that's worth the work (2.4mi/2hrs) is Caneel Hill Trail. You'll be rewarded with what some say are the best views of all.

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Here is a more comprehensive list of hikes on St. John:

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Annaberg School Area

Location: Northside | Distance: 0.2 Miles | Time to Hike: 15 minutes

This trail leads to ruins of one of the Caribbean's oldest public school houses. The school offers great views of Mary Point, Leinster Bay and Tortola.

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Bordeaux Mountain Trail

Location: Southside | Distance: 1 Miles | Time to Hike: 1 hour 30 minutes

This is a steep, open to the sun trail. It connects the shady Bordeaux Mountain Road with Lameshur Bay 1,000 feet below.  Bordeaux Mountain is the highest point on St. John at 1,277 feet.

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Brown Bay Trail

Location: East End | Distance: 1.6 Miles | Time to Hike: 2 hours

The National Park cautions that this trail is NOT maintained! The trail begins from the ridge 0.7 miles out of Johnny Horn trail from Waterlemon Bay. The trail branches to the east and descends through a dry thorn shrub area and into a valley. The trail borders Brown Bay for a short distance and then ascends over a ridge which overlooks Hurricane Hole. The trail ends at the East End Road just a little over a mile passed the Emmaus Moravian Church in Coral Bay.

 

Caneel Hill Spur Trail

Location: Northside | Distance: 0.8 Miles | Time to Hike: 1 hour

This trail starts from Lind Point trail. It crosses Northshore Road at an overlook of Cruz bay and Caneel Bay. It joins the Caneel Hill trail at .4 miles.

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Caneel Hill Trail

Location: Northside | Distance: 2.4 Miles | Time to Hike: 2 hours

This trail joins Cruz Bay with Northshore Road entrance to Caneel Bay. The trail leads up to a scenic overlook atop Caneel Hill. The overlook is at an elevation of 719 feet. The trail continues to Margaret Hill, elevation 848 feet, and then descends to North-shore Road.

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Cinnamon Bay Self-Guiding Trail

Location: Northside | Distance: 0.5 Miles | Time to Hike: 1 hour

This trail passes through sugar plantation ruins and forested areas. Placards and signs along the trail indicate historical and environmental points of interest. The trail begins near the entrance to Cinnamon Bay campground and beach.

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Cinnamon Bay Trail

Location: Northside | Distance: 1.1 Miles | Time to Hike: 1 hour

This trail begins around 100 yards east of the entrance to Cinnamon Bay Campground. This forested trail leads up an old Danish plantation road and junctions with Centerline Road..

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Drunk Bay Trail

Location: Southside | Distance: 0.3 Miles | Time to Hike: 15 minutes

This trail begins at the south end of Salt Pond Bay Beach and turns to the east along the north side of the salt pond. In the past salt from the pond was harvested, some residents still collect salt during the summer months for personal uses. The windy conditions and salt have stunted the growth of many plants in the area therefore along the trail you will pass many short shrubs. Drunk Bay is a rocky bay and is not safe for swimming. Figures made of the coral rocks on the beach are often left by visitors.

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Europa Bay Trail

Location: Southside | Distance: 0.25 Miles | Time to Hike: 30 minutes

There are two trails that lead to Europa Bay area. Coming from the Reef Bay Trail on the Lameshur Bay Trail, at about 1.2 miles you come to the main Europa Bay trail on the right. This trail leads up over a small ridge and down past a salt pond, to the coral rubble beach at Europa Bay. About .1 mile further east along the Lameshur Bay trail, another trail goes off to the right and leads up along an old road, out to a point overlooking Europa Bay and Lameshur Bay.

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Francis Bay Trail

Location: Northside | Distance: 0.5 Miles | Time to Hike: 30 minutes

This trail begins at the west end of the Mary Creek road. The trail passes through a dry forest and leads past the Francis Bay Estate House and onto the beach. There is a mangrove forest and brackish pond at the end of this trail. A viewing area close to the mangrove forest allows an opportunity to bird watch. Snorkeling is good from the beach. The deep-water around Mary Point should be avoided.

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Johnny Horn Trail

Location: East End | Distance: 1.8 Miles | Time to Hike: 2 hours

This trail begins at Waterlemon Bay and crosses the ridges southward to the paved road at Emmaus Moravian Church in Coral Bay. The trail passes through sunny, dry forest.

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Lameshur Bay Trail

Location: Southside | Distance: 1.5 Miles | Time to Hike: 1 hour 15 minutes

This trail connects Lameshur Bay with Reef Bay trail. The hiking is through dry, open forest. 1.2 miles from the Reef Bay junction a spur trail leads 0.3 miles to a salt pond and coral rubble beach at Europa Beach.

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Leinster Bay Trail

Location: Northside | Distance: 0.8 Miles | Time to Hike: 30 minutes

The trail follows the old Danish Road eastward along the shore from the Annaberg picnic area to Waterlemon Bay. This is a good place to swim. Snorkeling at Waterlemon Cay is very good.

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Lind Point Trail

Location: Northside | Distance: 1.1 Miles | Time to Hike: 1 hour

This trail connects the National Park Visitor Center in Cruz bay with Honeymoon Beach and Caneel Bay. The trail ascends .4 miles to the scenic Lind Point overlook. The overlook is at an elevation of 160 feet and offers a great opportunity to take pictures of Cruz Bay. A side trail at .7 miles leads to Salomon Beach. The trail weaves through semi-dry forest and cactus scrubs.

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Petroglyph Trail

Location: Southside | Distance: 0.2 Miles | Time to Hike: 15 minutes

This trail starts 1.5 miles down the Reef Bay trail. Mysterious rock carvings are located at the end of the trail. In rainy season a small waterfall and stream run through the rocks; in dry season the stream becomes small brackish pools.

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Ram Head Trail

Location: Southside | Distance: 1 Miles | Time to Hike: 1 hour

This trail begins at the south end of Salt Pond Bay Beach. This rocky trail leads to a blue cobble beach and then leads back up the hillside to an overlook 200 feet above the Caribbean Sea. Use caution when walking near the edge of cliffs.

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Reef Bay Trail

Location: Southside | Distance: 2.2 Miles | Time to Hike: 2 hours

This trail begins on Centerline Road. The trail descends 937 feet through a shady forest. There is a variety of plant life to be seen while hiking. The visible remains of four sugar estates and a more recent farming community are found along the trail. The trail ends at the Reef Bay Plantation ruins near Genti Bay.

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Salt Pond Bay Trail

Location: Southside | Distance: 0.2 Miles | Time to Hike: 15 minutes

This trail begins at the parking area 3.9 miles south of Coral Bay. The trail leads down to Salt Pond Beach through cactus and scrubland. There is good snorkeling and swimming at this beach. This area is usually particularly hot and sunny.

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Turtle Point Trail

Location: Northside | Distance: 0.6 Miles | Time to Hike: 30 minutes

Trail begins at the north end of the Caneel Bay Plantation. Hikers on this trail should enter the property and register at the front desk.

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Water Catchments Trail

Location: Northside | Distance: 1 Miles | Time to Hike: 30 minutes

This trail leads between Centerline Road and Northshore Road. The trail joins the Caneel Hill trail over a portion of its route.'

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Yawzi Point Trail

Location: Southside | Distance: 0.3 Miles | Time to Hike: 30 minutes

This trail leads from Little Lameshur Bay Road through thorny vegetation to isolated coves.

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