Virgin Islands National Park

🌲 Park Overview

Covering nearly two-thirds of St. John and surrounding coral seas, Virgin Islands National Park (VINP) is a Caribbean jewel of palm-fringed beaches, technicolor reefs, and emerald hillsides laced with tropical dry forest. Beyond postcard coves like Trunk and Cinnamon Bays, the park protects Taino rock art, Danish sugar-plantation ruins, and hiking trails that climb to breezy ridge vistas. With year-round snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and island culture in nearby Cruz Bay, VINP blends laid-back beach time with history-rich adventure.

🌟 Fun Facts

More than 40 % of VINP is underwater, safeguarding 5,500+ acres of coral reef and seagrass beds.

Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkel Trail (est. 1956) was the first marked snorkel path in the National Park System.

St. John’s Annaberg Sugar Plantation once produced 100,000 lbs of sugar annually; its windmill ruins now overlook Sir Francis Drake Channel.

Endangered hawksbill turtles nest on park beaches July–Dec; night patrols tag hatchlings for research.

📅 Best Time to Visit

Season

Temps & Water

Highlights

Watch-outs

Dec – Apr (Dry)

75–85 °F air • 80 °F water

Peak visibility, humpback whale season offshore (Feb–Mar), cultural festivals

Resort pricing & cruise-day crowds; book Jeep early

May – Jun (Shoulder)

80–87 °F

Flat seas, blooming flamboyant trees, sea-turtle courtship

Rising humidity; occasional Sahara dust haze

Jul – Oct (Wet/Hurricane)

82–90 °F

Warmest snorkeling, bioluminescent plankton in mangroves, fewer tourists

Afternoon squalls, tropical storms—travel insurance advised

Nov

78–86 °F

Green hills post-rain, off-peak deals, Food Fair in Cruz Bay

Mosquitoes in mangroves; trail mud

🎯 Things to Do

Families

Trunk Bay Underwater Trail—follow 225-yard coral-ID plaques.

Junior Ranger booklet; earn conch-shell badge!

Picnic & gentle surf at Maho Bay (shallow sea-turtle feeding).

Adventure-Seekers

Kayak & snorkel Hurricane Hole mangrove nursery (guided).

Hike Reef Bay Trail (4.4 mi one-way) past petroglyph waterfall & sugar-mill ruins; arrange boat pickup.

Sail & SCUBA St. John’s north-shore reefs or off-shore Tektite site (advanced).

Photographers

Sunrise at Cruz Bay Overlook.

Mid-morning aquamarine gradient at Cinnamon Bay.

Golden-hour ruins at Annaberg Windmill, with British Virgin Islands backdrop.

🥾 Top Hikes & Snorkel Spots

Trail / Site

Dist. / Gain

Highlights

Reef Bay Trail → Petroglyphs

4.4 mi down / 900 ft loss

Taino rock art, waterfall pool, sugar-factory ruins.

Ram Head Trail (South Shore)

2.5 mi RT / 350 ft

Breezy arid peninsula, 270° ocean views, moonrise hikes.

Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop

1.0 mi

Cultural arboretum, Danish graveyard, beach finish.

Trunk Bay Snorkel Trail

0.2 mi loop

Brain coral, yellowtail snapper, underwater markers.

Haulover North Reef

shore-entry snorkel

Vibrant elkhorn coral, eagle-ray chance—best early calm seas.

👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-Friendly Extras

Discovery Backpacks (binocs, reef cards) loan free at Friends of VINP store.

Junior Ranger Night-Sky program during monthly new-moon beach event.

Beachcomber’s “trash-to-treasure” art workshop (Cinnamon Bay Campground).

♿ Accessibility Notes

Trunk Bay main facilities (restrooms, showers, snack shack) ADA; amphibious beach wheelchair available.

Boardwalk + ramp at Cruz Bay Visitor Center exhibits.

Accessible cabin & campsites at Cinnamon Bay Resort (reserve).

🗓️ Itinerary Ideas

1-Day “Beach & Ruins”

8 a.m. Arrive Trunk Bay—snorkel trail before crowds.

Mid-morning drive to Annaberg Plantation; guided rum-cake baking demo.

Picnic & turtle swim at Maho Bay.

Sunset hike Ram Head; stargaze on Salt Pond Beach.

3-Day “Reef & Ridge”

Day 1: North-shore beach crawl (Hawksnest → Trunk → Cinnamon); camp Cinnamon Bay.

Day 2: Reef Bay Trail down, boat shuttle back; evening Cruz Bay restaurants.

Day 3: Kayak Hurricane Hole mangroves, snorkel Tektite site, depart via ferry.

🧳 Planning Tips

Getting There: Fly STT (St. Thomas), taxi to Red Hook, 20-min ferry to Cruz Bay; rent Jeep in advance.

Fees: Beaches free; Trunk Bay $5 day entrance (snorkel gear $10 set).

Coral Safety: Wear reef-safe sunscreen (oxybenzone/octinoxate banned) & do not stand on coral.

Weather: Hurricane season Jun – Nov—monitor NHC advisories; storms can cancel ferries.

🚧 Permits & Rules

Backcountry beach camping forbidden; camp only at Cinnamon Bay (res).

Lionfish removal by licensed divers only—report sightings.

Drones prohibited; respect sea-turtle nesting zones (signs).

🌄 Compare This Park With

Biscayne NP: Similar coral focus but Biscayne near Miami vs. remote island vibe of VINP.

Channel Islands NP: Boat-in marine park; temperate kelp instead of tropical coral.

Dry Tortugas NP: Both remote beaches and reefs; Tortugas adds Civil War fort & primitive camping.

🔗 Internal Links

Blog – “Hurricane Hole: Snorkeling a Mangrove Nursery without Hurting It.”

Printable – “Turtle Nesting Season Calendar & Reef Fish ID Bingo.”

📥 Printable Downloads (placeholder)

Virgin Islands Snorkel Map

Reef-Safe Sunscreen Checklist

Reef Bay Trail Elevation Profile

🔍 SEO Keyword Targets

Best beaches Virgin Islands National Park

Trunk Bay underwater snorkel trail guide

Reef Bay Trail petroglyphs

Kayaking Hurricane Hole St John

Camping Cinnamon Bay Resort

Virgin Islands National Park itinerary 3 days

Turtle snorkel Maho Bay

Annaberg Plantation history tour

When to visit Virgin Islands NP

Ferry from St Thomas to St John

Virgin Islands National Park guide—turquoise coves, coral reefs, and Taino-to-Truman history—has been anchored as its own full-template document. Let me know if you’d like tweaks, or say “next” to cruise on to Voyageurs!