Hiking the Trails on St. John's US Virgin Islands

One of the advantages of hiking in state parks is that most parks trails are thoroughly mapped and have established maintained trails. St John Island in the US Virgin Island so no exception. The island has a variety of hiking trails, including numerous Old Danish plantation roads, trails along beaches, rugged mountain trails, and trails that pass through historic sugar factory ruins. Most trails are easy and rewarding with intesting areas like Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, and the Annaberg Plantation. There are dozens of beautiful trails to explore.

All trails are maintained by the National Park service and are well marked. Trails guides are available at the visitor's center in Cruz Bay or at the various campgrounds throughout the island. The park service also has regularly scheduled guided hikes along a few of the trails. Check with the Visitor's center for schedules. The island host 20 different trails ranging from ½ miles to 2.5 miles. The best hiking tails are those that are over a mile in length, cross over the islands many mountains or cross the island.

On the north side of the island, the Caneel Hill Trail is a 2.4-mile trail that will take about 2 hours to hike. The trailhead begins at the North shore road at the entrance to Caneel Bay. This trail takes the hiker on a .8-mile climb to the top of Caneel Hill and a scenic overlook. The tail continues to climb to Margaret Hill before it descends to the North shore Road through one of the islands many mountain forests.

The north side Cinnamon Bay tail is a 1.1-mile trail that takes about an hour to travel. The trailhead begins on the east entrance road into the Cinnamon Bay Campground. The trail follows an Old Danish plantation road uphill to the junction with Centerline Road. At the junction, a hiker can pick up the trailhead for the 2-mile Reef Bay trail that head for the south side of the island.

The Johnny Horn Trail is a 1.8 mile, 2 hour hike. Another north to south trail, the trailhead begins at Waterlemon Bay on the north side and passes through upland dry forests, crosses ridges, and end on a paved road leading in to Coral Bay on the south side of the island.

On the south side of St John's, a hiker will discover the Ram Head trail. The trail is a mile long and starts at the south end of Salt Pond Bay Beach. It is a rocky trail that travels up the hillside to a wonderful view of the Caribbean and windswept scenery. However, this trail is difficult and the footing is tricky near the cliff edge.

The Reef Bay Trail starts east of Cruz Bay on Centerline Road. A 2.2-mile hike takes the hiker on a two-hour hike that descends through moist forests, shady dry forests, and the remains of four sugar plantations. About a mile down the Reef Bay trail is the best-known .3-mile Petroglyph trail. The island's Pre-Columbian Taino people carved rock pictures in the rocks near the pools.

A 1.5-mile Lameshur Bay Trail connects the Lameshur bay with the Reef Bay trail. The 1.25-hour hike is passes through open dry forests and leads to the Salt pond and to the coral beach at Europe Bay.