Two-thirds of St. John is Virgin Islands National Park, and the park has about 20 marked trails. You don't need to do all of them. Below are the five we recommend to villa guests, ranked roughly easiest to hardest, with what each one is actually like.
1. Lind Point Trail — easy, 1 mile (one way)
Starts behind the Visitor Center in Cruz Bay and ends at Honeymoon Beach. Mostly flat, mostly shaded, with a couple of view spurs looking back over Cruz Bay harbor. Perfect first-morning warm-up and the best car-free way to reach Honeymoon. Plan 30 minutes one way.
2. Cinnamon Bay Self-Guided Loop — easy, 0.5 miles
A short interpretive loop past the ruins of a Danish sugar plantation in the woods behind Cinnamon Bay. Excellent if you're already at the beach and the kids need 30 minutes away from sand. Stroller-friendly.
3. Ram Head Trail — moderate, 2 miles round-trip
Starts at the south end of Salt Pond Bay. Walks through dryland forest of cactus, century plants, and turk's-cap before climbing a fully exposed ridge to a 200-foot cliff over the Caribbean. The single best view on St. John. Zero shade and the rocks bake — go at sunrise or after 4pm. Pair with the beach at Salt Pond →
4. Reef Bay Trail — moderate-hard, 6 miles round-trip
The signature park hike. From the trailhead on Centerline Road, you descend 900 feet through rainforest past three sugar plantation ruins to a small Taino petroglyph site on a freshwater pool, then continue to the empty south-shore beach at Reef Bay. Then you turn around and climb back up. Bring 3 liters of water per person, start at 8am, allow 4 hours. The petroglyph spur is the highlight — don't miss it.
5. Bordeaux Mountain — hard, 2.5 miles one way
Up the highest peak in the USVI (1,277 ft). The Bordeaux Mountain trail itself is short and steep; most people instead climb via the road from Coral Bay and take in the panorama from the summit viewpoint at sunrise. Worth it once for the view; not a casual hike.
What to bring
- 2–3 liters of water per person (no taps on any trail)
- Trail runners or hiking sandals — not flip-flops
- Sun shirt, hat, mineral sunscreen
- Offline map (AllTrails downloaded before you leave Wi-Fi)
- Bug spray for Reef Bay (the rainforest section)
Hiking is the underrated half of a St. John trip — the snorkel is what people come for, but the views from Ram Head and the petroglyphs at Reef Bay are what they remember.
Part of the Things to Do in St. John, USVI: The Insider's Guide.
Frequently asked
›Do you need a permit to hike in Virgin Islands National Park?
No. All trails are free and open year-round. The only fee in the park is the $5 entrance fee at Trunk Bay beach. No reservations or permits are needed for day hikes.
›Are the trails marked?
Trailheads are well marked with brown National Park signs, and most main trails are obvious. Side spurs (Petroglyphs, Drunk Bay) are less obvious — bring a downloaded offline map (AllTrails is reliable).
›When is it too hot to hike?
Plan to be off all but the shortest trails by 11am, especially May through September. The exposed ridge hikes (Ram Head, Bordeaux) get dangerously hot in the afternoon. Start at sunrise for Reef Bay and Bordeaux.
Keep reading
Beaches
Salt Pond Bay, St. John: The Quiet South-Shore Beach Locals Love
A complete guide to Salt Pond Bay on St. John's south shore — how to get there, the short hike down, the snorkeling, and how it pairs with the Ram Head trail for a half-day in Virgin Islands National Park.
Things to Do
St. John Snorkeling: The 8 Best Spots (And What You'll See)
A snorkeler's tour of St. John's eight best reefs — from Trunk Bay's marked underwater trail to the wild boat-only spots, with what to expect at each.
Plan Your Trip
Best Time to Visit St. John, USVI: A Month-by-Month Guide
Weather, crowds, prices, and trade winds — when to go to St. John and what to expect every month of the year. Our honest recommendations from someone who lives here.
