Virgin Islands National Park

Virgin Islands National Park, renowned throughout the world for its breathtaking beauty, covers approximately 3/5 of St. John, and nearly all of Hassel Island in Charolette Amalie harbor on St. Thomas. Within its borders lie protected bays of crystal blue-green waters teeming with coral reef life, white sandy beaches shaded by seagrape trees and coconut palms, and tropical forests providing habitat for over 800 species of plants. To these amazing natural resources, add relics from the pre-Colombian Amerindian civilization, remains of the Danish colonial sugar plantations, and reminders of African slavery and the subsistence culture that followed during the 100 years after emancipation- all part of the rich cultural history of the Park and its island home.

Virgin Islands National Park
1300 Cruz Bay Creek
St. John, VI 00830
340 776 6201 - Visitor Information
340 776 6201 - Headquarters

By Plane
Hourly ferry service from Red Hook, St. Thomas (a 20-minute ride) is available to St. John and operates from 6:30 a.m., then on the hour from 7:00 am - midnight. Ferry service from St. John to St. Thomas runs on the hour from 6:00 a.m - 11:00 p.m. Less frequent ferries travel between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and St. John (a 45-minute ride).

Getting Around
Most popular Park areas are easily accessed by local taxis, called safari buses. Rental vehicles are available in Cruz Bay and are necessary to travel to some of the more remote areas on St. John. Parking is limited at many Park sites. Reef Bay and Cinnamon Bay Trails and Salt Pond can be accessed by public bus service running from Cruz Bay to the Coral Bay area by way of Centerline Road (Route 10). Check the most current schedule posted near the Cruz Bay ferry dock. Boats are necessary to visit some Park bays lacking road access. Bicycling is not recommended within the Park, due to very steep, narrow and winding roads.

Temperatures range in the low 70s to upper 80s, December through April, and are slightly higher (mid 80s to mid 90s), May through November. Usually there is more rainfall July through January, while spring and early summer can be quite dry. On any given day, however, brief light rain showers are not uncommon.

Throughout the year, cotton clothes that are light in color and weight are recommended in the daytime; a light jacket may occasionally be needed in the late evening and early morning during the winter season. Lightweight trousers help protect against insect bites on the denser hiking trails.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Boating
• Camping
• Educational Programs
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Swimming
• Nature Walks
• Kayaking
• Scuba Diving
• Snorkeling

Recommended Activities
While Annaberg and Trunk Bay are the most frequently-visited park sites, Virgin Islands National Park(e2)(80)(997320)diverse beaches, coral reefs, historic ruins, and hiking trails provide endless hours of exploration and enjoyment, as well as inspiration and opportunities for solitude and reflection. Visitors enjoy a variety of activities on the land and in the water, including swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving; sailing, kayaking and windsurfing; and camping, hiking and bird watching. Visitors can enjoy the crystal blue waters on a charter day-sail or boat snorkeling tour which are offered by private operators and can be booked in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay.

Some visitors explore the park on their own, while others prefer a two-hour safari bus island tour with a private tour guide. Charter day-sail trips and snorkeling tours can be booked in Cruz Bay.

To learn more about the island and its diverse plants, animals and people attend a Park program.
For information on the ongoing archeological research at Cinnamon Bay visit the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park website.