-: Covering most of St. John, this park protects white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and Danish colonial ruins in the Caribbean.

Park Pass

Join the National Parks Club

2 to 3 days covers the main beaches and a hike or two, while 5 or more lets you properly explore both land and water.

No special permit is required for general beach and trail access.

Cruz Bay is the gateway town, reachable by ferry from St. Thomas.

There's no entrance fee to the park itself; some beach and mooring fees apply.

Why Visit?:

Virgin Islands National Park covers most of the island of St. John, protecting white-sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and genuinely well-preserved Danish colonial ruins — a rare combination of tropical beach vacation and real national park hiking and history. It's one of the more relaxed national park experiences in the system, closer to a beach trip than a backcountry adventure.

Because access requires a ferry from St. Thomas, a Virgin Islands National Park visit naturally comes with a bit of island-hopping built in.

Things to Do:

Snorkeling at Trunk Bay, widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, is the park's signature activity, with an underwater snorkeling trail marked for self-guided exploration. Hiking the Reef Bay Trail leads down through forest to petroglyphs and the ruins of a historic sugar plantation, adding real history to the tropical scenery.

Annaberg Sugar Plantation ruins offer an easy, short walk through well-preserved Danish colonial history, a worthwhile stop even for visitors mainly there for the beaches.

Get the Full Itinerary

Closest airports: Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas is the main gateway, with a ferry connecting to Cruz Bay on St. John.

Nearby Attractions:

St. Thomas itself offers more resort infrastructure and shopping if you want to split your trip between the two islands.