Virgin Islands National Park

Virgin Islands National Park is a U.S. national park that protects large parts of the island of St. John and adjacent offshore reefs in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It preserves beaches, coral reef systems and tropical forest habitats while providing recreation and marine conservation.

Beaches with clear water and fringing coral reefs are among the park’s main attractions, including well-known sites with snorkeling opportunities and marked underwater trails. Several short hiking trails cross dry forest and offer viewpoints over bays and islets.

The park also manages cultural sites, marine preserves and campsites, and many visitors use anchored moorings or short ferry rides from nearby islands to reach popular beaches. Snorkeling, swimming and short hikes are the primary visitor activities.

The park was created in the mid-20th century to conserve the island’s coastal and marine environments and to provide public recreational access. Land donations and federal acquisition expanded protected land and reef areas over time, and the park continues to combine resource protection with visitor services.

The park covers much of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands and surrounding nearshore waters in the Caribbean Sea. It lies east of St. Thomas and is typically reached by ferry from nearby islands and by boat from private craft.

• Visitor season: The park manages both terrestrial and marine zones, with beaches, coral reefs and trails that are seasonally busiest from late fall through spring.
• Boat access and moorings: Many beaches and snorkeling sites have marked moorings for visiting boats to protect coral from anchors.

What to See #

• Trunk Bay: A shoreline and reef system at Trunk Bay featuring a marked underwater snorkel trail with interpretive signs and shallow coral gardens popular with day visitors.
• Cinnamon Bay: A long white-sand beach with adjacent camp and recreation facilities, offering swimming, picnicking and easy shoreline snorkeling.