10 Amazing St John Hiking Trails You Need to Try

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Planning a vacation to St John in the USVI soon? You may be primarily drawn there for the beaches and beautiful views within Virgin Islands National Park.  However, did you know St John also has some magnificent hiking trails that deliver on both of these things?

Maybe when you think of vacation, you don’t think of hiking. However, if you’re really looking to feel off the grid during your trip, hiking is the perfect way to do it. Believe me – the beaches will be there waiting for you when you’re done.

In fact, hiking is often done on St John in conjunction with going to the beach, as you must access many beaches via short hiking trails.  It’s a great way to get your legs moving during your trip, and maybe earn some conch fritters and a painkiller later.

There are hiking trails on St John of all difficulties. I’ve listed ten awesome ones below, many of which are easy for all levels and lead to gorgeous beaches. Don’t think you need to tackle them all – usually one or two hikes per trip is plenty for me!

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10 Awesome St John Hiking Trails

Here is a sampling of ten of St John’s most popular hiking trails. Almost every trail I’ve listed below can be done by a complete beginner, and most take less than an hour to complete. Give one of these hikes a try – it just might become a new vacation activity for you!

1. Salt Pond/Drunk Bay

Distance: 1.1 miles out and back; Approx. 20-30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Salt Pond and Drunk Bay are actually two hikes on the south shore of St John. You first need to hike to Salt Pond Beach, and then on to Drunk Bay.

The hike to Salt Pond Beach is fairly short, being about .8 miles.  This hike is easy and pretty flat with just a minor decline down to the water. At the end of the trail, you’ll find yourself at a glistening aqua beach, with calm, transparent water.

To continue on to Drunk Bay, cross the entire beach and you’ll come to a path on the other side. Follow this path, and you’ll run right into the Salt Pond, which is a large pool of brown water. It’s not much to look at, so turn left and follow the path around the pond until you reach an opening that takes you to a rocky, windy beach.

You are now at Drunk Bay.  The waves are noticeably rougher over here than other beaches you’ll see on St. John. That’s because this beach is not protected at all, and faces the open Atlantic Ocean.  Thus, the waves may actually be crashing against the rocks. 

Before leaving Drunk Bay, don’t forget to leave behind a Jumbie, or little person made of the beach’s coral rocks.  You’ll see others that travelers have left all around you.

2. Ram Head Trail

Distance: 2.3 miles out and back; Approx. 1.5 to 2 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Ram Head was the first St John hiking trail Aaron and I ever did, and it was a terrific one to start with. This hike was the next act to follow the beautiful trails of Cinque Terre we had just seen that summer. The Ram Head trail did not let us down at all with its epic views that just don’t quit. 

The trailhead begins right by the Salt Pond, so you actually have to do that short hike first.    Turn right when you get to the Salt Pond, and you will find where the trail starts. The hike is mostly a rocky dirt path with very little shade.  However, the lack of trees lends itself to sea views almost the entire way, and you even pass a glittering rock beach. 

After passing the rock beach, you ascend back up the trail along a completely exposed path lined with cacti.  This brings you to the top of the Ram Head, where there is nothing but sea for miles and the shadow of St. Croix in the distance.

3. Lind Point Trail

Distance: Approx. 2 mile loop (or out and back), 40-60 minutes

Difficulty: *Easy

The Lind Point Trail is a fairly easy path that leads to the Salomon Bay and Honeymoon Bay beaches. The hike gets a tad harder if you are carrying beach chairs and a cooler with you, as we did.

The trailhead is behind Cruz Bay Visitor Center, at the foot of some wooden stairs.  You’ll see that it is clearly marked with signage. It can be tricky to find parking there, as most spots are reserved for employees, but simply head into the Visitor Center and ask for a free pass.

Going out and returning along the trail, there are great views of Cruz Bay (and also lots of hermit crabs). Once you get going, there aren’t too many more views if you stick to the Lower Lind Point Trail. However, if you don’t mind taking a more roundabout way on the Upper Lind Point Trail, follow the clearly-marked signs for a short climb to a scenic overlook.

The real treat is ending up at Honeymoon or Salomon Beach when you’re done. You’ll run into Salomon Bay first and then Honeymoon.  Honeymoon is a busy beach, as people can easily get there from Cruz Bay via taxi.  However, Salomon Bay is harder to access and receives less visitors.

4. Peace Hill: A Short St John Hiking Trail

Distance: .2 miles out and back; Approx. 10 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

The Peace Hill Trail is short, sweet, and super easy to pop in for a quick hike. There is a parking lot right by the trailhead, which can easily be seen from North Shore Road.  There may even be donkeys waiting in the parking lot to greet you. 

After you park, make your way to the trail, where you will climb uphill for no more than 200 meters.  At the top, you’ll immediately run into the beautiful Peace Hill Windmill.  Take lots of photos, but watch out for donkey poop! 

Be sure to walk around the top for 180 degree views of various north shore beaches below.  You can see from Hawksnest and the Caneel beaches to Trunk Bay on the other side.

5. Denis Bay Trail

Distance: .4 miles out and back; Approx. 20 minutes

Difficulty: *Easy

Off the short Peace Hill Trail, there is another worthwhile hike you could do.  Rather than hiking to a windmill, how about hiking to a beautiful beach with hardly anyone on it? 

The trail to Denis Bay is mostly easy, but gets harder when carrying a bunch of beach gear.  The way to the beach is .2 miles downhill, although the trail can be narrow and uneven. There is plenty of shade, but watch out for tree roots!

Once at Denis Bay, you’ll notice this beach has gorgeous turquoise water and plenty of space in the sand to spread out. Although the waters are not very protected and get a little wavy, a lot of people still swim and snorkel here. You’ll just need to be careful entering the water, as it is a bit rocky at the bottom.

Upon leaving, the trail will be uphill going back and is a bit harder, but you can distract yourself by looking for hermit crabs.

6. Reef Bay: The Most Famous St John Hiking Trail

Distance: 5 miles out and back; Plan on 4-6 hours of hiking and sight-seeing

Difficulty: Moderate

Reef Bay is one of the most well-known St John hiking trails. You need to commit at least a half day to this five mile hike, but it makes for a memorable experience exploring Virgin Islands National Park.

The hike begins with a descent into a valley towards Reef Bay Beach on St John’s south shore.  Along the way, you’ll pass by plantation ruins, ancient rock carvings, and plenty of nature.  I recommend packing a sandwich to enjoy at the beach before turning back around – just remember to take any waste with you.

To see the ancient rock carvings, you will need to turn onto the Petroglyph Trail. This flat, quarter-mile-long trail can be found about 1.6 miles into the Reef Bay Trail. Look for the trailhead on your right.

While the hike is downhill going out, it is an uphill trek on the way back.  Prepare for a great glute workout and do not wear flip flops – sturdy shoes with good traction are where it’s at.  Just ask my flip-flop enthusiast hubby, as he has personal experience with this.

7. Francis Bay Trail

Distance: .7 mile loop; Approx. 15-20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

The Francis Bay Trail is a short, flat trail that is perfect for beginners. You could take this trail simply to Francis Bay Beach and stop there.  This section is your typical dirt path, and passes the ruins of an old estate house before taking you down to the water. 

However, when you arrive at the beach you could choose to continue your hike over a boardwalk.  This section of the trail will take you past a salt pond, where many people like to look for birds and other wildlife.

When you’re done, you can spend the rest of your day at Francis Bay Beach. The water here is super calm, and this beach does not get nearly the crowds that its neighbor, Maho, gets.  This is a great place to snorkel and possibly see some sea turtles.

8. America Hill via Cinnamon Bay Trail

Distance: 1.2 miles out and back; Approx. 30 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate

The trailhead for the Cinnamon Bay Trail can be found right across the street from the Cinnamon Bay campground and beach. This makes parking easy, since you can simply use the lot for those facilities. There are also a couple dirt spots right next to the trailhead.

The Cinnamon Bay Trail on its own takes you up a path just short of a mile to Centerline Road. However, if you take the Cinnamon Bay Trail to the American Hill Trail, you are in for one of the more rewarding hiking trails on St John.

The American Hill trailhead can be found just a short ways after an initial climb on the Cinnamon Bay Trail, to your left. While not long in distance, this hike is intense and has some steep uphill climbs. It goes without saying that you will be sweating, even with trees shading this trail much of the way.

That said, it’s worth the effort, as the top greets you with unique pink plantation ruins that pop against the turquoise water behind them. Past the ruins, you can see the Maho and Francis beaches, as well as the British Virgin Islands beyond them. Heading back, the trail is downhill the whole way and much easier.

9. Brown Bay Trail

Distance: 1.6 miles out and back; Approx. 60 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate (best in winter, see Travel Savvy Tip below)

For a remote beach with good snorkeling, give the Brown Bay Trail a try. This trailhead is located off East End Road, where there is a small dirt entrance with a few parking spots.

The trailhead to Brown Bay Beach is about .8 miles, but don’t let the short distance fool you.  This narrow trail has rough footing as you climb over a low hill. We also encountered some sections that required fighting through overgrown vegetation, although the path has since been cleared.

The mild increase in elevation along the way lends itself to beautiful views over Coral Bay and the BVI.  However, the end is where you’ll find the real reward, as the calm waters of Brown Bay Beach present themselves. As not too many people make it out to Brown Bay, you likely won’t be sharing this shady, rugged beach with many other hikers.

If you’re into snorkeling, be sure to bring gear for exploring these crystal clear waters. When I went with my husband, I was so excited to see my first starfish here, along with some big schools of fish. It’s actually a great newbie snorkel spot, since the water stays quite shallow a good distance out from the beach.

Enjoy the solitude and views of Tortola across the way before trekking back .8 miles over the hill again.

10. Leinster Bay Trail

Distance: 1.9 miles out and back; Approx. 50-60 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

The Leinster Bay Trail is located on the northeast corner of St. John, before the island branches south toward East End.  This pebbly out and back trail offers coastal scenery the entire way and passes the extensive Annaberg Plantation ruins.  You will be treated to unobstructed views of the BVI and see gorgeous boats dotting the horizon.

Leading to Waterlemon Bay, the Leinster Bay trail is popular for snorkelers wishing to see vibrant sea life off nearby Waterlemon Cay.  The water at this lesser-visited beach is so pristine that I could see a sea turtle breaching while standing on the shore.

Being that the Leinster Bay Trail is relatively flat and just under 2 miles long, it is an easy trail that hikers of all abilities can enjoy.  Set aside about fifty or so minutes if you only wish to walk the trail.  Budget an additional 1-2 hours for snorkeling around Waterlemon Cay or making a stop at Annaberg Plantation after your hike.

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How to Protect Yourself on St John Hiking Trails

• Bring Gear: Always bring bug spray, sunscreen, plenty of water, a hat, and maybe some snacks. I also bring my camera (the Sony A6000 is my jam) for photos on scenic trails. In addition, you may want a swimsuit and towel for hikes that have beaches.
• Hike in daylight: Paths can be bumpy, have steep drop-offs, or have branches and plants you could run into or trip over. It is safest to hike during daylight when you can properly see your surroundings.
• Weather: Don’t hike in bad weather that could lead to slippery or other dangerous conditions. Check weather predictions before you head out. Also, beat the tropical heat by setting out in the morning when it’s cooler.
• Take a buddy: While most of these trails are easy, not all are as highly-trafficked as the next. You may want to bring a buddy in case you twist an ankle, or need assistance in any other way.

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Don’t leave St. John without trying at least one hike.  Even a baby hike is super rewarding, leaving you with incredible views and the satisfaction of having earned a drink and key lime pie later. 

You’ll definitely get to know the island on another level by slowing down and seeing it on foot.  The hiking trails are just one more way that St John leaves a lasting impression on just about everyone who visits.