Virgin Islands National Park From Cruz Bay: Trails, Beaches and Fees

Virgin Islands National Park covers more than half of St. John, and its visitor center is in Cruz Bay, about two blocks from the ferry dock. There is no entrance fee for the park. The only beach that charges is Trunk Bay: $5 per person for ages 16 and up, and since October 1, 2026 it takes cards and mobile payments only. From Cruz Bay you can walk straight onto the Lind Point Trail to Salomon and Honeymoon beaches. The rest of the park is a safari taxi or VITRAN bus ride away. This guide uses the National Park Service's own pages, read in October 2026.

The short version

Entrance fee: none, for the park or for the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. Cars on park roads don't pay either.
Trunk Bay: $5.00 per person for ages 16 and up, sunrise to sunset. Cashless since October 1, 2026.
Visitor center: in Cruz Bay, open Monday to Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
On foot from Cruz Bay: the Lind Point Trail starts behind the visitor center. It's about 1.4 miles to Salomon Beach and 1.5 miles to Honeymoon Beach.
Lifeguards: none on any park beach, Trunk Bay included.
Rules to know: no glass on park beaches, no drones anywhere in the park, no pets on beaches, and mineral sunscreen only.

The park in a few facts

Congress created Virgin Islands National Park on August 2, 1956, and it opened to the public that December. The National Park Service says it covers more than half of St. John. More than 40% of the park is underwater. Next to it, the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument was created in 2001 and protects 12,708 acres of submerged land. The park has more than 20 hiking trails. Most of the famous North Shore beaches are inside it, and so are the sugar plantation ruins at Annaberg and the Reef Bay valley.

Start at the Cruz Bay visitor center

The visitor center is about two blocks north of the public ferry dock, on Route 20. Inside you'll find exhibits, maps, brochures, books and the week's activity schedule. Staff can help you plan hikes, tours and snorkeling. It's open Monday to Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It's closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and July 4. The park itself is open 24 hours a day, all year.

The visitor center also sells federal lands passes, by card only. The park's current conditions page is worth a look on the morning you hike. In October 2026 its only notice is that rain can leave trails slick and overgrown.

Fees: what you pay and what you don't

Park entry: free. The park has no entrance fee and no fee for vehicles on its roads.
Trunk Bay amenity fee: $5.00 per person, ages 16 and up, from sunrise to sunset. Pay at the Trunk Bay booth or buy ahead on Recreation.gov. Senior and Access pass holders pay half, in person. The fee is not waived on fee-free days.
Cashless: from October 1, 2026, Trunk Bay takes cards and mobile payments only.
Proposed changes: in 2024 the park proposed raising the Trunk Bay fee and lowering the age to 10. In October 2026 both the park's fee page and Recreation.gov still list $5 for ages 16 and up, so check Recreation.gov before you go.

Trails you can walk to from Cruz Bay

Lind Point Trail to Salomon and Honeymoon beaches

The trailhead is right behind the visitor center, so no taxi is needed. The National Park Service puts Salomon Beach about 1.4 miles from Cruz Bay and Honeymoon Beach about 1.5 miles. The lower trail reaches Salomon first, and both the lower and upper trails reach Honeymoon. Allow 20 to 40 minutes to the overlook. The path is narrow and rocky, and it isn't wheelchair accessible. Wear proper shoes and carry water.

Caneel Hill Trail

The park calls it a "heart-pounding" mile up to an observation deck above Cruz Bay. The trailhead is at the top of the hill above town, and you can also reach it from the upper Lind Point Trail by the Caneel spur. It's steep and very rocky. Allow 30 to 60 minutes.

Trails and sights a ride away

Everything below is outside walking range of Cruz Bay. Safari taxis wait at the ferry dock and run to the North Shore beaches. Confirm the fare with the driver before you set off. The VITRAN bus runs along Centerline Road to Coral Bay and Salt Pond for $2.00, exact change, with free rides for seniors 60 and over and riders with disabilities. It has no North Shore route.

Trunk Bay

The park's best-known beach is 0.3 miles long, with accessible paths and ramps. It has an underwater snorkel trail just off the beach. Restrooms, showers and a foot rinse are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the snack bar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are no lifeguards. Trunk Bay is the one beach with the $5 fee.

Cinnamon Bay

The Cinnamon Bay nature loop is an easy half-mile walk on a boardwalk through plantation ruins. The separate Cinnamon Bay Trail is a strenuous one-mile climb up to Centerline Road. The campground behind the beach is open and takes its own reservations.

Maho Bay and Francis Bay

The park calls Maho Bay "the place to go for sea turtles," and calls Francis Bay ideal for beginner snorkelers. The Francis Bay Trail is an easy walk of less than half a mile, with a boardwalk that's good for birding.

Annaberg Sugar Plantation

Annaberg holds the ruins of a windmill, an animal mill, the sugar factory, part of the rum still and the quarters of the enslaved people who worked there. The park says more than 600 enslaved people worked the plantation. The Leinster Bay waterfront below is part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Volunteer guides are there on some weekdays, and the visitor center can tell you when.

Reef Bay Trail

Reef Bay is the park's big hike: about 3 miles one way, rated strenuous, with a 900-foot climb if you walk back out. The simplest way to do it is the guided hike that the park runs with Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. It's offered seasonally and booked through Friends, and there's a fee. It covers just under 3 miles downhill and ends with a 40-minute boat ride back to Cruz Bay. Check-in is at 7:45 a.m. at the Cruz Bay visitor center. For a Cruz Bay guest, that means a walk to check-in and a boat ride home.

Salt Pond and Ram Head

From the road it's a quarter mile down to Salt Pond Beach. Ram Head is another 30 to 50 minutes on a rocky trail with little shade. VITRAN stops at Salt Pond, so this is the one big hike you can reach by bus from Cruz Bay.

Snorkeling in the park

The park's snorkeling page names Trunk Bay for its underwater trail, Maho Bay for sea turtles and Francis Bay for beginners. Wherever you swim, the park asks you to look but not touch, and to stand only on sand, never on coral.

Safety and park rules

No lifeguards on any park beach.
Surf flags: red means extremely hazardous conditions, with big waves and strong rip currents. Yellow means moderate and green means minimal.
Sunscreen: use mineral sunscreen. The U.S. Virgin Islands prohibits sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene.
Glass: glass bottles and containers are banned on all park beaches.
Drones: not allowed anywhere in the park.
Pets: not allowed on beaches. Dogs on a leash of 6 feet or less may use the trails.
History: leave all artifacts where you find them.
Hurricane season: June 1 to November 30. Check the forecast before a long hike.

Where to stay for the park

Staying in Cruz Bay puts the visitor center, the Lind Point trailhead, the safari taxis and the VITRAN stop at the dock within walking distance. Dolphin Suites sits above Dolphin Market at 18-27 Estate Enighed, about a 5-minute walk from the ferry dock and 3 minutes from the beach. Every Dolphin suite has one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a washer and dryer and a balcony. Four suites sleep 2 guests and four sleep up to 4. Unit 2 and Unit 4 have the ocean view. A full kitchen makes it easy to pack lunch and water before an early hike.

For couples, Raintree Suites is a brand-new one-bedroom apartment for two, about a 5-minute walk from the ferry dock and the beach. Compare both on our apartments and suites page, or check availability for your dates and book direct.

More guides for planning your trip

Frequently asked questions

Does Virgin Islands National Park have an entrance fee?

No. The park and the Coral Reef National Monument have no entrance fee. The only charge is the $5 amenity fee at Trunk Bay for visitors 16 and over.

How much is Trunk Bay?

$5.00 per person for ages 16 and up, from sunrise to sunset. Since October 1, 2026 it's card or mobile payment only. Check Recreation.gov before you go, because the park has proposed changes.

Can I hike in the national park from Cruz Bay without a car?

Yes. The Lind Point Trail starts behind the Cruz Bay visitor center and goes to Salomon Beach (about 1.4 miles) and Honeymoon Beach (about 1.5 miles). The Caneel Hill Trail is also close to town. For Ram Head, take the VITRAN bus to Salt Pond.

What are the visitor center hours?

Monday to Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It's closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and July 4.

Are there lifeguards at St. John's beaches?

Not on park beaches, including Trunk Bay. Check the surf flags and don't swim when the red flag is up.

How do I do the Reef Bay hike?

Book the seasonal guided hike through Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. It starts with a 7:45 a.m. check-in at the Cruz Bay visitor center, covers just under 3 miles downhill, and ends with a boat ride back to Cruz Bay.

Sources

Where to stay in Cruz Bay

DGMI Properties manages two places to stay in the heart of Cruz Bay, both about a 5-minute walk from the ferry dock. Dolphin Suites has eight one-bedroom suites with full kitchens that sleep 2 to 4 guests. Raintree Suites is a brand-new one-bedroom apartment for two, steps from the beach. Planning your trip? Our Plan Your Visit guide covers the ferry, groceries and what to pack.

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