Overview
St. John is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, and much credit for that can go to Laurance Rockefeller, a wealthy philanthropist who donated much of the land that now constitutes Virgin Islands National Park.
Plan Around Overview
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Overview Details
St. John is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, and much credit for that can go to Laurance Rockefeller, a wealthy philanthropist who donated much of the land that now constitutes Virgin Islands National Park. The park's visitor center is located in Cruz Bay, close to the ferry terminal that brings most visitors over from Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie on the neighboring island of St. Thomas. Rangers lead tours of the 2.2-mile Reef Bay trail, which passes dramatic ruins of old sugar plantations and ends at a secluded beach, where some visitors may arrange for a boat pickup rather than retracing their steps back uphill. A side trail leads to petroglyphs carved by Taino indians. The ruins of the Catherineburg Sugar Plantation, also within the park, are far more extensive, including a windmill and boiling house. For many park visitors, St. John's gorgeous beaches are the main attraction, including that at Cinnamon Bay, which has the park's only campground. Trunk Bay has a unique underwater snorkeling trail. Established: August 2, 1956 Area: 13,892.78 acres Website: [www.nps.gov/viis](http://www.nps.gov/viis)
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
Learn About the Park
Nearby Parks Around Overview
Compare nearby parks around Overview when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Overview
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Overview while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Jessie Benton Fremont
An early advocate of the Park, without her work behind the scenes, Yosemite might not exist today.
0.0 mi away
ZERO LANDFILL IN THE PARKS:
THE YOSEMITE, GRAND TETON AND DENALI PROGRAM
0.0 mi away
30-Minute Helicopter Ride
Fly rim-to-rim in a half-hour.
0.0 mi away
50-Minute Airplane Tour
The ultimate Canyon airplane tour.
0.0 mi away
50-Minute Helicopter Tour
Offering aerial tours of the North and South Rims as well as the Grand Canyon's East Rim.
