National park · United States Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands National Park

Covers roughly two-thirds of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands — Trunk Bay's underwater snorkeling trail, the sugar plantation ruins of Annaberg, and Cinnamon Bay petroglyphs from the island's Taíno inhabitants.

Entrance
No fee listed by NPS
Hours
Varies by day Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center
Established
1956
Region
Islands & Shores
Virgin Islands National Park
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The Virgin Islands National Park patch

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History

Virgin Islands National Park is significant for preserving the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands. It protects important ecosystems and historic sites that reflect the island's colonial past.

Key events

  1. Laurance Rockefeller's Jackson Hole Preserve donated extensive lands to the National Park Service in 1956 under the condition of protection from development.
  2. The park was impacted by two category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, in September 2017, leading to a temporary closure.
  3. The park received 112,287 visitors in 2018, a significant drop from 304,408 visitors in 2017 due to hurricane damage.
  4. The Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument was created in 2001, expanding the park's protections.

Trails

  • Ram Head Trail 3 mi · Moderate
  • Reef Bay Trail 4.4 mi · Hard
  • Lind Point Trail 2 mi · Moderate
  • Cinnamon Bay Loop 1 mi · Easy
  • Leinster Bay Trail 0.8 mi · Easy

Plan your visit

Hours · Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center

Monday8:15AM - 4:00PMTuesday8:15AM - 4:00PMWednesday8:15AM - 4:00PMThursday8:15AM - 4:00PMFriday8:15AM - 1:30PMSaturdayClosedSundayClosed

Virgin Islands National Park is always open! The Visitor Center and store are open from 8:15 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 8:15 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. It is closed on weekends, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Entrance fees

NPS lists no entrance fee for this park.

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Winter. Dry season Dec-April, best snorkeling visibility, whale watching
  • Spring. Great weather, fewer crowds, reasonable prices
  • Summer. Warmest water, longest days, some rain
  • Fall. Off-season prices, tropical rains possible

Wildlife

Sea turtlesRock iguanasWild donkeysPelicansHummingbirdsParrotfishStingraysWhite-tailed deer

Nearby patches

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