10 Useful Tips for Hiking Reef Bay Trail on St. John

Hiking Reef Bay Trail is a must-do during your visit to St. John in the US Virgin Islands. However, don’t start the famous hike in Virgin Islands National Park until you’ve read these 10 useful tips!

During your visit to St. John in the US Virgin Islands, you’ll be bombarded with a litany of outdoor adventures. Stunning beaches to visit. Epic ruins to see. Boat rides. Snorkel sites. And plenty of hiking trails to keep even the most avid trekkers busy for a week.

But if you had to choose just one adventure, you should consider hiking Reef Bay Trail. It’s easily one of the top two hiking trails on St. John and a can’t-miss adventure for any thrill seeker.

It has all the features that make Virgin Islands National Park so damn cool: a beautiful beach, colorful flora, snorkeling opportunities, and robust ruins from a troubling time in history.

It’s a tough trail, though. So make sure you’re prepared with these 10 useful tips before you begin! Enjoy!

Video: Hiking the Reef Bay Trail

Overview: Reef Bay Trail

Tips for Hiking Reef Bay Trail on St. John

The Reef Bay Trail is one of the best hiking trails on St. John and in the US Virgin Islands. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

1. Start your hike early

Even in the winter months, the Caribbean sun can get blazing hot – and once you’re towards the bottom of Reef Bay Trail, the tree cover ceases to exist. It’s hot.

A good rule of thumb for hiking in the Virgin Islands National Park is to start early. That way, you beat some of the crowds while avoiding the hottest part of the day.

2. Save your water for the way up

I know what you’re thinking, “Pack water for hiking in the Caribbean – yea no shit, Andrew”. But what I’m telling you, save your water until the second half of the hike.

AKA: your ascent.

Reef Bay Trail begins at its highest elevation and descends for 2.2 miles. That’s 2.2 miles on the way back up to where you began. So I’ll say again, pack PLENTY of water and don’t drink it until the sweat-inducing climb out.

3. Look out for wildlife

Reef Bay Trail is full of biodiversity amongst the plant life, but keep your eyes peeled for some larger animals. We ran into a small herd of white-tailed deer! St. John is also known to have feral goats, sheep, and wild donkeys wandering around.

4. Pack a map

I never go hiking in Virgin Islands National Park without the handy adventure map from National Geographic. It details all the hiking trails (including Reef Bay), snorkel sites, flora, fauna, and other things you might see while exploring the National Park on St. John.

5. Take time for the Petroglyphs Trail

If you’re on a time crunch you might be tempted to skip the Petroglyphs Trail on your way down Reef Bay Trail. Don’t. The Petroglyphs are ancient rock carvings left behind by the Taino Tribe – the Native Americans of the Virgin Islands and beyond.

It’s a super cool sight to see, so make sure you’ve given yourself enough time to check them out!

6. Explore the Reef Bay Sugar Mill Ruins

The Reef Bay Sugar Mill was the longest-running sugar factory on St. John lasting well into the 20th century. It’s the only sugar mill that combined the technology from the industrial revolution with the techniques from previous centuries.

As such, you’ll find the standard facilities you’ll see at other sugar plantations around the island: horse mill, boiling room, slave quarters, etc. But the Reef Bay Sugar Mill combines these elements with an engine room – a unique sight to see in the Danish West Indies.

7. Bring a set of snorkel gear

As with most beaches in the US Virgin Islands, it’s easy to go snorkeling and find some marvelous scenery directly from the shore. Reef Bay is no different.

So once you’ve reached the beach, be sure to cool off with a quick snorkel around the rocky outcroppings in Reef Bay. We saw lionfish, a great barracuda, blue runners, and beautiful stems of elkhorn coral.

🤿 Travel Snorkel Gear: No matter which beach you visit on St. John, I always bring my snorkel set. This handy travel set by Cressi is the perfect addition to your luggage for some free, outdoor fun in the USVI’s.

8. Bring a packable beach blanket

Since most of the hiking trails in the US Virgin Islands culminate their descent on a scenic beach, it’s important to bring a packable beach blanket. NOT one of those huge clunky beach towels or beach chairs.

Our favorite is the beach blanket from Grand Trunk. It’s an affordable piece of technology that packs away tightly while also proving to be sand-resistant. It’s the perfect addition for any adventure in the US Virgin Islands.

9. Ascend L’Esperance Trail as an alternate route

L’Esperance Trail is a wonderful alternative ascent from Reef Bay Beach. It provides hikers with a change of scenery as they make their way back to Centerline Road rather than ascending the same trail they just descended.

It’ll end on Centerline Road about a half-mile west of the Reef Bay Trailhead, so it may not be your best option if you parked at Reef Bay Trailhead. However, if you got dropped off by a cab, it’s a great option.

The trail is half tropical forest and half-dry scrub. So you’ll be exposed to the sun about half the time. Along the way, you’ll pass by multiple ruins and the option to check out Great Sieben Trail.

10. End your day at the Windmill Bar

After your climb up Reef Bay or L’Esperance Trail, it’s time to reward yourself with a cold drink. Windmill Bar is just down the road offering one of the coolest bar experiences in the US Virgin Islands. The view is incredible as the bar sits amidst sugar mill ruins. It’s a great place to end the day as you witness a Caribbean sunrise.

Hiking Reef Bay Trail FAQs

How long does it take to hike Reef Bay Trail?

Reef Bay Trail takes 2.5 hours to hike in and out. However, allot yourself at least four hours or a half-day to fully explore everything the trail has to offer including the Petroglyphs, Reef Bay Beach, and the Reef Bay Sugar Factory.

Where do you park for Reef Bay Trail?

Parking is sparse at the trailhead of Reef Bay Trail. You can park in the small gravel lot along Centerline Road or along the roadway. Conversely, you can take a taxi from Cruz Bay to the trailhead of Reef Bay Trail for around $7 per person.

How do I get to Reef Bay?

You can get to Reef Bay via boat or by hiking down the Reef Bay Trail in Virgin Islands National Park. The beach is stunning and worthy of visiting to spend some time soaking up the sun, snorkeling the small reefs, and exploring the nearby ruins.

Are there waterfalls on St. John?

With no source of fresh water, there are no waterfalls on St. John. However, in heavy rains, guts throughout the island will overflow giving the look of a naturally flowing waterfall. You can find a waterfall after heavy rain at the end of the Petroglyphs Trail along the Reef Bay Trail.