Virgin Islands National Park guide · 2 min read
North Shore Road Beaches: Trunk to Maho
North Shore Road runs along the island's north side, linking many of the park's best stops, including beaches and hiking trails.
Traffic here moves on the left, so take care on bends, when pulling out, and at crossings. Partway along the drive, the Trunk Bay Viewpoint is among the most accessible views in the park. A pullout on the left side of the road gives you a place to stop and take in the scene.
Trunk Bay Beach is a broad stretch of sand about three-tenths of a mile long, with restrooms, pavilions, a snack bar and snorkel rentals. Many travelers rank it among the most beautiful beaches anywhere. Just offshore, near Trunk Cay, the underwater snorkeling trail runs 225 yards and has underwater signs that identify the marine life you pass. Allow 30 to 60 minutes to swim it, so be confident you can stay afloat that long, and consider a flotation device as a backup.
Snorkeling is a major draw along these north shore beaches. Hawksnest Beach holds a trio of compact elkhorn coral reefs with many small fish moving among them. At Maho Bay, you can wade over seagrass beds in shallow, still water and look for sea turtles and stingrays. Cinnamon Bay is another popular spot for snorkelers.
Cinnamon Bay Beach is the longest beach in the park, and it draws sunbathers and people keen on water sports. Nearby, Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground runs from deluxe eco-tents to tent sites on platforms and cottages, and the Rain Tree Cafe prepares the morning and evening meals.
Across the road, the ruins of Cinnamon Bay Plantation date to the 1700s, and archaeologists have found traces of the Classic Taino people, one of the island's earliest settlers. A half-mile loop, the Cinnamon Bay Plantation Ruins and Nature Trail, passes the ruins and heads into the woods, and much of it is shaded.
