Virgin Islands National Park guide · 1 min read
Reef Bay Trail and the Taino Petroglyphs
The Reef Bay Trail is a strenuous hike that starts on Centerline Road and heads downhill for most of its length.
It passes through old-growth tropical forest, where many trees are ancient and very tall. The trail runs about three miles from the trailhead to the beach, and the climb back out gains roughly 900 feet. Allow two to four hours for the round trip.
About a quarter mile from the main trail, a short spur called the Petroglyph Trail leads to Taino petroglyphs. The carvings are cut into basalt walls around a spring-fed pool. These pre-Columbian carvings are attributed to the Taino, and the site is regarded as sacred. A waterfall nearby can be impressive during the rainy season.
Along the way, hikers pass the remains of a Danish sugar plantation and stone walls tied to cattle grazing. Interpretive signs explain the plants and how people once used them. Near the end, the Reef Bay Sugar Factory ruins show how the sugar trade and enslaved labor shaped daily life on the island.
A ranger-guided Reef Bay hike is also available. It covers just under three miles, and it is strenuous and remote. The guided walk stops at the petroglyphs, then gathers beside the stacked stone walls and sugar plantation and factory remains for a group discussion of the island's history. It ends with a 40-minute boat ride back to the dock at Cruz Bay.
A beach waits at the bottom, where a dip makes a good break before the climb back, so pack a swimsuit. Sturdy closed-toe shoes matter here, since the path is steep in places, rocky, and slippery even when dry. Bring plenty of water, snacks, a lunch, a hat, and mosquito repellent.
