Things to Do in Virgin Islands National Park

Virgin Islands National Park is just as rewarding from the water and the roadside as it is on the trail. Start with the park’s signature viewpoints, where green hills tumble into brilliant bays and the sea shifts from deep cobalt to impossible turquoise. The overlooks above Maho Bay and along the island’s winding north shore are reason enough to get in the car and explore, with pull-offs that frame the classic St. John postcard: white sand, anchored sailboats, and reefs glowing beneath clear water. Historic sites add another layer to the scenery. Annaberg’s sugar plantation ruins are among the park’s most compelling places to wander, pairing sweeping coastal views with the island’s colonial history, while the Reef Bay petroglyphs offer a rare connection to the Indigenous past. The beaches are the park’s great indulgence, and each has its own personality. Trunk Bay is the headline act, famous for its dazzling crescent of sand and calm, swimmable water, while Cinnamon Bay offers a broader strand with room to spread out and settle in for the day. Hawksnest and Maho are favorites for easy access and gentle water, and the quieter coves feel made for lingering under sea grape and palm shade. Beyond simply swimming, the park shines in the water: snorkeling over coral gardens, paddling a kayak or stand-up board across glassy bays, sailing into hidden anchorages, or joining a charter to reach the best reef spots. This is a park where a day can mean sea turtles offshore in the morning, plantation ruins in the afternoon, and sunset from a breezy overlook with the Caribbean spread out below.