Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NATIONAL PARKS
The USVI and the BVI have good reason to be proud of their national parks, as both territ-
ories have set aside large portions of their landscape to remain forever wild.
On the US islands, the National Park Service oversees the vast Virgin Islands National
Park, which includes more than 9500 acres of wilderness on St John, 5600 acres of sur-
rounding bays and sea gardens, plus Hassel Island in St Thomas Harbor. The park service
also protects the marine sanctuary at Buck Island National Reef Monument, encompassing
18,800 acres of coral reef a stone's throw from St Croix.
The BVI National Parks Trust oversees 20 parks covering more than 1800 acres on land
and in the sea. The most popular ones are the 96-forested acres around lofty Sage Moun-
tain and the Rhone National Marine Park surrounding the 1867 wreck of the RMS
Rhone
.
Whole islands such as the Dogs and Fallen Jerusalem are preserved. And the entire south-
west coast of Virgin Gorda is a collection of national parks that includes the giant boulder
formations at the Baths and Spring Bay.
Top National Parks
» Virgin Islands National Park
» Buck Island Reef National Monument
» Sage Mountain National Park
» The Baths
» Rhone National Marine Park
» Fallen Jerusalem
