Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
St. John is laced with clearly marked walking paths. At least 20 of these originate
from Northshore Road (Rte. 20) or from the island's main east-west artery, Centerline
Road (Rte. 10). Each is marked at its starting point with a preplanned itinerary; the
walks can last anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours. Maps are available from the
national park headquarters at Cruz Bay.
One of our favorite hikes, the Annaberg Historic Trail (identified by the U.S.
National Park Service as trail no. 10), requires only about a .5-mile stroll. It departs
from a clearly marked point along the island's north coast, near the junction of routes
10 and 20. This self-guided tour passes the partially restored ruins of a manor house
built during the 1700s, and signs along the way give historical and botanical data.
Visiting the ruins is free. If you want to prolong your hiking experience, take the
Leinster Bay Trail (trail no. 11), which begins near the point where trail no. 10
ends. It leads past mangrove swamps and coral inlets rich with plant and marine life;
markers identify some of the plants and animals. Scattered throughout the park, and
sometimes hidden by plants, are mysterious petroglyphs incised into boulders and
cliffs. Their ages and origins are unknown.
Near the beach at Cinnamon Bay, there's a marked nature trail, with signs iden-
tifying the flora. It's a relatively flat walk through a tropical forest, eventually leading
straight up to Centerline Road.
The National Park Service ( &   340/776-6201; www.nps.gov/viis) provides a
number of ranger-led activities. One of the most popular is the guided 2.5-mile Reef
Bay Hike. Included is a stop at the only known petroglyphs on the island and a tour
of the sugar-mill ruins. A park ranger discusses the area's natural and cultural history
along the way. The hike starts at 9:30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
and costs $21 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by phone (at
least 2-3 weeks in advance).
Another series of hikes traversing the more arid eastern section of St. John origi-
nates at clearly marked points along the island's southeastern tip, off Route 107.
Many of the trails wind through the grounds of 18th-century plantations, past ruined
schoolhouses, rum distilleries, molasses factories, and great houses, many of which
are covered with lush, encroaching vines and trees.
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EXPLORING ST. JOHN
The best way to see St. John quickly, especially if you're on a cruise-ship layover, is to
take a 2-hour taxi tour. The cost is $25 per person. Almost any taxi at Cruz Bay will
take you on these tours, or you can call the St. John Taxi Association ( &   340/
693-7530 ).
Many visitors spend time at Cruz Bay, where the ferry docks. This village has
interesting bars, restaurants, boutiques, and pastel-painted houses. It's a bit sleepy,
but relaxing after the fast pace of St. Thomas.
Much of the island is taken up with the Virgin Islands National Park
( &   340/776-6201 ), with the lushest concentration of flora and fauna in the U.S.
Virgin Islands. The park totals 12,624 acres, including submerged lands and water
adjacent to St. John, and has more than 20 miles of hiking trails to explore. From
pelicans to sandpipers, from mahogany to bay trees, the park abounds in beauty,
including a burst of tropical flowers such as the tamarind and the flamboyant. The
mongoose also calls it home. Park guides lead nature walks through this park that
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