Hawknest Bay, Virgin Islands National Park, St. John | Photo Credit: Shutterstock / pics721
Virgin Islands National Park, located in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, is a tropical paradise that encompasses pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush forests. The park consists of over 7,000 acres of land and 5,000 acres of marine environment, providing a diverse range of ecosystems to explore. Visitors can enjoy activities such as snorkeling, swimming, hiking, and wildlife spotting. The park also features historic ruins, including sugar plantation remnants, showcasing the area’s rich cultural heritage. With its stunning natural beauty, vibrant marine life, and cultural significance, Virgin Islands National Park offers an idyllic getaway for nature lovers and adventurers alike. Be sure to visit the park website for current closures and conditions.
Map of Virgin Islands National Park
Top Photography Locations and Sights at Virgin Islands National Park:
As photographers, we know that many of you will only have one chance in a lifetime to visit the National Parks. To make your life easier, we have compiled a list of our top photography locations and sights at Virgin Islands National Park! While this is not comprehensive, and there are many more amazing sights to see, it should give you a good feel for the park.
North Shore Area
The North Shore Area of Virgin Islands National Park on St. John is renowned for its pristine beaches, historic ruins, and scenic trails, accessible via North Shore Road (Route 20) from Cruz Bay. This region encompasses iconic beaches like Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, and Maho Bay, celebrated for their powdery white sands, turquoise waters, and vibrant snorkeling reefs teeming with marine life. Key historic sites, such as the Annaberg Sugar Plantation and Cinnamon Bay Plantation ruins, offer glimpses into the island’s 18th-century colonial past, while trails like the Lind Point Trail and Caneel Hill Trail lead to secluded coves (e.g., Salomon Bay) and panoramic viewpoints like Margaret Hill. With easy access to parking and amenities, the North Shore Area combines natural beauty, cultural history, and recreational opportunities, making it a must-visit hub for park explorers.
South Shore Area
The South Shore Area of Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, accessible primarily via Centerline Road (Route 10) and rugged side routes like Route 107, is characterized by its remote, untamed landscapes and rich historical sites. This region features secluded beaches such as Salt Pond Bay and Great and Little Lameshur Bays, known for their pebbly shores, exceptional snorkeling with turtles and coral reefs, and serene isolation. Historic ruins, including the Reef Bay Sugar Factory, Lameshur Plantation, and Sieban Plantation, provide a window into St. John’s 18th- and 19th-century sugar industry and enslaved labor history, often reached via strenuous trails like the Reef Bay Trail or L’Esperance Trail. With fewer amenities and challenging access (often requiring 4WD vehicles), the South Shore Area offers adventurers a blend of dramatic coastal scenery, dense rainforest, and cultural heritage, ideal for those seeking solitude and exploration.
Virgin Islands National Park Wildlife Photography:
Virgin Islands National Park is filled with wildlife and biodiversity. If you like wildlife photography, you will love what this park has to offer!
Want to learn more about Virgin Islands National Park? Check out these maps, guides & books:
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Featured National Park Photographers:
NPS: Sieban Plantation Ruins, Catherineberg Windmill Tower, Petroglyphs Mirrored in the Pool, Annaberg Plantation
NPS / Susanna Pershern: Peace Hill Sugar Mill
Shutterstock / BlueBarronPhoto: Wild Goat Foraging for Food, Wild Iguana Climbing a Tree, Wild Lizard in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Wild Semipalmated Plover Wandering the Shoreline
Shutterstock / Fotoluminate LLC: Cinnamon Bay
Shutterstock / Jason Patrick Ross: Caneel Hill Trail, Honeymoon Beach
Shutterstock / Jennifer Stanford: Annaberg Plantation
Shutterstock / Jim Schwabel: Maho Bay
Shutterstock / jo Crebbin: Francis Bay
Shutterstock / K.E.K.: Reef Bay Trail
Shutterstock / Kelly vanDellen: Brightly Colored Yellow French Grunt, Salomon Bay
Shutterstock / pics721: Hawknest Bay, Watermelon Cay
Shutterstock / RJBarnes: Ram Head Trail
Shutterstock / SCStock: Trunk Bay
Shutterstock / Sherry Conklin: Sea Turtle Swimming in Harbor
Shutterstock / Sherry Talbot: Lameshur Bay
Shutterstock / Yingna Cai: Leinster Bay
Want to visit more parks? Check out our complete list of the US National Parks!
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