Best Hiking Trails for Families

ST. JOHN

The Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop & Accessible Trail offers an ideal hiking adventure for the entire family. Those with strollers or wheelchairs will appreciate the trail’s first .09 miles, which features a loop-shaped boardwalk that’s perfect for easy maneuvering. The fact that it’s set among the ruins of a former sugar plantation with signs along the way featuring facts about local plants, animals and plantation life ups the education factor. Those looking for a slightly more strenuous hike can continue up the hill, which is surrounded by fragrant bay rum, tyre palm and other indigenous trees. Be on the lookout for the above-ground tombs of the former plantation owner’s wife and children, resting in a shady grove.

With nearly two-thirds of the island dedicated to national parkland, St. John offers many amazing hiking trails. And Salt Pond Bay and Ram Head Trails is definitely one of them. This .9-mile trail is moderately challenging. But crescent-shaped Salt Pond Bay, with its crystal-clear shallow water perfect for swimming and snorkeling before or after your journey, makes the effort worth it. Along the way, you’ll pass multiple gardens of colorful cacti, lush plants and beautiful rock formations. And once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic coastal views from your perch on Ram Head.

ST. CROIX

Buck Island Reef National Monument, a federally protected island off the northeast coast of St. Croix, is famed for its 4,550-acre-long coral reef ecosystem. The West Beach Trail traverses the island from beach forest to gentle hillsides to the island’s peak. Hiking the easy trail is a family-friendly way to get a beautiful lay of the land. Take a well-deserved break at West Beach Trail’s shaded shelter and picnic tables. As for those epic coral reefs? A spectacular bird’s-eye view of the reefs, as well as the deep blue waters that surround them, awaits at the trail’s summit.

Located on the east side of St. Croix, Jack and Isaac Bay Preserve Trail features a 3.6-mile out-and-back moderately challenging trail that winds through 300 protected acres. St. Croix’s natural beauty is on full display during this hike of an area known as a pristine, protected haven for hundreds of species, including endangered sea turtles. Established by The Nature Conservancy in 1999, Jack and Isaac Bay Preserve includes rolling hills bordered by beautiful white-sand beaches, brilliant blue waters and coral reefs. Along the hike through upland forest and scrub brush be sure to point out the island birds you will inevitably see. More wildlife excitement awaits once you arrive at the beach — you did bring snorkel equipment, right? — as some 400+ species of fish call the offshore barrier reef home.

ST. THOMAS

Looking for a moderately easy hike for the entire family that has a beautiful, secluded beach at the end as a reward? Located near Charlotte Amalie, the Santa Maria Beach Path is a 1-mile trail that includes plenty of markers to help you find your way through the tall grass and flowering bushes. For most of the 20-minute hike, the terrain is flat and easy to navigate. As you get closer to the beach — the soft sound of the waves will be your first clue — ropes offer assistance on your descent (and ascent on your return trip). As befitting this quiet beach, you won’t find any amenities, so be sure to bring water, snacks and swimsuits.

The Charlotte Amalie Harbor Trail offers a lovely way to enjoy stunning water views, with the added bonus of a variety of waterfront cafes to stop at along the trail. The easy, paved 2.5-mile trail is perfect for strollers and wheelchairs. It starts at the Virgin Islands Legislature Building and meanders along the scenic harbor to the foot of Careen Hill.

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