Explore Trunk Bay Beach: A St. John Gem
Located within Virgin Islands National Park, Trunk Bay on St. John island is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best beaches. Known for its soft white sands, crystal-clear turquoise waters and colorful coral reefs teeming with marine life, it’s the ideal sun and snorkel lover’s destination. Plus, there’s plenty of fun shopping and dining to explore nearby.
- Things to Do at Trunk Bay Beach
- Diving & Snorkeling at Trunk Bay
- Hike Peace Hill
- Beach Rentals & Food
- Shopping & Dining on St. John
Things to do at Trunk Bay Beach
Whether you want to spend the day swimming, snorkeling or just sunning in a beach chair, Trunk Bay Beach is the go-to spot on St. John. It’s the island’s most-photographed beach for a reason, with postcard-perfect views of powdery white sands, impossibly blue waters and the lush Virgin Islands National Park landscape.
diving & Snorkeling at Trunk Bay
Snorkelers will want to head just offshore to the Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkel Trail. The 400-foot-long trail guides snorkelers along with markers that include interesting facts about the aquatic animals that live among Trunk Bay’s fragile coral reefs. You’ll likely encounter brightly colored parrotfish, tang and possibly a curious sea turtle.
Or take a diving tour of Trunk Bay with VI SNUBA Excursions — no diving certificate required! Utilizing a hose with air pumped in from above the water’s surface, SNUBA allows swimmers to effortlessly breathe underwater. Tours start with shallow water training in depths of up to 20 feet. Then, experienced guides lead divers through Trunk Bay’s tropical reefs, home to a dazzling variety of technicolor marine life.
Hike Peace Hill
To snap Instagram-worthy shots of Trunk Bay, set off for Peace Hill on St. John’s North Shore. A short, easy trail leads to the island’s only remaining sugar mill ruins — a windmill that once powered a Denis Bay plantation. Peace Hill offers sweeping views of picturesque Trunk Bay below. For a unique image, take your photo while peering through a stone archway of the former sugar mill.
Read our hiker’s guide to Virgin Islands National Park.
beach rentals & food
Stop at the on-site beach shop to rent snorkel gear and beach chairs. You can also pick up Trunk Bay souvenirs here, from T-shirts to tumblers.
Grab a bite to eat at the Trunk Bay Snack Shack. This combination bar and grill offers breakfast items like coffee and muffins in the morning and afternoon lunch fare that includes a cheeseburger and pulled pork sandwich. The full bar mixes up favorites like Painkillers and frozen daiquiris.
shopping & dining on St. John
After a rewarding beach day, head to nearby Cruz Bay for fun shopping and dining at Mongoose Junction. This leafy outdoor mall is home to a collection of locally owned specialty shops, galleries and restaurants. Pick up souvenirs like jewelry studded with Caribbean gemstones or an original artist’s print. Grab a shrimp burrito or tacos folded in house-made tortillas at Greengos Caribbean Cantina. Then, stop in at St. John Brewers’ The Tap Room for a pint of craft beer, brewed right on the island.
EXPLORE MORE USVI BEACHES
Plan a trip to St. John: Four-day outdoor itinerary
Trunk Bay Beach Tips
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Trunk Bay Beach is approximately a 12-minute drive or taxi ride from Virgin Islands National Park’s Cruz Bay Visitor Center on North Shore (Route 20). If you’re visiting Trunk Bay from St. Thomas, you have to take a ferry from Crown Bay or Red Hook to the Loredon Lawrence Boynes Sr. Dock in Cruz Bay. The dock is about a 10-minute walk to the Virgin Islands National Park Cruz Bay Visitor Center.
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Trunk Bay Beach has restrooms, a snack shack (open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with drinks and food, snorkeling and chair rentals, a souvenir shop, a foot rinse and showers. There are no lifeguards on duty at Trunk Bay Beach.
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Facilities at Trunk Bay Beach operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Virgin Islands National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day.
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An entrance pass is not required for Virgin Islands National Park, but there is a day-use fee of $5 per person for Trunk Bay Beach.
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Parking throughout Virgin Islands National Park is extremely limited and typically fills up before noon. There is a small parking lot near the Trunk Bay Beach access on North Shore (Route 20). Consider taking a taxi from Cruz Bay or coordinating a shuttle with your hotel if you’re staying on St. John.