Trunk Bay [Suggest Edits]

Description

Trunk Bar is an iconic Caribbean beach on St. John. Two-thirds of STJ is a National Park, with most of that land donated to USG/DOI by Laurence Rockefeller. Trunk Bay is THE go-to place for first-time visitors. There's a Ranger Station, burger joint, swag shop, life guard and under water snorkeling trail. The beach can get crowded, especially when the cruise ships drop off day-trippers. But early or late in the day, it is spectacular. The under water snorkel trail must be done at least once. There's a covered picnic area in case of rain along with flush toilets and showers. Easy peazy... EXCEPT parking can be tough at peak times.

The Trunk Bay Underwater Trail is a wonderful way to learn about native marine life, through both personal encounters with the native organisms, and through the educational plaques dotted throughout the trail. This trail follows along the Western side of Trunk Cay and U-turns back around to the beach. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in taking this trail to bring snorkel gear to better enjoy the experience (it should be noted that the National Park Service has rentals for snorkel gear nearby for most of the day). Expect to get wet and bring appropriate clothing. Depth on the trail ranges from 3 to 18 feet, and visibility is crystal clear.

Even though the trail officially U-turns back about halfway along the Cay, the National Park Service allows access beyond to view the additional reefs by the northern tip, as long as you do not venture out of view of the lifeguards; the farther out you go, the rougher the water gets. A wide range of exotic fish live in the nearby reefs, including grouper, angelfish, parrotfish, snapper, trumpetfish, and tang, in addition to other creatures such as various anemones, feather duster worms, urchins, sponges, stingrays, and different species of sea turtle.

When along the trail, refrain from touching any organisms, including corals. The reefs are also sensitive to certain sunscreen

Short Walk: The parking lot is within 100 yards of the beach. The challenge is if you're trying to park during the peak of the day. You might have to look for a sliver of a slot on the side of the road. Other options include a group taxi from town or hitching.

If doing the underwater trail, admission for adults is $4, kids 16 or younger get in free. Parking access is listed alongside the main road. It gets filled rather quickly, so shoot to arrive before 8:30 AM. Most visitors use local taxis to drop them off and pick them up, however keep in mind that they are not always available. Restrooms are right near the entrance to the beach, along with a food truck and restaurant.

Gem Type: Swimming