If you're looking for a slice of paradise where you can explore nature, St. John is the place to be. This little island in the U.S. Virgin Islands is more than just beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters—it offers more than 20 hiking trails. Whether you’re into birdwatching, snorkeling, or just exploring nature, there’s so much to see.
What makes St. John even more special is that about two-thirds of the island is protected as part of Virgin Islands National Park. That means the ecosystems are protected, the trails are maintained (mostly), and there are archaeological ruins that can be encountered. In this post, we’re going to highlight the wildlife you can watch on the hiking trails if you have a keen eye. Trust me, you’re in for a treat when you explore the untamed beauty of St. John!
The only native mammals on St. John are bats! If you are still out on your porch after enjoying a sunset you can see the bats flitting about eating insects. Mammals that have made their way to St. John over the years include white-tail deer, mongoose, and donkeys. Deer were brought to the island for hunting, mongoose were brought in to eat rats (that were stowaways on ships), and donkeys were brought in to help with the sugar cane plantations.
While hiking, you might see a red-footed tortoise crossing the trail, an iguana lounging in the trees, or many smaller lizards on the trails and trees. There are also quite a few hermit crabs that you can see (and hear) along the trails.
A few pointers for hiking and viewing wildlife:
Respect wildlife in their natural habitat, don’t approach too closely or try to interact with animals. Look but don’t touch.
Please don’t feed the animals. This is their home; they know how to take care of themselves.
Plan your hike with a map, you can download a free topographic map from the Trail Bandit. Zoom in and take a screen shot of the trail that you plan to hike. You won’t have cell service on most of the trails.
On that note, make sure that someone that is not hiking with you knows the trail that you’re going to take, how long you expect to be gone (plan extra time to rest, lounge and/or snorkel), and notify them when you return.
Stay on the trails! There are a lot of plants with thorns and spines growing on St. John.
Make sure you pack plenty of water (think 1 plastic bottle per hour, but please consider a reusable bottle instead) and some snacks
Wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes and be careful on wet/slippery rocks.
Never eat unknown fruits or berries. (Google Christopher Columbus and the death apple)
St. John is home to many archaeological ruins, which is such a special treat on a hike, but please don’t’ climb on them. Treat them with respect, they are fragile and hold a lot of history.
Plan a trip and experience St. John’s untamed beauty for yourself! Just please remember to explore the island’s natural beauty while maintaining respect for the environment.
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