Reef Bay Petroglyphs

Archaeological site · Saint John Island ·

Reef Bay Petroglyphs

Archaeological site · Saint John Island ·

Ancient Taino rock carvings, ruins, and seasonal waterfall

Information

87J4+P88, Reef Bay Trail, Reef Bay, St John 00830, U.S. Virgin Islands Get directions

@travelleisure

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20 Best Things to Do on St. John

"On the Reef Bay Trail I encountered age-old Taino petroglyphs etched in a rock face at the base of a plunging waterfall; the trail also passes four former sugar plantations, making the hike feel like a historical walking tour through some of the island's most impressive landscapes." - Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual travel writer, editor, and content marketer. She is an expert on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, as she lived and worked in four different countries in that region. Carley founded the digital travel publications Loosely Local and Home to Havana. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-things-to-do-on-st-john-8407018

Reef Bay Petroglyphs

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

Virgin Islands National Park Travel Guide

"A strenuous, roughly three-hour hike that traverses uneven, rocky terrain and rewards prepared hikers with ancient Taino rock carvings, ruins of Danish sugar plantations, some of the island's oldest and tallest trees, and a seasonal waterfall during the rainy months. The trail is best attempted with plenty of water and proper footwear, though the park offers many other routes for less ambitious walkers." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/virgin-islands-national-park-guide-7562963

Reef Bay Petroglyphs

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

"The most popular trek in the St. John national park, this trail begins on Centerline Road and descends 937 feet through a shady forest. Along the way, hikers will encounter the remains of four sugar estates, as well asancient petroglyphs, or rock carvings. The trail ends at the ruins of the Reef Bay Plantation near Genti Bay."

The Best of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Photo by Kelly Vandellen/age fotostock

Petroglyphs

@nomadicmatt

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16 Fun Things to See & Do in the Virgin Islands in 2025

"Cutting through the center of St. John, the Reef Bay Trail takes you through forested terrain with old sugar plantations, stone ruins, ancient Taino petroglyphs, and a deserted sugar factory by the water; it’s beautiful and manageable, ending at a beach that’s perfect for a dip — combine it with the Cinnamon Trail to cross the island in about four hours." - Matthew Kepnes

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-of-virgin-islands/

Reef Bay Petroglyphs

Jessica T.

Google

The petroglyphs are a spur trail off the main trail and worth visiting. Our visit was during a dry period so there was not really much water movement

Kay W.

Google

Depending on the time of year, the waterfall may be underwhelming or outright non-existent. Keep that in mind to manage your expectations since it is a hike to get there. Overall, the sacredness of the Petroglyphs is worth the experience. It's about 2 hours round-trip from the entrance of the Reef Bay Trail to the Petroglyphs. The trail is a bit longer than that since you can leave the Petroglyphs and continue onward to the Sugar Mill Ruins and, ultimately, Reef Bay. Plan accordingly. Bring water, proper footwear, and sunscreen. The hike back is a bit strenuous, but the sites are worth it. Happy Traveling!

Annika K.

Google

It was very beautiful and we saw so much wildlife on the way down. The way down was very easy, but the way back up at 1 pm with asthma almost killed me so I would suggest going in the morning and if you have exercise induced asthma too just take the other way to the petroglyphs. The way we took was about 4 miles total there and back and we were drenched in sweat and didn’t bring enough water so I highly recommend bringing lots of water.

Robert M.

Google

The petroglyphs are amazing by themselves, but the location at the base of a waterfall can make them even more special. The Reef Bay Trail can be a little arduous, but it's definitely worth the effort. One thing worth noting is that the weather can drastically change the views. Usually the waterfall is pretty minimal or even completely dry. If you have the opportunity to visit after significant rainfall, I highly suggest it as the waterfall becomes an impressive sight in and of itself. However, if the flow is significant enough, it can cause the pool of water to rise enough to obscure the bottommost carvings. In addition, the trail down to the Reef Bay Factory site might become extremely swampy. Even so, it's worth it to see the flowing falls. As you approach the petroglyphs site, there is a footpath leading up the hill to the left that goes up to the upper falls. While not quite as impressive as the lower falls, if the rainfall has been sufficient it's still a lot of water. The view down the stream to the lower falls is also an interesting perspective. The access is very steep and can be muddy, but worth it for the more adventurous.

Debbie B

Google

Totally doable and fun, unless you are 72 and have Cancer. The trail is well marked and well groomed. Some great views and critters along the way. Ruins. The Petroglyphs are totally cool. Was quite warm in May starting out at 11am. Sadly, our cancer treatment friend did not tolerate the heat and inclines so well. But she did it and we made it out.

Rupert F.

Google

We walked it up from the beach (came by boat) so for us it was a 15 min hike taking in the ruins of the Reef Bay sugar refinery & rum distillery. An easy hike, no steep gradients or harsh paths. The (dry) waterfall, pools and petroglyphs were certainly an ‘enchanted’ place on an island of so much dry scrub and heat!

Joe M.

Google

Cool area with a nice big waterfall! Short trail to get here, and a steep scary mud trail to the left of the falls that takes you to a bigger one. Awesome to see the petroglyphs and learn about the spirits in the waterfall!

Andrew S.

Google

Worth a moderately difficult hike to relax next to ancient Taino petroglyphs and a calm pond and a waterfall. Trail is well marked and maintained.