Ranger-Guided Hikes at the Virgin Islands National Park

 

Virgin Islands National Park
Image: nps.gov

Paul Angelides is a forensic engineer who since 1987 has managed his own firm in Syosset, New York. Before starting this company, he worked as a division manager at Consolidated Edison Company of New York. When he gets the opportunity, Paul Angelides travels to the Virgin Islands where he enjoys activities that range from hiking and boating to snorkeling and swimming.

Located in the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands consist of Saint Croix, Saint Thomas, and St. John in addition to other smaller islands that cover close to 134 square miles of land. The island of St. John houses the Virgin Islands National Park, a United States National Park that contains 7,259 acres of habitat in addition to 5,650 acres of submerged land.

Created in 1956, the Virgin Islands National Park welcomes close to half a million visitors each year. In addition to traditional beach activities that include swimming, scuba diving, sailing, and camping, visitors have access to a number of hiking trails as well as ranger-guided tours. These guided hikes include:

– L’Esperance Hike (November through April) – A hike through the earliest ruins and plantations on the island that allows visitors to experience St. John’s tropical forests as well as its desert-like landscapes.

– Reef Bay Trail (year round) – A hike that focuses on the tropical forest in the Reef Bay Valley in addition to ruins and evidence left behind by pre-Columbian Taino natives.

– Discover Bird Watching Hike (every Friday) – A weekly hike that tours Francis Bay Trail and Salt Pond, allowing visitors to observe local and migrant bird species.