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VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK WAS ESTABLISHED BY 

Congress in 1956 to preserve the outstanding natural 

and cultural resources on St. John. In 1962, park 

boundaries were expanded to include 5,650 acres of 

submerged lands adjacent to the island. The park has 

also been designated a Biosphere Reserve, part of an 

international network of natural areas established to 

demonstrate the value of conservation. A presidential 

proclamation created Virgin Islands Coral Reef 

National Monument in 2001, adding 12,708 acres of 

adjoining federal submerged lands to the National 

Park System.

The park is a popular cruising ground for thousands 

of pleasure boaters. In the 1980s, dramatic increases 

in the number of boats resulted in escalating damage 

to some of the very features that visitors travel here 

to enjoy. The coral reefs, seagrass beds, and algal 

plains of the park have been heavily damaged by 

the anchors and anchor chains of boats. Although 

the weight of the anchor crushes marine life, the 

greatest impact is caused by the anchor chain 

sweeping and scouring the area clean of plants 

and animals as the boat swings with changes 

in wind direction. This damage has been well 

documented by the park’s research staff. With the 

input and support of the local community, the park 

has installed moorings and established protective 

zones around several of the more sensitive reef 

and seagrass areas. This guide will help boaters to 

understand what they can do to help preserve the 

park’s marine resources so that future generations 

will have the opportunity to enjoy them as well. 

Mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs are 

interrelated ecological systems. Many fi sh and 

shellfi sh depend on more than one of these 

for food and shelter. Coral reefs are among 

the most diverse, productive, and complex 

ecosystems in the world, comparable to tropical 

rain forests. Corals are fragile living organisms. 

Most grow only a fraction of an inch per year. 

Striped sergeant majors, rainbow colored 

parrotfi sh, and spiny lobsters are some species 

which live on the reef. Some fi sh, such as 

snappers and grunts, migrate daily from the 

shelter of reefs to feed in adjacent seagrass 

beds at night. Federally threatened green sea 

turtles and locally protected queen conch also 

Using the National Park Mooring System

Over two hundred mooring buoys have been 

installed in the bays around St. John. Moorings 

are safe, easy to use, and eliminate the need to 

anchor. The moorings are fi xed to the bottom 

with either a steel auger twisted into the sand, 

or a stainless steel eyebolt that is cemented 

directly into coral pavement. The fl oating 

mooring line (painter) is picked up and tied to 

a short bowline on the vessel. Moorings have 

been load tested to 11,000 pounds of upward 

pull. However, vessels must fi nd a proper anchoring site if sustained winds exceed 40 mph.

Although day use of the park moorings is 

free, a self-registration fee of $15 per night is 

NPS mooring buoys are round with a blue 

refl ective band around the center

White

1) For day and overnight use (shown above)

2) For day use only - “day use only” sticker on 

buoy (see map)

Blue

Commercial vessel use only

Orange

SCUBA diving use only - no overnight use

Fee for overnight use.

 

1) Approach the mooring painter line (pickup 

line with small surface fl oat) by heading into 

the wind or current at a very slow speed. 

Shift engine into neutral before reaching the 

mooring.

2) Pick up the eye of the mooring painter with 

your boat hook.

3) Thread your bowline through the eye-splice 

of the painter line twice, or thimble once, 

to prevent chafi ng. Do not tie off eye at the 

boat stern.

4) Bring your line back to the boat and cleat it 

off on the same side. DO NOT put the painter 

line eye over your bow cleat.

5) When leaving a mooring, back away with the 

wind after casting off the painter line.

When using a mooring, do not use an anchor 

or additional ground tackle. Rafting with other 

boats is not permitted while occupying NPS 

moorings.

There is no fee for anchoring. If moorings are 

not available or their use is inappropriate, 

please use the following guidelines to anchor:

1) Shift engine into neutral and slowly head into 

the wind or current and be sure crew, anchor 

and anchor line are ready.

2) When selecting an anchorage, observe the 

bottom. Make sure your anchor line is 5 times 

the water depth. Do not drop your anchor on 

coral reefs or seagrass beds. If unsure of the 

bottom type, use an experienced snorkeler to 

fi nd a sandy spot or move to another location. 

3) Once an anchorage is determined, lower the 

anchor over the side; never throw the anchor.

4) Slowly play out anchor line to avoid the line 

from dropping into a pile on the bottom.

5) Allow time for the anchor to catch hold. Let 

the current or wind drift the boat back. Once 

the anchor is set, fasten the anchor line to the 

bow cleat.

6) Reverse the boat slowly, creating a steady 

strain on the anchor line to ensure the anchor 

is holding. If the anchor is moving, pull it up 

and try again.

7) Check for dragging by noticing slight vibrations on the anchor line, or by visible jerks 

on the line. Locate stationary landmarks and 

periodically check for changes in alignment. If 

possible, dive to visually inspect the anchor.

Do not anchor within 200 feet of any mooring, 

100 feet from any regulatory buoy, or closer 

than 100 feet to park beaches. There is a three 

hour maximum stay for anchoring vessels under 

60 feet in the NPS portion of Cruz Bay Harbor.

How to Moor Your Boat Types of Mooring Buoys How to Anchor Your Boat

Cruz Bay Visitor Center

Open Daily 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

(340) 776-6201, ext. 238

www.nps.gov/viis

Please help keep the moorings safe by reporting any defects immediately to the Bay Host or 

phone (340) 639-8950, ext. 241. 

Virgin Islands National Park supports the 

principles of Leave No Trace. Please protect our 

natural environment, cultural resources, and 

the experience of other visitors.

The Marine Community

depend on seagrass for food. The juveniles 

of many species rely on both mangrove and 

seagrass habitats, moving to deeper water and 

offshore reefs as they mature. Seagrasses are 

fl owering marine plants that spread primarily 

through root growth. Those roots also help to 

retain bottom sediments and reduce shoreline 

erosion, resulting in improved water quality. 

When anchors rip up seagrasses, they not only 

leave a scarred bottom which may take years 

to recover, but also destroy an important food 

source for marine animals and cause our crystal 

clear water to become cloudy with sediment.

Greater than 210 Feet Prohibited from mooring or anchoring Prohibited from mooring or anchoring

Length on Deck North Shore South Shore

12 Feet or Less May anchor only in sand and not within 200 May anchor only in sand and not within 200 

 feet of a mooring fi eld feet of a mooring fi eld 

13 to 60 Feet Must use mooring if available Must use mooring if available

61 to 125 Feet Prohibited from using moorings - must anchor Prohibited from mooring or anchoring

 in sand 200 ft. seaward of mooring fi eld

126 to 210 Feet Prohibited from using moorings - must anchor in Prohibited from mooring or anchoring

 sand at Francis Bay 200 ft. seaward of mooring fi eld 

 (at depths greater than 50 ft.) and shoreward of a line 

 drawn from Mary Point to America Point

Private Vessel Size Limits

A healthy, undamaged seagrass bed (above), Queen Angelfi sh

and one damaged by an anchor (below).

required for overnight use between the hours 

of 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. (Golden Age/ Access 

Passport holders pay half price). The revenue 

will help offset the cost of maintaining the 

moorings. For your convenience, payment stations have been placed at the following locations: Caneel Watersports Shop, Hawksnest Bay, 

Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay Camps, Leinster Bay, 

Saltpond Bay, and Great Lameshur Bay (check 

the tag on your mooring for exact directions to 

the payment station). Overnight stays in park 

waters are limited to 30 nights in a calendar 

year, and no more than 7 consecutive nights in 

one bay. Mariners must use moorings in park 

waters if they are available and the vessel is 

appropriately sized. If all moorings in a bay are 

occupied, anchoring is permitted following NPS 

guidelines.

During the peak visitation months of November 

through July, a Bay Host will be available fi ve 

days a week to answer questions and provide 

assistance. The Bay Host boat can be identifi ed 

by a green fl ag with the National Park Service 

Arrowhead logo. If a Bay Host is not available, 

questions may be directed to the NPS Visitor 

Center in Cruz Bay, which is open from 8:00 

a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week.

Mariner’s Resource Protection Guide

Healthy brain coral (above), and one damaged Proper approach and pickup of mooring.

by a boat (below).

Caroline Rogers

V. Zullo

Caroline Rogers

Jack Hopkins

Becky Boddiger

Mooring photos by Jack Hopkins

NPS photo

NPS photo

Virgin Islands Virgin Islands National Park

U.S. Virgin Islands

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
Safety Tips

The endangered hawksbill sea turtle eats 

sponges growing on reefs and fi nds shelter 

under coral ledges.

MAY 03 10M

Marine Resource Protection

• Do not damage or take any live or dead 

marine organisms such as sea fans, coral, 

sponges, or shells.

• Anchors, anchor chains, and anchor lines 

must not be dropped on fragile marine habitats such as coral or seagrass beds. Anchor in 

sand only.

• The tying of boats or dinghies to any natural 

features, including rocks and vegetation 

(alive or dead), is prohibited.

• No vessels may enter or anchor in areas 

marked as Boat Exclusion Areas, designated 

by white oblong buoys marked with “NO 

BOATS” and/or the international “boats keep 

out” symbol - an orange diamond with an 

orange cross in it.

Don’t Go It Alone!

Always swim, snorkel, and SCUBA dive with 

a “buddy.” Not only can you help each other 

should the need arise, but you’ll also have 

someone to share the experience with!

Storm Swells!

Be aware that conditions may change rapidly, especially during winter months. If “ground seas” 

develop, you may need to alter your anchorage.

Leave Only Bubbles!

As a snorkeler or diver, you’ll be exposed to a 

wide variety of fascinating plants and animals. 

Some, like coral and sponges, are extremely 

fragile and easily damaged when touched or 

kicked. Others, such as bristle worms, fi re coral, 

and sea urchins, can infl ict painful wounds. 

Near a coral reef, the aquatic human is like a 

bull in a china shop. To avoid injuring either 

these organisms or yourself - look, listen, and 

enjoy, but please don’t touch.

Look Out For Snorkelers!

As a boat operator, watch out for snorkelers 

and swimmers, especially when near a boat 

exclusion area or in an access channel. Run 

dinghies at a no-wake speed when heading to 

and from a beach.

To Screen Or Not To Screen?

Today’s glossy tan or painful burn can lead to 

tomorrow’s skin cancers. Use a strong waterproof sunscreen to protect yourself from the 

sun’s rays. Wear a t-shirt when snorkeling for 

extra protection.

National Park Regulations

• Do not dump human waste or refuse in 

park waters. Waste must be treated and 

discharged at least 3 miles from the nearest 

land. Trash may be placed in receptacles 

located at Cruz Bay, Francis Bay, Leinster Bay, 

or Little Lameshur. It may not exceed two 

10-gallon bags, and must fi t and be placed 

inside NPS trash containers. 

• Feeding or removal of any wildlife in the park 

(other than fi shing - see fi shing regulations), 

either on land or in the water, is prohibited.

• All sea turtles are endangered or threatened 

species. Do not touch, harass, or harm them.

• Refrain from using bright deck lights; they 

can cause hatching sea turtle mortality.

• Metal detectors, magnetometers, side scan 

sonar, and subbottom profi lers are prohibited.

• Do not disturb or remove artifacts from 

shipwrecks or other shoreline historical sites. 

• Water skiing, towing of any recreational 

device, and use of personal watercraft (jet 

skis, wave runners, etc.) are prohibited in 

park waters.

• SCUBA and snorkeling is permitted in areas 

adjacent to beaches and inside boat exclusion 

areas. SCUBA and snorkeling is prohibited 

in designated boat channels, shipping lanes, 

and dock areas. SCUBA diving is prohibited in 

Trunk Bay.

• National Park Law Enforcement Rangers may 

board any vessel in park waters at any time in 

order to conduct offi cial business.

Dinghy Channels

• Boats 26 ft. or less may access beaches using 

channels marked by red and green buoys.

• Boats may not anchor in the channels.

• Channels are only for pick-up, drop-off, and 

the payment of mooring fees.

Fishing

• With the exception of boat exclusion zones, 

fi shing is permitted with hand-held rod and 

line.

• Possession or use of any type of spearfi shing equipment within park boundaries is 

prohibited.

• Caribbean spiny lobster season is open year 

round. Caribbean spiny lobsters may be 

taken by hand or hand-held snare. DO NOT 

take females with eggs (eggs are black and 

located underneath the tail). Limit: two per 

person per day. Size limit: 3.5” carapace. 

DO NOT take spotted lobster or the lobster 

species called Slipper, Buccaneer, Locust, or 

Spanish Lobster.

• Conch season is open from October 1 to June 

30. Limit: two per person per day. Size limit: 

conch must be 9” long or have a lip thickness 

of 3/8”. All conchs must be landed in the 

shell. Empty shells are not to be disposed of 

in the water.

• Whelk season is open from October 1 to 

March 31. Limit: one gallon per person per 

day (in the shell). Size limit: whelk must be 

larger than 2.5” in diameter and landed in 

the shell.

Shoreline Use

• Dogs, cats and other pets are not permitted 

in campgrounds or on beaches in the park. 

Pets must be under physical restraint at all 

times elsewhere in the park.

• Glass bottles or containers are prohibited on 

all NPS beaches.

• Fires may only be built in NPS provided grills 

or in portable grills designed to contain 

combustible material. Ground fi res are 

prohibited. Only dead wood on the ground 

may be collected for use as fuel.

Quiet Hours

• 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Dangerous Reefs

Boaters should be especially careful to avoid 

Windswept and Johnsons Reefs. Windswept 

Reef fringes the coastline between Trunk and 

Cinnamon Bays. Johnsons Reef, north of Trunk 

Bay, is marked by yellow buoys.

V. Small

Virgin Islands Virgin Islands National Park

U.S. Virgin Islands

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

5

1

2

107

108 108

104

20 20

20

10

10

10

10

10

0 0.5

0 0.5 1 Mile

1 Kilometer

North

Visitor Center

Petroglyphs

Emmaus

Moravian

Church

Reef Bay

Sugar Mill

(ruins)

Annaberg

Sugar Mill

(ruins)

Annaberg

School

(ruins)

Catherineberg

Sugar Mill (ruins)

Ruins

Ruins

NAUTICAL CHARTS

For safe boating, use 

NOAA nautical charts 

25641 and 25647. These 

charts show navigational 

aids, such as markers and 

buoys, and hazardous 

areas in detail. Do not use 

this map for navigation.

NO-ANCHOR ZONE

Anchoring is not permitted 

anywhere within the park 

along the south side of St. 

John (except for dinghies 

under 12 feet). Moorings 

must be used instead. 

Anchoring is also prohibited 

in Virgin Islands Coral Reef 

National Monument.

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument Virgin Islands

Coral

Reef National Monument

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument

Virgin Islands Coral Reef

National Monument was

created in 2001 by presidential proclamation from 

12,708 acres of federal 

submerged lands.

Virgin Islands National Park 

Virgin Islands National Park

CARIBBEAN SEA

SA

BBAT

CHANNEL

W I N D W A R D

P A S S A G E

F U N G I P A S S A G E

THE NARROWS

Coral Bay 

Rendezvous

Bay

Leinster

Bay

Francis

Bay

Maho

Bay

Trunk

Bay Cinnamon

Bay

Hawksnest

Bay

Caneel

Bay

Great Cruz

Bay

Turner

 Bay 

Europa Bay

Grootpan Bay

Saltpond

Bay

Kiddel Bay

Little Lameshur

Bay

Great Lameshur

Bay

Chocolate Hole

Cruz

Bay

Denis

Bay

Reef Bay

Round Bay

Hurrican

Hole Coral

Harbor

Brown

Bay

Waterlemon

 Bay

Mary Creek

Borck Creek

Water Creek

Princess Bay

Peter

Bay Jumbie

Bay

Turtle

Bay

Salomon

Bay

Frank

Bay

Devers

Bay

Hart

Bay

Monte

Bay Klein

Bay

Fish

Bay

Genti

Bay

EAGLE

SHOAL

Salt

Pond Drunk

Bay

Friis

 Bay

Popilleau

Bay

Haulover

Bay

Elk

Bay

East End 

Bay

Privateer 

Bay

Mennebeck 

Bay

Pond

Bay

Long Bay

Newfound 

Bay

Limetree

Cove Hansen

Bay

Johnson

Bay

Sanders Bay

Johns Folly

Bay

Otter

Creek

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE

CHANNEL

CORAL BAY

EAST END

REEF BAY

CRUZ BAY

MAHO BAY

UNITED KINGDOM

UNITED STATES

ST JOHN

West End

TORTOLA

Palestina

Hermitage

Calabash Boom

Johns Folly

Coral Bay

Whistling

Cay

Cruz

Bay

Leduck

Island

Sabbat

Point

Bovocoap

Point

Boatman

Point

Dittlif

Point

Red Point

Privateer

Point

Gowed

Point

Mardenboro

Point

Anna

Point Leinster

Point

Ram Head

Nanny

Point

Booby

Rock

Saltpond

 Bay Trail

Drunk Bay Trail

Yawzi

 Point

 Trail

Saltpond Bay

Lameshur

Hawksnest Bay

Community Health Clinic

Emergency Care

Cinnamon Bay

Trunk Bay

Kiddel

Point

Cabritte

Horn

Point

Cocoloba

Cay

Cocoloba

Point

Threadneedle

Point

Turner

Point

Lagoon Point Petroglyph Long Point Trail

Reef Bay Trail

Underwater Trail

Biosphere

Reserve

Center

Water 

 Catchment

 Trail

Francis

Bay

Trail

Harbor

 Point

Rata

Cay

Henley

Cay

Lind Point

Perkins

Cay

Trunk

Cay

Cinnamon

Cay

Waterlemon

Cay

America

Point

Maho

Point

Ramgoat

Cay Hawksnest

Point

Johnsons

Reef

Steven

Cay

Little Thatch

Island

ferry dock Police

U.S. Customs

NPS dock

Virgin Islands 

Environmental

Resource Station 

(VIERS)

LOVANGO CAY

FRENCHMAN CAY

GREAT THATCH ISLAND

MARY

POINT

Cruz Bay - West End Ferry

Cruz Bay - British Virgin Islands Ferries

Cruz Bay - Road Town Ferry

WHITE CLIFFS

R am Head Trail

Lameshur

Bay Trail

Bordeaux Mountain Road

Bordeaux Mtn

Trail

Maria Bluff

Blackrock Hill

499ft

152m

Fortsberg

426ft

130m

Brown Bay TrailBrown Bay Trail

Leinster Bay Trail

Johnny Horn TrailJohnny Horn Trail

DURLOE CAYS

Minna Hill

989ft

301m

200ft

61m

Bordeaux Mountain

1277ft

389m

Mamey Peak

1147ft

350m

Camelberg Pk 1193ft

364m

Peter Peak

967ft

295m

Peace

Hill

Margaret

Hill

840ft

256m

Gift Hill

827ft

252m

Caneel Hill

719ft

219m

Caneel Hill Trail

Cinnamon Bay Tr

Centerline

North Shore Road

Lind Pt Tr

Caneel Hill Spur

Gift Hill Ro ad

Private property exists 

within the boundary of 

the park. Please respect 

property owners’ rights; 

do not trespass.

User fees are charged at

Trunk Bay and Annaberg 

Sugar Mill.

Picnic area

with pit toilet

Restaurant and/or

snack bar

Self-guiding trail

Campground

Showers and restrooms

Ranger station National Park 

Service land

Coral reef 

Salt pond/mangrove

Trail

One-way road

Unpaved road (4-

wheel-drive vehicles 

may be needed; 

check locally for 

conditions)

Carolina

Red Hook Ferry 

Charlotte Amalie Ferry

Honeymoon

Beach

Road

4

13

22

21

8

28

29

1

3

8

14 2

2

3

20

2

Day Use Overnight SCUBA - Day Use

Location

Reef Bay 

Little Lameshur

Great Lameshur

Tecktite

Salt Pond

Ram Head

Booby Rock

Type

Day Use Only

Overnight 

Overnight 

SCUBA - Day Use Only

Overnight

Day Use Only

SCUBA - Day Use Only

Number

2 

5 

14 

2 

8 

2 

1

South Shore Moorings

Day Use Overnight SCUBA - Day Use

Location

Leinster Bay

Fungi Passage

Whistling Cay

Francis Bay

Maho Bay

Cinnamon Bay

Trunk Bay

Hawksnest Bay

Henly Cay

Caneel Bay

Lind Point

Type

Overnight 

Overnight 

Overnight 

SCUBA - Day Use Only

Overnight

Overnight 

Overnight 

Overnight 

Overnight 

Day Use Only 

Overnight 

Overnight

Number

20 

1 

3 

3 

29 

28 

8 

4 

13 

2 

22 

21

North Shore Moorings