Virgin Islands National Park Alerts and Current Conditions

Cover of Brian Russ's guide to Virgin Islands National Park

Last checked: October 25, 2026. This page tracks what's closed, what's changed, and what's coming up at Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, from the park's alerts, conditions, and hours pages. I check it daily and rewrite it when the park posts something new, so bookmark it rather than an old news story. Rain can leave trails slick and overgrown, and winter swells can make north shore beaches dangerous, so check the park's own alerts the morning you go.

Current alerts

  • Trails can be slick and overgrown after rain. Staff and volunteer crews clear trails regularly, but the park asks hikers to use caution and to report problems to its interpretation office by email (viis_interpretation@nps.gov). (NPS)
  • Beyond that, the park isn't listing any closures as of October 25, 2026.

Open and closed right now

  • The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. It doesn't list a general entrance fee, but Trunk Bay charges one. (NPS)
  • Visitor center and store in Cruz Bay: open Monday through Thursday, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Closed weekends, so it's closed today. It's about two blocks north of the public ferry dock on Route 20. Phone: (340) 776-6201.
  • Trunk Bay: the hours page lists facilities (restrooms, showers, and foot rinse) open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the snack shack and bar 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., snorkel and chair rentals, and the underwater snorkel trail. There are no lifeguards on duty.
  • Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground: closed for its annual September and October break. It's open November through August. (NPS)

Coming up in the next few weeks

  • November: Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground reopens for its season. The park doesn't give an exact date, so check with the campground (340-714-7144) before you plan around it.
  • Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving): the Cruz Bay visitor center is closed.
  • Later: the visitor center is also closed on Christmas Day.
  • Winter seas: the park says winter brings stronger trade winds and less rain, and cold fronts to the north can send large waves onto north shore beaches. Use extreme caution entering the water then, and follow posted warnings and advice from park staff.

What this means for your trip

Nothing major is closed, so for most visitors the park is business as usual. The one gap is Cinnamon Bay: if you were planning to camp there in the last days of October, you'll need a room elsewhere on the island until it reopens in November.

The visitor center keeps short hours and closes on weekends. If you're arriving by ferry on a Saturday or Sunday, or after 1:30 p.m. on a Friday, you won't find it open, so pick up trail and snorkel information before your trip.

For swimming, Trunk Bay has facilities but no lifeguards, and the park's winter warning about north shore waves starts to matter as the season turns. When the surf is up, heed the posted warnings and park staff. After rain, expect muddy, slippery footing on the trails and give yourself extra time.

Before you go

If a closure knocks out part of your plan, my guide to Virgin Islands National Park has nine one- to three-day itineraries at easy, moderate, and strenuous effort, each with a backup plan for weather or closures. You can also check alerts and conditions for every national park.

This page is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Always check the park's current alerts before you go.