The Reef Bay Trail Petroglyphs

The Reef Bay trail drops around two hundred metres through dry forest on the south side of St John, and a short spur near the bottom leads to a pool below a seasonal waterfall where faces and geometric figures are carved into the rock face. They are attributed to the Taíno, and what makes them extraordinary is the reflection: the pool doubles each carving, so the images and their mirrors form complete figures, which is almost certainly why the site was chosen. Further down the main trail stand the ruins of a sugar factory with its boiling house and chimney, and the trail ends at a beach. The classic version is a ranger-led walk down with a boat waiting to take you back.

What you actually see

• The petroglyphs - carved faces and figures doubled by the pool's reflection.
• The Reef Bay sugar factory - the ruined boiling house, chimney and works.
• The dry forest - termite nests, bay rum trees and old estate walls.
• Reef Bay beach - the empty beach at the bottom of the trail.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the coolest walking; the waterfall above the pool only runs after rain, though the pool itself usually holds water. Ranger-led hikes run on a set schedule in season and book out. Start early to avoid the heat on the climb back.

Honest expectations

It is downhill all the way in and uphill all the way out, around two hundred metres of climb in tropical heat, and people underestimate it badly. Without the boat pick-up you must walk back up. The trail is rocky and slippery when wet. The carvings are modest in size and easily missed without a guide pointing them out.

Nearby

Cruz Bay and the north shore beaches are twenty minutes away; the Annaberg ruins are on the north coast.