Buck Island Reef National Monument in USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-01. Check linked official notices before travel.

Buck Island Reef National Monument is a boat-access marine park off St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The National Park Service protects its reef, beaches and surrounding waters. Plan a daylight snorkeling trip, with transport from Christiansted Wharf or Green Cay Marina.

A reef visit with a beach stop

The underwater trail and lagoon are the main snorkeling destinations. West Beach offers a separate shore stop. Choose a boat excursion that matches your swimming ability and leaves time to practice with the equipment before heading to the reef.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Practice before reaching the reef

Do not swim alone. Hazardous surf and crosscurrents can affect a snorkeling trip. Practice in shallow water before using the underwater trail. Avoid touching coral or unfamiliar marine life. On land, stay on designated paths or the beach, away from poisonous manchineel trees and their fruit.

Protect the reef and beach

Fishing, hunting and collecting are prohibited, including taking shells or coral rubble. Pets must remain attended aboard vessels and cannot go onto the island or into the water. Keep clear of active boat channels while snorkeling.

Arrange boat transport and permissions

Use the concession operators listed in the NPS transport guide to arrange a trip. For a private vessel, contact NPS before travel to arrange anchoring permission and confirm vessel conditions. Anchoring is restricted to the designated West Beach area. The lagoon uses moorings, with no anchoring and no vessels over 42 feet.

Start from St. Croix

There is no road to Buck Island. Boats depart from St. Croix, and the crossing from Christiansted is about 5.5 miles. Fort Christiansvaern in Christiansted National Historic Site provides park information and brochures. Match your arrival point to the operator’s departure instructions.

Other St. Croix park stops

Christiansted National Historic Site has road access and parking from Hospital Street. Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is another mainland stop, reached from Christiansted by Routes 75 and 80. Its visitor center is closed until further notice. These are separate St. Croix outings after returning by boat, not road connections from Buck Island.

Snorkel within the designated areas

Choose the lagoon, underwater trail or West Beach anchoring area for snorkeling. Stay beside the reef crest or patch reefs instead of entering the active lagoon boat channel. Review the park’s water and vessel rules before taking your own equipment or vessel.

Check boat access before booking

NPS states that the island has no accessible facilities. Discuss boarding, getting ashore and assistance needs with the boat operator before booking. The pier is for loading and unloading. It is not a place to leave a vessel docked during the visit. Read the official accessibility information when choosing the trip.

About the monument

The monument protects an offshore combination of reef habitat, beaches and island vegetation. Keeping the visit within marked areas protects both visitors and the marine environment.

A long history of island visits

Archaeological finds include pottery and hearths from earlier visitors who camped in the beach forest. NPS describes nearly 2,000 years of human use of Buck Island’s shores and waters.

Reef habitat and nesting turtles

Coral gardens and the barrier reef form the marine habitat at the center of the visit. Nesting sea turtles are one reason access ends before nightfall. Observe marine animals without touching them.

Contact

Call the National Park Service at 340-773-1460 for Buck Island information and private-vessel permission questions. Check the current visitor rules before departure.