No need to drag boots along, your tennis shoes will be fine. Could probably do just fine in Tevas, but I usually wear my sneakers.

My wife and I hiked just fine in tennis shoes. Just remember to pack PLENTY of water for the hikes! It gets desert HOT on the islands, and there are hardly any places to stop for water on StJ once you're underway (at least on a few of the trails). 🙂

Just got back about an hour ago! Loved STJ and STT. Did the Reef Bay Trail Hike. Wore my running shoes. You won't need boots, but, open toes will get you stubbed toes for sure. Quite rocky. Don't miss the little side trail to the petroglyphs. Did the whole trail up and back in about 4 hours, with lots of resting, and some snacks. It was 5 miles or so round trip. We are pretty active hikers, but the heat kicked our butts. Bring 1liter water per hiker, minimum. Snorkel and swim gear if you wish.

The Reef Bay hike is a great hike, but our strategy is to go very early in the day to avoid some of the heat on the way back up. Go early enough, and it may not be so hot on the way back UP! Ditto about the water. The hike down is not so bad, but you will need the water coming up. Hint; freeze a bottle of water the night before, wrap well, and when you are half way back up the trail, that cool water will taste great as apposed to warm water. Better yet, freeze two or three!

Hello,

Here is another vote for sneakers. I wore Tivas last year to hike from Lameshur to Reef Bay and had a blister the size of a lime on the bottom of my foot by half way hiking back. It was very painful 🙁 haven't worn them to hike again.

--Islander

As an added bonus, my husband was on the Reef Bay Trail last Tuesday (April 26) and saw three deer. I understand deer are hardly ever seen on the island, so I was surprised until he showed me the pictures. He said that he thought they were tame; they didn't run away, just sauntered off.

By the way, he usually only wears sneakers, and one year did the trail in his water/trail shoes from Lands End and had no trouble.

Lori

So just to double check...even overweight underexercised middle aged women can do the Reef Bay Hike. Just take water. Would that be correct?

If you have any doubts about your physical condition, I suggest you take the Parks Department trip down Reef Bay trail. The hike back up is the hard part. They take you to the trail head, escort you DOWNHILL and then ferry you back to Cruz Bay.

sorry that is what I meant....going with the Parks Department on their trip....doable with not much stamina?

Absolutely "doable". They go at a nice pace, stop to point out things. You may be bringing up the rear since there's usually young kids and seasoned hikers. They stop for a break (water) and again at the petroglyphs. Enjoy!

Janet

Literally a walk in the (National) park. Bring water and your camera.

if you plan to hike down and then back I would suggest leaving your frozen water wrapped in a towel 1/2 way down the trail. there is no reason to take it all the way down to the water and then bring it back up to start drinking it. just take a small bottle to drink at the bottom and then you can walk back to the 1/2 way point with an empty bottle and then pick up the full, partially frozen now, bottle.