Mid-island, Virgin Gorda has great hiking, a beautiful beach, and nature lovers will find one of the best examples of dry forest in the islands exceptionally rich in rare and endangered species.
At 1,370 feet, Gorda Peak is the highest point on Virgin Gorda and one of the highest in the Virgin Islands. The peak and all land above the 1,000-foot contour is national park, and much more remains unspoiled because of the difficult topography. On the western shore, the green hillsides cascade down to a string of white sand beaches.
Two paved roads wind through this terrain: the main road, which traverses steeply past Gorda Peak National Park and vistas to the southeast, and an alternative route, which circles the peak passing through Nail Bay, providing views of Tortola and the Dog Islands before intersecting with the main road just before the village of North Sound.
On an island where so much revolves around the sea, Gorda Peak National Park offers the diversion of its verdant canopies, wild birdsongs, and expansive views. Photo © sean pavone/123rf.
Two trails cut through the forest to a lookout tower near the peak. The main trail (the second you will encounter when driving from The Valley) provides the most direct route (about 0.75 mile) to the summit. The other trail is less steep and meanders pleasantly through the forest before climbing to the summit. Near the summit a lookout tower climbs above the treetops and provides a stunning view of North Sound below. On a clear day, you can see Anegada.
Besides the trail and the tower, facilities here include picnic tables, in a flat clearing a few hundred yards below the lookout tower, and a pit toilet.
The National Parks Trust publishes an informative brochure on Gorda Peak. Look for a copy at the BVI Tourist Board office at the marina (none are available at the park).
If you feel constrained by boulder-strewn beaches or just want a change of scenery, head to Savannah Bay, a white sand beach about a mile north of Spanish Town and the best beach for snorkeling on Virgin Gorda. The sand is narrow but long, with plenty of sea grape bushes for shade and the same exquisite white sand as other Virgin Gorda beaches. Savannah Bay is shallow a good distance out and protected from swells, making it a good beach for small children or unsure swimmers and a good anchorage for yachts. A healthy offshore reef teems with life in the shallow, usually calm waters. The bay is also a good place for running or walking in the early morning or late afternoon. There are no facilities except for a few trash cans.
Most people drive to Savannah, but you can also hike from Little Dix Bay Resort; ask at the hotel guard desk for directions to the trailhead. The 30-minute hilly trail is mostly shaded and offers lovely vistas of Savannah. The payoff for your labors: a refreshing swim in the ocean.
The beach at Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort. Photo © Todd Van Sickle.
Several villa resorts line the western shore of Virgin Gorda north of Savannah Bay. Take the road immediately north of Savannah to explore this territory, which is seeing a steady stream of development as new homes are built. Pond Bay, just north of Savannah Bay and accessible by a rocky foot trail, shares many of Savannah Bay’s characteristics: white sand, calm waters, good reef. Mahoe Bay is a pretty, tree-lined beach serving two resorts, and farther on, Mountain Trunk Bay is located at the Nail Bay development. Mahoe and Mountain Trunk have hard-packed, caramel-colored sand that may prove a disappointment to visitors spoiled by the quality of other Virgin Gorda beaches.
Excerpted from the Sixth Edition of Moon U.S. & British Virgin Islands.
