Some Photos of Island Beaches you can find in our St. John Photo Gallery
direct on the map of St. John Island.
(Click here to see)
ST. JOHN BEACHES
Home to the Virgin Islands 9,500 acre National Park (over one-third is underwater reserve) snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, and relaxing are very popular activities on the beaches of St. John. Whether looking for lively activity or secluded places to relax you are sure to find it on one of St. John’s many fantastic beaches.
Coral Bay and South St. John
Photos:
Lameshur Bays
These two sand and pebble Bays (Little and Great Lameshur) offer nice swimming and good snorkeling in their calm waters. These scenic shorelines are separated by Yawzi Point and are usually not crowded due to their island location (long drive). There are no amenities available, other than portable restrooms, so be sure to pack accordingly. Lameshur Bays are accessible by car and taxi (arrange in advance).
Salt Pond Bay
Another sparsely populated beach Salt Pond Bay offers good snorkeling in its stunningly clear water along the rocky side of the bay or distant jagged rocks. There is no shade along this beach and no amenities are available, other than a portable toilet, so pack accordingly. Salt Pond Bay is accessible by car, taxi (arrange in advance), and bus, but requires a 10 min. downhill hike from the parking lot. This hike can be continued toward the ocean on Drunk Bay Trail.
Cruz Bay beaches
Photos:
Caneel Bay
Photos:
With its sandy-white beach, swaying palm trees, and calm, crystal-clear waters Caneel Bay is inviting for the entire family. Rent a small watercraft at the hotel sports center, enjoy some fair snorkeling, or take a hike over to Cruz Bay using the Lind Point Trail. You must check in at the Caneel Bay resort’s front desk in order to access the beach - you will receive a day-visitor’s guide. All the necessary amenities, such as restrooms, a food concession, and restaurant are at the hotel. Caneel Bay is accessible by car, taxi, and trail.
Great Cruz Bay Beach
Great Cruz Bay
Photos:
This beach is a blast and a blast for kids! Yes, it is a beautifully manicured beach with calm water that makes for fantastic swimming (poor snorkeling), despite the sea grass in some areas, but all eyes (especially kids) are on the anchored water trampoline – a monster hit! This child friendly beach offers fun and necessary amenities at the Westin Resort such as water sports equipment rentals, umbrellas, chairs, bathrooms, food, and refreshments. Great Cruz Bay is accessible by car and taxi.
Little Cruz Bay
What makes this one of the busiest beaches on St. John? Clear and calm water, a shore lined with palm trees, shops, restaurants, many anchored boats, and a Cruz Bay ferry. This beach is not for snorkeling, nor is it the most swimming and child friendly due to the many anchored boats in the water. However, it does offer necessary and fun amenities such as bathrooms, food and refreshments, and water sports equipment rentals. Little Cruz Bay is accessible by car, taxi, and bus.
Salomon Bay Beach
This small, quaint beach with its clear and calm water is the perfect place to unwind and relax. Only accessible by Lind Point Trail this beach remains relatively unpopulated and offers good snorkeling at the rocky headland between Salomon and Honeymoon Bay. There are no amenities available at this beach so pack accordingly.
North St. John Beaches
Cinnamon Bay
Photos:
This beautiful calm, clear water beach stretches for about a mile and has it all! As the National Park's longest beach Cinnamon Bay includes a campground, which offers equipped cottages, tents, and basic campsites. In fact you might need more than a day to take advantage of all this beach offers. There is very good snorkeling not far from shore at Cinnamon Bay Cay, a natural trail through sugar plantation ruins, volleyball, and wild donkeys along the beach. Sports equipment rentals such as kayaks, windsurfing equipment, and mountain bikes are also available. Other beach amenities are a restaurant, small store, an archeological site, restrooms, chairs, and showers. Cinnamon Bay is accessible by car, taxi, and bus.
Denis Bay
Part of the national park, this sparsely populated and charming beach makes for a tranquil and quiet oasis for a relaxing day in paradise. With its gentle surf and soft-white sand it is a great place to melt the day away or enjoy some good snorkeling. Denis Bay is only accessible by rugged Peace Hill Trail or boat and the property behind the tree line at the beach is private. There are no restrooms or other amenities available so pack accordingly. If you would like to taxi to Denis Bay this should be arranged in advance.
Francis Bay
Photos:
One of St. John’s longest beaches, it offers an attractive shore with calm waters, picnic tables, and plenty of quiet places to relax (relatively empty on weekdays). There is good bird watching along Francis Bay Trail’s salt pond and good snorkeling in two areas. Beginners should snorkel at the beach’s west end, while strong swimmers might want to venture to the narrow reef’s rocky section at the other end of the beach. Whistling Cay (adjacent to Francis Bay) has very good snorkeling and can be reached by kayak. Water sports rentals are available at adjoining Maho Bay. There are no amenities available, other than a portable toilet, so pack accordingly. Francis Bay is accessible by car and taxi (arrange in advance).
Hawksnest Bay
Photos:
This National Park Beach with its pristine shoreline and calm sparkling water is popular with locals, especially on weekends and late afternoons. The many sea grape trees offer relaxation in the shade, while the covered picnic table area is a great place to gather friends and family. The snorkeling is fair, but popular, at the nearby reef and there are no water sports rentals or eateries at this beach so bring your own entertainment and provisions. There are restrooms at this beach and parking is easily accessed from the road. Hawknest Bay is accessible by car, taxi, and bus.
Honeymoon Beach
This beach with its calm, clear water and washed sand is the perfect place to escape the crowds and enjoy a relaxing day with the one you love. Since this beach is only accessible by the Lind Point Hiking Trail (connects Cruz, Honeymoon, and Caneel Bay) it is quite secluded and very rarely crowded. The snorkeling is good at the rocky headland that separates Honeymoon from Salomon Bay and is popular with charter boats. There are no amenities available at this beach so unless you are with a hiking tour be sure to pack accordingly.
Jumbie Bay
The tiny roadside beach sign points out this easily missed, relaxing, small, and relatively empty beach (partly due to the limited roadside spots). Once you meander down the stairs and short trail you’ll find Jumbie Bay a pleasant place to escape crowds and soak up the sun. The water is fairly choppy and deepens quickly, so it doesn’t make for the best swimming and there is only fair snorkeling along the shallow reef. Beach rock covers much of the beach, but it has quite a few sandy areas. There are no restrooms or other amenities available so pack accordingly. Jumble Bay is accessible by car and taxi (arrange in advance).
Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay
Photos:
With fairly pebbly shorelines and strong currents these bays cater to strong swimmers looking for excellent snorkeling. Both of these bays are bordered by Leintster Trail and are a 10-25 min. walk from the parking area (Leintster Bay 10-15 min./Waterlemon Bay 10 min. down trail from Leinster). Leinster Bay’s water is calm and very shallow for a distance and then drops off to deep, open-ocean. Although Waterlemon Bay is a distant swim from shore its quiet and attractive beach and excellent snorkeling are very alluring. Using the rocky coast (unofficial trail) to the tip of the bay shortens your swim to the cay, but use extreme caution; a strong current runs along the back right side of the cay. There no amenities available, other than a portable toilet, so pack accordingly. Leinster/Waterlemon Bay is accessible by car and taxi (across the street at Annaberg or arrange in advance).
Maho Bay
Photos:
This long, gorgeous beach with its soft-white sand and relatively calm and shallow water (deepening gradually) is great for children. This shallow and sheltered bay is often home to sea turtles in the early morning and late afternoon, as they come in to feed on the sea grass beds. Despite the popularity with boaters on the weekends the beach remains relatively empty and is a nice place to relax. There are no amenities available at this beach so pack accordingly. Maho Bay is easily accessible by car (limited roadside parking), taxi (arrange in advance), and bus.
Oppenheimer Bay or Gibney Beach
This pretty beach is relatively empty (partly due to the limited off-road parking) and with its calm waters it makes for a nice place to relax or swim. The beach is the third driveway after Hawksnest Beach and is accessed by the door in the iron gate. There are no restrooms or other amenities available so pack accordingly. Gibney Bay is accessible by car and taxi (arrange in advance).
Trunk Bay Beach and Underwater Snorkel Trail
Photos:
Calm turquoise waters, white sand, and a renowned underwater snorkeling trail have made it one of the world’s most photographed beaches and St. Thomas’s most popular! As part of the National Park, underwater signs identify coral and marine life along the underwater trail (650 ft) making for a spectacular and educational experience. Lifeguards are on duty daily due to the beaches popularity and it is the only admission fee beach ($4 per adult, 16 and under free) in St. Thomas – well worth it! Trunk Bay has all the necessary amenities, such as restrooms, a food concession, chairs, showers, lockers, and gift shop to make for a fantastic experience. Trunk Bay is accessible by car, taxi, and bus.
Back to the start of page
This part of of site have detailed topographical maps of the St. John
Island including last full information about all streets, roads and highways
for Coral Bay and Cruz Bay towns and adjoining areas. It also locates and provides driving
directions to the following points of interest: towns, airports, ATM machines,
restaurants, hotels, resorts, attractions, rental cars, shops, museums, real
estate companies, beaches, bays, sports facilities, golf courses, water sports,
mountains, estates, universities, government buildings, hospitals, lighthouses,
post offices, gas stations, churches, ferry docks, marinas, and sea plane
landing sites.
St.
Croix Map
St.
Thomas Map
St.
John Map