Salt Pond Bay

St John


Salt Pond Bay provides decent snorkeling in calm water. Keep an eye out for turtles. Two dandy trails take off from the beach's southern end: the Ram Head Trail rises to a tall cliff jabbing into the sea, and the Drunk Bay Trail leads to some crazy rock art. The beach has shaded picnic tables and a bathroom. It's located a few miles from Coral Bay town, down Rte 107 and a 10-minute walk from the parking lot.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby St John attractions

1. Leinster Bay

3.78 MILES

This bay adjoins the Annaberg mill ruins. Park in the plantation’s lot and follow the trail along the water for 25 minutes. Some of St John’s best…

2. Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins

4.01 MILES

Part of the national park, this site near Leinster Bay is home to the most intact sugar-plantation ruins in the Virgin Islands. A 30-minute self-directed…

3. Maho Bay

4.21 MILES

The water here is shallow and less choppy than elsewhere (good for snorkeling and kids), and it’s a good bet you’ll see green sea turtles in the early…

4. Cinnamon Bay

4.48 MILES

Mile-long Cinnamon Bay is St John’s biggest beach and arguably its best. At research time, however, it was a sad sight: Cinnamon's archaeological museum,…

5. Francis Bay

4.5 MILES

Francis Bay is home to one of the most serene stretches of sand on St John, with calm waters and fewer tourists than at any other beach of its size. It's…

6. Trunk Bay

5.09 MILES

This long, gently arching beach is the most popular strand on the island and the only one that charges a fee. There are showers, toilets, picnic…

7. Jumbie Bay

5.32 MILES

Jumbie is the word for ghost in the Creole dialect, and this secluded beach has a plethora of ghost stories. Look for the parking lot on North Shore Rd…

8. Hawksnest Bay

5.49 MILES

The bay here is a deep circular indentation between hills with a narrow ring of sand on its fringe. The beach is usually pretty quiet. Amenities include a…