Salt River Bay National Historic Park

St Croix

LoginSave

About 4 miles west of Christiansted, Salt River Bay holds prehistoric archaeological ruins and is the only documented place where Christopher Columbus landed on US soil. Don’t expect bells and whistles: the site remains undeveloped beach. The 700 acres surrounding the Salt River estuary form an ecological reserve filled with mangroves, egrets, and bioluminescent life come nighttime.

A small visitor center with native artifacts has been closed since the 2017 hurricanes. Check the NPS website for current info on a reopening date. A couple of kayaking companies offer tours through the bay.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Fort Christiansvaern at Christiansted National Historic Site.

    Christiansted National Historic Site

    4.52 MILES

    This historic site includes several structures. The most impressive is Fort Christiansvaern (1749), a four-point citadel occupying the deep-yellow…

  • Isaac Bay

    Isaac Bay

    12.67 MILES

    This secluded beach off Rte 82 offers no shade or facilities, and you'll have to hike about 20 minutes through scrub to reach it, but you'd be hard…

  • Cruzan Rum Distillery

    Cruzan Rum Distillery

    6.71 MILES

    To find out how the islands’ popular elixir gets made, stop by the historic distillery for a tour. The journey through the oak-barrel-stacked warehouses…

  • Buck Island Reef National Monument

    Buck Island Reef National Monument

    9.24 MILES

    For such a small landmass – 1 mile long by half a mile wide – Buck Island draws big crowds. It’s not so much what’s on top but what’s underneath that…

  • Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge

    Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge

    10.08 MILES

    Created to protect nesting areas of the vulnerable leatherback sea turtle, this sporadically open wildlife refuge at the southern edge of Frederiksted,…

  • Cane Bay

    Cane Bay

    3.24 MILES

    A long, thin strand along Rte 80 about 9 miles west of Christiansted, Cane Bay is deservedly venerated. It provides easy access to some of the island’s…

  • Protestant Cay

    Protestant Cay

    4.37 MILES

    This small oval cay, located less than 200yd from Kings Wharf, is a little oasis. It’s the site of a mellow resort with a sandy beach and bar-restaurant…

  • Point Udall

    Point Udall

    12.89 MILES

    Point Udall is the easternmost geographic point in US territory. As you face into a 25-knot trade wind, the vista from the promontory high above the surf…

View more attractions

Nearby St Croix attractions

1. Hibiscus Beach

1.97 MILES

Sand seekers hit palm-fringed Hibiscus Beach, 2 miles west of Christiansted off Rte 75/Northside Rd. There's good snorkeling at the beach's western end…

2. Cane Bay

3.24 MILES

A long, thin strand along Rte 80 about 9 miles west of Christiansted, Cane Bay is deservedly venerated. It provides easy access to some of the island’s…

3. Protestant Cay

4.37 MILES

This small oval cay, located less than 200yd from Kings Wharf, is a little oasis. It’s the site of a mellow resort with a sandy beach and bar-restaurant…

5. Steeple Building

4.51 MILES

The white building with the Georgian steeple was St Croix' first house of worship. Lutherans erected the edifice between 1750 and 1753, adding the steeple…

6. Christiansted National Historic Site

4.52 MILES

This historic site includes several structures. The most impressive is Fort Christiansvaern (1749), a four-point citadel occupying the deep-yellow…

7. Captain Morgan Rum Distillery

4.56 MILES

Captain Morgan opened its shiny distillery on St Croix in 2010. The visitor center offers 30-minute tours. Expect multimedia films, self-guided…

8. St George Village Botanical Garden

6.39 MILES

This serene 16-acre park is built over a colonial sugar plantation. More than 1000 native and exotic species grow on the grounds. Orchid lovers in…