salt pond bay

Salt Pond was one of our favorite beaches. It's a bit of a hike to the beach and it's more protected than the southern shore beaches which makes it a little bit warmer depending on the wind direction. The walk out to Drunk Bay is definitely worth it and a lot of fun once you get there. When we snorkeled here we saw a lot of varieties of fish and even some squid.

Sheltered from the wind and seas, Salt Pond beach is almost always calm. There is good snorkeling, a solid chance to see turtles, a very lovely beach, but little shade. You can also grab the trail out to Ram's Head, which is not be missed.The hike in is a bit of a drag to carry all your beach gear, but worth it.

A bit of a fun drive from Cruz bay area but well worth it! A short hike down to the beach after parking. Bring sandals that are comfortable for hiking on rocks for the excellent hike out to Rams Head after a snorkel or two. Very impressive view of the British VI and surrounding islands. Plan on spending the day at the beach/hike combo then catch Skinny Legs for a bite to eat on the way back. Great day!

After quite a hike from the parking area to the beach we were rewarded with some great snorkeling. The beach is more rocky than the north shore beaches as you enter into the water. The rocky ridges to the east of the bay had plenty of marine animals and coral to view. We came here in the beginning of the week when the North shore beaches are more crowded from the cruise ship traffic. There are some areas with shade, a pit toilet and a picnic table.

It is a lovely sunny, sandy and relatively quiet beach.But it is a steep climb of about 1/2 a mile up to the parking or island bus.

Salt Pond Beach is one of the best beaches on St. John. Getting there involves a bit of a trek down a rocky trail but the exercise is good for us and the reward at the end is a beautiful white sand beach that is seldom crowded and has excellent snorkeling.

Great hiking, snorkeling, and sandy beach- this one has it all! We had a high tradewinds day on the North so decided to check this beach out on the other side of the island. It was beautiful- the snorkeling was great- lots of fish, turtles ,rays, and even some squid. There is a beautiful hike that starts at the beach and follows along the coast. The beach was full in the later afternoon but didn't feel crowded. Great spot

Pretty sandy beach. Snorkeling fairly good especially if turtles are around. Fairly long hike in to carry chairs, drinks etc. and uphill on the way back. Really hot in afternoon with minimal shade available.

We went in the morning and it was pretty empty. Toward noon got more and more crowded. We had a picnic table in the shade, but people encroached very close. We should have hiked to the far end. Highlight was seeing a large spotted Ray and a large squid.

Great day at Salt Pond Bay. We snorkeled on the right side and saw lots of fish. Then two of us went on the left side and saw a ray and a sea turtle. Easy swimming. Nice beach except for patches where there are nettles, which stuck to everything. No facilities, so we packed a lunch.

protected bay with some good snorkeling. Usually fairly limited tourists except during the president week holiday. Park along the road and Hike down to the beach. Sand is not as powdery as the north side and some thorns. Porta sans available.

Located on the South shore, Salt Pond Bay is definitely worth the trip. There is a short, down hill hike to the beach so keep in mind you must trek uphill to get out. Salt Pond Bay offers excellent snorkeling - we saw a turtle here! The beach is long and clean. The mangrove forest offers shade and plenty of hermit crab sightings along with deer and donkey if you are lucky. Salt Pond is the starting point for both Rams Head and Drunk Bay trails and I recommend doing both if you are able to do so. Drunk Bay ventures past Salt Pond and is more accessible to all fitness levels while Rams Head is a bit more challenging but I saw people of all ages and fitness levels complete it. Added bonus - when you are done hiking, the lovely clear waters of Salt Pond Bay are waiting for you!

We hiked to Rams head on this trail and it was really worth the time and energy! The views are amazing we could see St. Croix in the distance

What a great beach. Little bit of a ride from our Hotel, the Westin. The ride is really beautiful...every corner there was another great picture. We had a nice day. Only thing is beware..no bathrooms and there is a little hike down a hill to get to beach.

It's a bit of a hike, up and down all the way, worth it for the perfect beach. Find the shade, bring a book, a chair and snorkling gear.