Virgin Islands National Park is quite different from most other U.S. national parks. For one, it’s the only American national park in the Caribbean!
Thanks to its tropical location, the park is blessed with lush forests, turquoise water, colorful coral reefs, world-class snorkeling, abundant sunshine, and truly stunning shorelines.
Along with its wonderful hiking trails and fascinating sugar plantation ruins, Virgin Islands National Park is best known for its breathtaking white-sand beaches.
In fact, one could argue that those amazing beaches are the main reason why people visit this national park. That certainly was the case for me when I visited the park in January.
In this blog post, you’ll find an overview of—in my opinion—the very best beaches in Virgin Islands National Park. This is a top 10-type list, ranked in order of increasing beauty, watersports opportunities, and amenities.
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Virgin Islands National Park Beaches FAQs
Are the Beaches in Virgin Islands National Park Free to Visit?
Generally speaking, yes, you can visit almost all of the beaches in Virgin Islands National Park free of charge. The only exception is Trunk Bay, which charges a day-use fee of $5 per person.
What Are the Best Beaches in Virgin Islands National Park for Snorkeling?
You can find amazing coral reefs all around the island of St. John, including many, if not most, beaches in Virgin Islands National Park. The following are among the top snorkeling areas in the park:
- Honeymoon Beach
- Trunk Bay Beach
- Maho Bay Beach
- Francis Bay Beach
- Waterlemon Bay and Cay
- Salt Pond Bay Beach
You can read more about exploring this magnificent underwater world in our Virgin Islands National Park snorkeling guide.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Virgin Islands Beaches?
Virgin Islands National Park is easily one of the best national parks to visit in winter. Its gloriously sunny weather, constantly high temperatures, and brilliant beaches make it arguably the best park to escape winter on the U.S. mainland.
Winter also happens to be the dry season in Virgin Islands National Park. Specifically, December through April is typically regarded as the best time to visit the Virgin Islands.
August through October, on the other hand, a hurricane season in the Caribbean. While you can still enjoy excellent weather and plenty of outdoor activities this time of year, it’s strongly advised to keep an eye on the weather forecast.
What Gear Should I Bring When Visiting the Virgin Islands Beaches?
The answer to this question is pretty straightforward: you’ll need beach gear! Plus some other equipment to make the most of your visit, such as snorkeling equipment and reef-safe sunscreen.
These are some of the essentials you should definitely pack (or buy on St. John):
- Swimwear
- Beach towels
- Beach blanket
- Beach tote bag
- Sunglasses
- Reef-safe sunscreen (it’s best to buy this locally on St. John)
- Snorkeling set (you can rent snorkeling gear on the island, but I decided to invest in my own set—this is the one I bought—which I did not regret at all)
- Underwater camera (though not absolutely essential, I personally love taking underwater photos while snorkeling)
You can rent beach equipment in Cruz Bay or even at a select number of beaches in Virgin Islands National Park, such as Trunk, Cinnamon, and Maho. This includes beach chairs, snorkeling gear, kayaks, and/or stand-up paddleboards (SUP).
Which Are the Best Beaches in Virgin Islands National Park?
Occupying more than 60% of the island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands National Park encompasses steep forested hills, numerous historic ruins, and palm tree-lined beaches.
While I also recommend exploring some of the park’s hiking trails and—definitely—visiting a sugar plantation ruin or two, the numerous beautiful Virgin Islands beaches are the undeniable crown jewels of this park.
Note that some beaches are located right along North Shore Road (such as Hawksnest, Maho, and Trunk Bay), while others (like Honeymoon Beach, Jumbie Beach, and Salt Pond Bay) require a short hike.
I’ve made sure to include the location of each of these Virgin Islands National Park beaches in the descriptions below, along with whether or not you need to hike there.
So which are the most beautiful beaches in Virgin Islands National Park? Let’s find out!
Top 10 Best Beaches in Virgin Islands National Park
10. Reef Bay Beach
Location: At the end of the strenuous Reef Bay Trail, which starts near mile marker 5 on Centerline Road.
Getting there: Strenuous 4.4-mile roundtrip hike
Amenities: Restrooms
Let’s start this list with one of the Virgin Islands National Park beaches that’s hardest to get to. Reef Bay Beach is accessible only via boat or a strenuous 4.4-mile roundtrip hike on the Reef Bay Trail.
It’s well worth visiting, though, for a few different reasons. One, the Reef Bay Trail is easily one of the best hikes in Virgin Islands National Park, taking you from Centerline Road in the heart of the island to a remote beach on its south coast. Watch for hermit crabs as you walk—they’re everywhere!
Two, on the way you’ll walk among the oldest and tallest trees on St. John. You can also see ancient pre-Columbian Taino petroglyphs and visit the ruins of the Reef Bay Sugar Mill, the latest operational sugar mill on St. John.
Three, Reef Bay is a wonderful place to cool off and take a dip in the ocean after hiking down. Backed by dense vegetation, the sandy beach itself is quite narrow but offers plenty of space. (There won’t be many people here.)
I brought my snorkeling gear down to the beach and went for a little swim. The water was a bit murky, but I still managed to see a variety of fish and lots of conch shells among the seagrass and rocky ocean floor.
9. Jumbie Beach
Location: Just west of Trunk Bay; limited parking across the road in between two speed bumps.
Getting there: Easy 640-foot roundtrip hike
Amenities: /
One of the smallest beaches in Virgin Islands National Park, Jumbie Beach lies just west of world-famous Trunk Bay. You can get there via an easy 320-foot trail from North Shore Road. There’s a small parking lot across the road from the trailhead, in between two speed bumps.
Just because of the limited parking and its proximity to ultra-popular Trunk Bay, Jumbie Beach is among the quieter beaches on the north shore of St. John.
There are no amenities, but its seclusion, soft white sand, and excellent snorkeling opportunities make it a great choice for people looking for a less crowded beach in Virgin Islands National Park.
Note: If you’d like to spend some time on Jumbie Beach, I strongly recommend getting there early in the morning. The tiny parking lot does usually fill up by mid-morning.
8. Francis Bay Beach
Location: At the northern end of North Shore Road, just north of and adjacent to Maho Bay.
Getting there: Roadside parking lot
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables
Situated at the northern end of North Shore Road, Francis Bay Beach “is one of the quieter areas of the park and is a great place to view turtles, go for long swims, snorkel along the rock shoreline at the north end of the beach,” according to the National Park Service.
The northern half of the beach is mainly made up of pebbles and small rocks, while its southern portion is beautiful white sand.
Snorkeling opportunities abound here, with a coral reef along the north shore and sprawling seagrass beds along the southern shoreline. These seagrass beds are fantastic places to see sea turtles.
Additionally, Francis Bay also has a boardwalk trail, which provides excellent bird watching along the salt pond, and is home to the ruins of the Francis Bay Sugar Factory ruins.
7. Waterlemon Bay Beach
Location: In the western portion of Leinster Bay, on the north shore of St. John.
Getting there: Easy 1.6-mile roundtrip hike
Amenities: /
Waterlemon Bay is a smaller bay within the larger Leinster Bay, which is on the north shore of St. John. This scenic bay can be reached only by boat or on foot via the Leinster Bay Trail.
About 0.8 miles one way, the Leinster Bay Trail starts at the Annaberg Sugar Mill ruins (which is a must-visit historical attraction in the national park) and ends at the main beach of Leinster Bay, which is also known as Waterlemon Bay Beach.
This long beach, which partially wraps along the bay, is a combination of gravel and sand and offers access to seagrass beds and rocky shoreline. For snorkelers, the main drawcard of Waterlemon Bay is Waterlemon Cay, often regarded as one of the best snorkeling spots in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Besides sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling, there’s also great hiking in this area. If you take the Leinster Bay Trail to Waterlemon Bay Beach, I highly recommend continuing your hike on the Johnny Horn Trail, too.
From the start of the Johnny Horn Trail at the far end of the beach, it’s about 0.5 relatively steep miles to the top of Windy Hill, home to the spectacular Murphy Great House ruins.
This is without question one of the greatest views in Virgin Islands National Park, a 360-degree panorama that takes in Leinster Bay, Waterlemon Cay, and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
6. Hawksnest Beach
Location: First beach on North Shore Road that’s accessible by car from Cruz Bay.
Getting there: Roadside parking lot
Amenities: Restrooms, changing rooms, picnic tables, grills, accessible paths
This beautiful white-sand beach sits in a wide bay that’s home to three small elkhorn coral reefs—one at the western end, one in the middle, and one at the very northeastern end. Needless to say, there’s some superb snorkeling here.
Tall trees back this gorgeous beach, providing some welcome shade, while brilliant azure waters invite visitors to go swimming or snorkeling. There’s plenty of parking available, although it can fill up during the day.
Despite its not making it into my top 5 of best beaches in Virgin Islands National Park, Hawksnest Beach is still a magnificent beach. In almost any other park, this would be one of the absolute star attractions. Here, however, there are several beaches that are even better!
That said, though, thanks to its great snorkeling, beautiful setting, and great accessibility, Hawksnest Beach is a great alternative if the parking lots at other nearby beaches, such as Trunk Bay, Cinnamon, and Maho, are full.
Top 5 Best Beaches in Virgin Islands National Park
5. Honeymoon Beach
Location: To the west of Caneel Bay, accessible via the Lind Point Trail from the Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center.
Getting there: Easy 2.3-mile roundtrip hike (or by boat or island taxi)
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables, beach chair rentals, souvenir shop, snack bar, beach bars
As its name suggests, Honeymoon Beach is absolutely beautiful—a white-sand beach fringed by palm trees and sea grapes, where waves gently lap against the shoreline.
It’s certainly one of the prettiest beaches in Virgin Islands National Park. You can get there either by boat, island taxi, or via the scenic Lind Point Trail, which starts at the Visitor Center in Cruz Bay. (When parking at the Visitor Center, make sure to get a NPS Parking Permit!)
The Lind Point Trail is made up of two sections: the Upper Lind Point and Lower Lind Point Trails.
I recommend hiking the upper trail to Honeymoon Beach, passing by the wonderful Lind Point Overlook on the way, and taking the lower trail back. It’s about 2.3 miles for the whole roundtrip hike.
At Honeymoon Beach, you can rent beach chairs, soak up some of that delightful Caribbean sunshine, and go snorkeling. The best snorkeling at Honeymoon Beach is along its eastern end, where a coral reef extends to Caneel Bay.
Additionally, Honeymoon Beach also has a souvenir shop, restrooms, showers, and a couple of beach bars.
4. Cinnamon Bay Beach
Location: On North Shore Road, between Trunk Bay and Maho Bay.
Getting there: Roadside parking lot, plus short walk to the beach
Amenities: Restrooms, showers, changing rooms, campground, souvenir shop and camp store, restaurant, picnic tables, watersports center, beach chair rentals, accessible paths, food truck, beach bar
The first time I saw Cinnamon Bay Beach, I thought it was the most beautiful beach I’d ever seen. But that was before I visited the other three beaches below, which I found even more stunning.
That said, though, Cinnamon Bay Beach is undeniably amazing. As the longest beach on St. John, this sandy beach allows visitors to spread out and never really feels crowded. Its combination of soft sand, turquoise water, lush vegetation, and plenty of amenities makes it a popular choice among park visitors.
Cinnamon Bay is also home to the only campground in Virgin Islands National Park, offering platform tent sites, deluxe eco-tents, and a limited number of cottage rooms. This is one of the greatest beach camping experiences in the national parks.
Other amenities include a restaurant, food truck, beach bar, watersports center, beach chair rentals, souvenir shop, restrooms, and showers. In other words, Cinnamon Bay Beach has everything you need for a fun day at the beach.
On top of that, there’s also plenty of history to discover here. Don’t miss the Danish Warehouse ruins on the beach—the oldest colonial ruins on St. John.
I also recommend exploring the Cinnamon Bay Sugar Plantation ruins on the 0.5-mile Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop Trail, which starts just across the road from the parking lot.
For a longer and more challenging hike, consider the Cinnamon Bay Trail to the America Hill Ruins, which provides a jaw-dropping view of the St. John coastline.
3. Salt Pond Bay Beach
Location: At the far southeastern point of St. John, near the end of Route 107, south of Coral Bay.
Getting there: Moderate 1-mile roundtrip hike
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic benches
Salt Pond Bay Beach was the beach that positively surprised me the most when visiting Virgin Islands National Park. It’s an objectively beautiful beach, with fantastic snorkeling and one of the best hikes in the park.
You’ll find this gem of a beach down the rather steep 0.5-mile Salt Pond Bay Trail, which starts at a parking lot on the southern section of Route 107.
It’s located on the very opposite side of St. John from other popular Virgin Islands National Park beaches like Trunk, Cinnamon, and Maho—near the island’s southeasternmost point.
The beach itself is crescent-shaped, curving around shallow Salt Pond Bay. This bay is known for its seagrass beds in the middle, while rocky shores and coral reefs are found along its northern and southern portions.
Definitely bring your snorkeling gear to Salt Pond Bay Beach! The large seagrass beds are home to many sea turtles and southern stingrays. I saw a green turtle literally ten seconds after I started snorkeling here.
In addition to its scenic beauty and excellent snorkeling, Salt Pond Bay is also the starting point of the Ram Head Trail, my favorite hike in Virgin Islands National Park.
This 1.8-mile roundtrip hike takes you to the top of cactus-dotted Ram Head, the southern point of St. John, where the views are nothing short of sensational.
If you have enough time, I recommend spending a full afternoon at Salt Pond Bay Beach, dividing your time between sunbathing, snorkeling, and hiking.
2. Maho Bay Beach
Location: Just east of Cinnamon Bay on North Shore Road.
Getting there: Roadside parking lot
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables and pavilions, watersports and beach chair rentals, food truck and snack bars, beach bar
I can’t overstate what a beauty Maho Bay Beach is. It’s easily one of my favorite beaches in Virgin Islands National Park and there are a number of reasons for that.
It’s situated right along North Shore Road—there’s a large parking lot at its eastern end, along with some roadside parking, too.
At its western end, which tends to be the busiest area, you’ll find restrooms, as well as a food truck, a popular tiki bar, souvenir shop, and beach chair and watersports equipment rentals.
For a complete experience at Maho Bay Beach, I do recommend renting a stand-up paddleboard. The bay’s calm and shallow water makes it one of the best places on St. John for some stand-up paddleboarding.
Besides paddleboarding, Maho Bay is also arguably the greatest spot to see sea turtles in Virgin Islands National Park. (Salt Pond Bay and Francis Bay are other excellent places to see turtles.)
Its large seagrass areas provide food to numerous sea turtles, while stingrays also hang out here. If you don’t have your own snorkeling gear, you can rent it here.
1. Trunk Bay Beach
Location: About 10 minutes east of Cruz Bay on North Shore Road, between Hawksnest and Cinnamon Bay.
Getting there: Roadside parking lot
Amenities: Restrooms, showers, changing rooms, exhibits and interpretive information, picnic tables, benches and pavilions, snack bar, beach bar, accessible paths, watersports rentals, underwater snorkeling trail
FEE: There is a day-use fee of $5 per person at Trunk Bay
The National Park Service’s statement that “Trunk Bay is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world” says it all.
Named after the leatherback turtle, which are known as “trunks” in the Virgin Islands, this beach is the definition of postcard-perfect. When driving from Cruz Bay, make sure to stop at the Trunk Bay Overlook for one of the most iconic views in the entire Caribbean.
At Trunk Bay itself, be prepared to pay the day-use fee of $5 per person. This is the only beach in Virgin Islands National Park that charges a fee. In return, however, you get excellent and clean facilities, access to one of the greatest beaches on the planet, and the extraordinary Underwater Snorkel Trail.
This 225-yard snorkel trail follows the west side of Trunk Bay Cay before looping back toward the beach. Numerous fish can be seen here, along with colorful corals, and the occasional stingray.
Other amenities include restrooms, showers, foot rinses, watersports rentals, and food and beverage concessions—featuring the “world’s earliest happy hours” from 9 to 11 am!
Trunk Bay Beach, as famous and popular as it may be, will absolutely live up to your expectations. It’s a glorious beach, with soft white sand, plenty of shade-providing trees, great amenities, and world-class snorkeling.
NOTE: Trunk Bay Beach is extremely popular and its parking lot is relatively small. This means that you should get there by 10 am at the latest if you want to find a spot. Usually all spaces are taken by mid-morning. Many people do tend to leave during the day, though, so you can always try coming back in the afternoon.
Map of the Best Beaches in Virgin Islands National Park
This map shows the general locations of all the greatest beaches in Virgin Islands National Park.
