Salt Pond Bay
Salt Pond Bay beach is one of the most popular St John beaches. A moderate hike from the road, you’ll find this protected cove. Salt Pond boasts a white sand beach and some of the best snorkeling and hiking on St. John.
Getting there:
Coming from Cruz Bay you can take Centerline Road ( Rte 10) or North Shore Road (RTE 20) toward Coral Bay. At the bottom of the steep hill coming into Coral Bay you’ll come to a “T” intersection. Take a right and travel the twisting winding road about 4 mi., just past Concordia. As the road turns sharply to the right you’ll see parking on your left.
Salt Pond Bay Beach
There is a bit of a hike to this spot ( remember, it’s round trip!). Once there you’ll understand why so many make the trek. The beach is crescent shaped with great exposure to the sun and breezes. Shallow water access makes this a great spot for swimmers. The beach is protected enough that most days there isn’t much surf. Good snorkeling and convenient access to several trails and sightseeing make it a great choice for an afternoon or day at the beach.
Snorkeling – this is one of the top snorkeling destinations on St John; and while there are certainly lots of fans of this location – I think there are other STJ destinations that trump Salt Pond for snorkeling. That said, you should definitely make the trek. Some of the best sights are a rock hump that’s off the center of the bay. While the sea grass beds offer a great opportunity to see a sea turtle, ray or giant hermit crabs ( usually in a large Queen Conch shell)!
Drunk Bay and Ram’s Head Trail – Another great reason to choose Salt Pond is Drunk Bay and Ram’s Head. Both offer the kind of rugged beauty that makes for memorable adventures and great pictures. Take the trail at the eastern end of the beach. Go left to Drunk Bay with its rugged coral and stone shoreline and visitor-created stone sculptures and cairn. Or proceed right following the trail that leads along the eastern shoreline of Salt Pond to the crest of Ram’s Head. The hike is about a mile each way and fairly strenuous [ so bring some water ]. You’ll walk narrow island paths and cross a majestic stoney beach before making the final ascent to the top of Ram Head. The view back toward Salt Pond and Concordia Eco Resort makes it well worth the effort! A truly unique view of St John!
