Beaches, without the guesswork

A long white-sand beach with a marked underwater snorkel trail and the island’s fullest set of facilities.

Access

Road access with accessible paths and beach ramps — the most facility-rich beach on St. John.

Facilities

Restrooms, showers, a snack shack and bar, a beach shop, and snorkel-gear rental.

Snorkeling

A 225-yard underwater snorkel trail with marked plaques makes this a good place for beginners. The water tends to get rougher the farther out you go.

• Families
• Beginner snorkeling
• Accessible
• Facilities

Full guide →NPS source ↗· verified June 30, 2026

The longest beach on St. John, gently sloping, with a café, beach shop, and watersports center beside the campground.

Access

Road access with accessible paths through the adjacent campground.

Facilities

Rain Tree Café, a beach shop, a watersports and rental center, plus restrooms and showers at the campground.

Snorkeling

A small offshore cay shelters fish, invertebrates, and pillar coral, and shallow sandy areas give safe resting spots for a range of experience levels.

• Families
• Facilities
• Watersports
• Long beach

Full guide →NPS source ↗· verified June 30, 2026

A calm, roadside beach known for large seagrass beds where green sea turtles feed.

Access

Roadside, with a large parking area at the eastern end — do not park on or in the vegetation.

Facilities

Restrooms at the western end; pavilions available for rent.

Snorkeling

Seagrass beds are good for spotting green sea turtles. Maho is less affected by winter swells than other North Shore beaches, though a north swell can reduce visibility. Best early morning or late afternoon.

• Turtles
• Easy access
• Beginner snorkeling

Full guide →NPS source ↗· verified June 30, 2026

A close-to-Cruz Bay beach with three small Elkhorn-coral reefs near shore.

Access

Road access with accessible paths and beach ramps.

Facilities

Changing rooms, restrooms, picnic tables, and grills.

Snorkeling

Three small reefs of Elkhorn coral hold lots of small fish, but it is not advisable to snorkel directly over the shallow reef, which can be dangerous when sea conditions are less than ideal.

• Close to Cruz Bay
• Reef life
• Facilities

Take care: Avoid snorkeling directly over the shallow Elkhorn reef, especially in any swell.

Full guide →NPS source ↗· verified June 30, 2026

A quarter-mile beach with calm water, good for beginners and turtle-watching, plus a pond trail for birds.

Access

Road access with parking; a trail loops around the Francis Bay pond.

Facilities

Picnic tables and toilets.

Snorkeling

Usually calm with good visibility. Snorkel the rock shoreline for schools of juvenile fish, small coral heads, and sea turtles. Ideal for beginners.

• Beginner snorkeling
• Turtles
• Quiet
• Birding

Full guide →NPS source ↗· verified June 30, 2026

Two quieter bays reached by a short hike from the park sign, with a fringing reef to the west.

Access

A short hike from the Virgin Islands National Park sign off North Shore Road, or arrive by boat. There is no parking at the beach itself.

Facilities

No developed facilities at the beach — carry water and pack out everything you bring.

Snorkeling

A narrow fringing reef follows the shoreline with brain, lettuce-leaf, elkhorn, mustard-hill, and pillar corals and colorful fish, especially on the reef west of Salomon.

• Quiet
• Snorkeling
• Walk-in

Full guide →NPS source ↗· verified June 30, 2026

One of St. John’s best snorkeling spots, around a small cay reached on foot from the Annaberg area.

Access

A 10-minute walk from the Annaberg parking lot, then roughly another 10-minute hike to the main beach.

Facilities

No developed facilities at the beach — bring water and sun protection.

Snorkeling

A shallow reef of coral heads on a sandy bottom around Waterlemon Cay holds blue chromis, sea turtles, and gorgonians. Stand only on sand to avoid long-spine urchins.

• Snorkeling
• Sea turtles
• Walk-in

Take care: A strong current runs on the north (Tortola) side of the cay, and long-spine sea urchins are present — stand only on sand.

Full guide →NPS source ↗· verified June 30, 2026

A long white-sand beach on the quieter south shore, reached by a half-mile hike, with the Ram Head trail beyond.

Access

About a half-mile hike down from the parking area.

Facilities

No developed facilities at the beach — bring water and pack out trash.

Snorkeling

Seagrass beds hold green sea turtles and southern stingrays, with rocky shorelines to snorkel. The area is also good for birdwatching, and the Ram Head trail extends from the beach.

• Quiet
• Turtles
• Hiking
• South shore

Full guide →NPS source ↗· verified June 30, 2026