Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
here are within the National Park and are kick-off (or final)
points for hikes through the interior. The ruins of a planta-
tion estate house and the last steam-powered sugar mill on
St. John are located here. Roads are not paved, so you'll need
a four-wheel-drive vehicle, or you can hike.
Great Cruz Bay
A five-minute drive (or 30-minute hike) from Cruz Bay,
Great Cruz Bay fronts the
Westin Resort and Villas
,a
sprawling resort. The beach has thick white sand, palm
trees and umbrellas for shade, plus lots of dining and imbib-
ing options. There is a fee for using lounge chairs and
watersports gear. Good dining options.
Salt Pond Bay & Lameshur Bay
These are the best beaches on this side of the island. Both
have good swimming and snorkeling. A trail from Salt Pond
Bay leads to
Drunk Bay
and
Ram Head
and it is worth the
effort. Lameshur has a picnic area, toilets and a ranger sta-
tion.
Reef Bay
, near the sugar mill ruins and petroglyphs, is
the last beach within this portion of the park.
Snorkeling Near Shore
Serious snorkelers should join a daysail. The operators are
well organized, know the prime snorkeling spots and pro-
vide gear. (See
Organized Water Sports.
) Less serious
snorkelers can head to any of the previously noted beaches.
You'll have to bring your own snorkel gear
except at Cinna-
mon Bay, Trunk Bay and Maho Bay.
Virgin Islands National Park
The Virgin Islands National Park, donated by Laurence
Rockefeller in 1956, covers approximately two-thirds of St.
John. In 1962 the park's boundaries were enlarged to in-
clude over 5,000 underwater acres, named the Virgin Is-
lands Coral Reef Monument. Within the park's boundaries
you'll find beaches, sheltered coves, coral reefs abundant
