The beaches of St. Croix

Updated August 16, 2026

St. Croix does not have one famous beach the way St. Thomas has Magens Bay. It has a lot of good ones, most of them uncrowded, and the right answer changes with the wind.

North shore

Cane Bay. The island’s most useful beach. Reef within swimming distance, the wall drop-off beyond it, dive shops on the road behind, and somewhere to eat. Calmest in the morning; north swell can shut it down entirely in winter.

Salt River Bay. Less a swimming beach than a place — national historical park, bioluminescent bay after dark, kayak launch, and serious diving at the mouth of the bay. Currents are real here.

West end

Rainbow Beach. Sunset side of the island, calm water, a beach bar, and a genuinely social atmosphere. Good for the day you do not want to drive anywhere else.

Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge. A long, wide, completely undeveloped stretch on the south-west corner. Access is seasonally restricted to protect leatherback turtle nesting, which is precisely why it looks the way it does. Check current access before driving out.

Frederiksted. Calm, shallow water and the pier — which is one of the strangest and best snorkel sites on the island when no ship is in.

East and near Christiansted

The Shoys. A protected crescent close to town, calm and shallow, good for families and easy swimming.

Tamarind Reef. Sheltered water with reef close in — a soft option when the north shore is rough.

Isaac Bay and Jack Bay. East end, reached on foot. Hike in, and you can quite reasonably have the place to yourself. Bring water; bring shade.

Point Udall. Not a beach — the eastern tip of the island. Go for sunrise.

How to pick on the day

The trade winds come from the east. As a rough rule: if the north shore is choppy, go west or to a sheltered east-end cove. Locals will tell you the answer in about four seconds if you ask.

Practical

• Never leave anything in the car. Beach-lot break-ins are the most common problem visitors have on St. Croix. Boot included.
• No lifeguards at most beaches.
• Reef-safe sunscreen, and a rash guard beats reapplying.
• Bring water and shade to the hike-in beaches — there is nothing there, which is the appeal.

From our villa on the east end, Chenay Bay and the near-town beaches are ten to fifteen minutes and Cane Bay is about thirty-five.

Common questions

What is the best beach in St. Croix?

Cane Bay for snorkelling and diving, Sandy Point for wild emptiness when it is open, Rainbow Beach for sunset and a beach bar, and the east-end coves for calm swimming.

Are St. Croix beaches free and public?

Beaches in the U.S. Virgin Islands are public up to the high-water mark. Some access is through resort property or restricted refuge land, so check the specific approach.