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United States Virgin Islands🇻🇮 | beachesHawksnest BeachSea grape shade, picnic tables, rocky-edge snorkeling, roadside parking | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Hawksnest Beach
👍 Recommendedbeach ranked #7
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The sea grape trees along the back of Hawksnest Beach throw a shade you can actually use, and the shoreline under them is where most people park their towels. The beach sits on the north shore of St. John in the United States Virgin Islands, inside Virgin Islands National Park, just west of Trunk Bay. Sand is pale and soft, the water is clear, and the sea is usually calm enough for easy swimming. Snorkeling is decent along the rocky edges and over the seagrass, with turtles the usual reward. Parking is roadside and fills early, and there are no food stalls, only restrooms, picnic tables and grills. Buy supplies in Cruz Bay, a short ride away. A first day works best with an early arrival, a snorkel, and lunch under the trees.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 United States Virgin Islands Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #7 beach in United States Virgin IslandsWhat makes this beach worth visiting

Hawksnest Beach earns its stop because it is the nearest national park beach to Cruz Bay, so you can reach it on the open-air safari taxis that run the North Shore Road. That makes it an easy first or last swim on St. John without renting a car. The shoreline is lined with sea grape trees that give real shade, and the park keeps it free of vendors, so the mood stays quiet. Snorkelers get a small reef-and-rock edge to work along, and the picnic tables and grills make a cheap, self-catered lunch easy, which matters on an island where restaurant meals run pricey. It also sits on the road between town and Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay, so it works as a first dip before you move on, or a place to slow down when the bigger beaches fill with day-trippers.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Snorkeling the rocky edges: The reef and rock patches at both ends of the beach hold small fish, and turtles often graze over the seagrass offshore. Bring your own gear to avoid rental costs.
  2. Swimming in the calm bay: The bay is sheltered and clear, with a gentle sandy entry, and it suits anyone wanting an easy swim without strong waves.
  3. Sea grape shade and picnic tables: The tree line behind the sand holds tables and grills, so a cookout lunch with shade is possible without leaving the beach.
  4. Sunset from the shore: The beach faces north, so look along the coast toward the neighboring bays as the light fades. It stays quieter than at Trunk Bay once day-trippers leave.
  5. Walking the North Shore Road to neighboring beaches: From the sand, a short roadside stroll leads toward the next coves and views
… read more 👉
  1. Snorkeling the rocky edges: The reef and rock patches at both ends of the beach hold small fish, and turtles often graze over the seagrass offshore. Bring your own gear to avoid rental costs.
  2. Swimming in the calm bay: The bay is sheltered and clear, with a gentle sandy entry, and it suits anyone wanting an easy swim without strong waves.
  3. Sea grape shade and picnic tables: The tree line behind the sand holds tables and grills, so a cookout lunch with shade is possible without leaving the beach.
  4. Sunset from the shore: The beach faces north, so look along the coast toward the neighboring bays as the light fades. It stays quieter than at Trunk Bay once day-trippers leave.
  5. Walking the North Shore Road to neighboring beaches: From the sand, a short roadside stroll leads toward the next coves and views over the water, a good way to stretch your legs between swims.
Hawksnest Beach costs nothing for the sand and swimming itself, so the picnic tables, sunset and a walk along the shore are all free.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

The best window for Hawksnest Beach is December to April, when days are dry, seas are calm and highs sit around 28 to 30°C (82 to 86°F).
  • Dry Season (December to April): Steady trade winds, low humidity and clear water for snorkeling. Daylight runs about 11 to 12 hours. Lodging on St. John costs the most now, often US$250 and up for a basic room.
  • Shoulder Months (May to June): Highs of 30 to 32°C (86 to 90°F), thinner crowds and lower rates. Showers are short.
  • Hurricane Season (August to October): Hot, humid, 31 to 33°C (88 to 91°F), with the highest storm risk in September. Some restaurants and rentals close, but prices drop sharply.
  • Holidays: Christmas week and spring break fill the parking along North Shore Road by mid-morning.
Arrive before 10 a.m. on weekdays for parking and calm water.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

Cruz Bay is the best base for Hawksnest Beach, about 2 miles (3 km) west along North Shore Road. It has the ferry dock, grocery stores, bars, and the island's widest range of budget beds, so it is where solo backpackers meet other travelers.
From Cruz Bay you can reach the beach by open-air taxi (about US$8 to 10 a person), by hitchhiking as locals commonly do, or by a 40 to 50 minute walk on a road with narrow shoulders. Dorm-style options are scarce on St. John. Expect simple rooms or cottages from roughly US$100 to 180 a night outside peak season, and more in winter.
Campgrounds are the budget … read more 👉
Cruz Bay is the best base for Hawksnest Beach, about 2 miles (3 km) west along North Shore Road. It has the ferry dock, grocery stores, bars, and the island's widest range of budget beds, so it is where solo backpackers meet other travelers.
From Cruz Bay you can reach the beach by open-air taxi (about US$8 to 10 a person), by hitchhiking as locals commonly do, or by a 40 to 50 minute walk on a road with narrow shoulders. Dorm-style options are scarce on St. John. Expect simple rooms or cottages from roughly US$100 to 180 a night outside peak season, and more in winter.
Campgrounds are the budget alternative. Cinnamon Bay, on the same north shore road, has tent sites and bare cabins, and it is social, with a camp store and shared cooking areas. Booking months ahead is needed for winter. Many travelers also stay in Red Hook on St. Thomas, where cheaper guesthouses sit near the ferry to Cruz Bay (about 20 minutes).


Best quality hotels in United States Virgin Islands

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Hawksnest Beach is a calm, lifeguard-free stretch inside Virgin Islands National Park, and most visitors swim here without incident. Waves are usually small, though winter north swells can bring a short shore break and a mild pull near the edges. Seagrass and coral patches sit close to shore on both sides, so wear water shoes and avoid stepping on reef. Sea turtles graze in the seagrass, and rays occasionally pass through. Give them space. Shade is limited to sea grape trees at the back, and the Caribbean sun burns fast between late morning and mid-afternoon, so bring reef-safe sunscreen. Car break-ins are the real nuisance along the road. Leave nothing visible in a rental and carry only a phone and cash to the sand. Locals swim here at all hours, and it is busiest on weekends.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Fly into St. Thomas (STT), take a taxi to Red Hook (about 30 minutes, US$25 to 35), then ride the passenger ferry to Cruz Bay (20 minutes, about US$9 one way). From Cruz Bay, Hawksnest Beach is about 2 miles (3 km) along North Shore Road by open-air taxi (roughly US$8 to 10 a person) or rental Jeep. Plan on a half day to get from the airport to the sand.
Swimming and snorkeling are the main draws at Hawksnest Beach. The water is usually calm and clear, and the reefs and seagrass at both ends of the bay hold turtles, parrotfish and small rays. Surfing is not practical, since waves stay small, but winter swells sometimes make bodyboarding possible. Bring your own mask and fins, as rentals in Cruz Bay run roughly US$10 to 15 a day.
Hawksnest Beach is free to enter, with no gate fee, because it sits within Virgin Islands National Park. Facilities include picnic tables, restrooms and a small parking strip along North Shore Road, all at no charge. The park charges no entrance fee, and its only beach fee is at Trunk Bay. Plan on spending only for transport, gear and food, with a taco or sandwich in Cruz Bay costing about US$10 to 15.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Virgin Islander beaches near Hawksnest Beach

Explore more nearby:

  • Jumbie Beach—Short dirt trail, tiny crescent, no facilities, Peace Hill ruins| 1 km away
  • Trunk Bay—Marked snorkel trail, Trunk Cay, lifeguards, overlook stop| 1 km away
  • Salomon Beach—Trail-in access, shoreline reef, Honeymoon Beach nearby, no facilities| 2 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Hawksnest Beach fills with parked cars along the road by mid-morning, and the stretch under the sea grapes is the first to go. I would arrive early or late in the afternoon, and bring a mask for the rocky corners, where the turtles and small fish hang around, rather than swimming only in the middle.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in United States Virgin Islands. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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