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United States Virgin Islands🇻🇮 | beachesSalomon BeachTrail-in access, shoreline reef, Honeymoon Beach nearby, no facilities | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Salomon Beach
👀 For curious travelersbeach ranked #10
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Sand the color of raw sugar, a hermit crab dragging its shell across your towel, and a ferry horn somewhere past the palms. Salomon Beach sits on the north shore of St. John in the United States Virgin Islands, inside Virgin Islands National Park, just west of Caneel Bay. The water is clear and calm, with turtles and small reef fish close to shore, so snorkeling needs nothing more than a mask. Crowds thin out because you must hike in, and there are no facilities, food or rentals. Trunk Bay and Cruz Bay, with their cheap eats and hostel-style options, are a short ride away. Beyond the sand, a second cove, Honeymoon Beach, lies a few minutes further along the same trail.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #10 beach in United States Virgin IslandsWhat sets this place apart

Salomon Beach works as a quiet break between the livelier stretches of St. John’s north shore. The reason to stop is the short Lind Point Trail from Cruz Bay, which drops through dry forest to a cove that most day-trippers never reach. You get shade from sea grape trees, flat water and a patch of reef close enough to swim to, all without paying for a beach club chair. It is also easy to link with Honeymoon Beach, where a short walk along the shore brings you to rental gear and a snack stand if you want lunch. Because the beach is part of a national park, the setting stays undeveloped, and that is the main appeal here. Bring your own water and food, and you can spend a whole afternoon with only a few other people nearby.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Salomon Beach itself: a small crescent of pale sand backed by sea grape and palms, with water calm enough that you can float for an hour. It sees far fewer people than Trunk Bay.
  2. Snorkeling the shoreline reef: the rocky edges of the cove hold parrotfish, sergeant majors and the occasional sea turtle grazing on seagrass. Visibility is usually best in the morning.
  3. The Salomon Bay Trail: a short, steep-in-places walk through dry tropical forest from the Lind Point trailhead at the Cruz Bay visitor center. Expect lizards, hermit crabs and glimpses of Caneel Bay through the trees. Wear real shoes, not flip-flops.
  4. Honeymoon Beach: a few minutes along the shoreline, this wider beach has paddleboards, kayaks and snorkel gear for rent, plus a casual food stand. It is the place to go if you want amenities.
… read more 👉
  1. Salomon Beach itself: a small crescent of pale sand backed by sea grape and palms, with water calm enough that you can float for an hour. It sees far fewer people than Trunk Bay.
  2. Snorkeling the shoreline reef: the rocky edges of the cove hold parrotfish, sergeant majors and the occasional sea turtle grazing on seagrass. Visibility is usually best in the morning.
  3. The Salomon Bay Trail: a short, steep-in-places walk through dry tropical forest from the Lind Point trailhead at the Cruz Bay visitor center. Expect lizards, hermit crabs and glimpses of Caneel Bay through the trees. Wear real shoes, not flip-flops.
  4. Honeymoon Beach: a few minutes along the shoreline, this wider beach has paddleboards, kayaks and snorkel gear for rent, plus a casual food stand. It is the place to go if you want amenities.
  5. Sunset from the sand: the beach faces north, so evenings are quiet and cooler. Stay only if you have a flashlight and want to hike out on a dark trail carefully; most visitors leave before dusk.
For a first visit, the snorkeling along the reef edge is the best use of your time at Salomon Beach.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Salomon Beach

Local Legend Boat Charters - British Virgin Islands

Local Legend Boat Charters - British Virgin Islands

5.0(98)
From €1,770
per personViator
St Thomas Full-Day Boat Rental 37' Intrepid Powerboat

St Thomas Full-Day Boat Rental 37' Intrepid Powerboat

5.0(36)
From €1,452
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • Winter Peak (December to April): Dry, breezy days of 24 to 29°C (75 to 84°F) and calm water make this the best stretch for swimming. Cruise ships and charter crowds fill St. John, and lodging runs highest.
  • Shoulder (May to June, November): Highs of 29 to 31°C (84 to 88°F), thinner crowds and lower rates. Daylight lasts about 11 to 13 hours across the year.
  • Hurricane Season (July to October): Hot, humid days of 30 to 33°C (86 to 91°F) with the heaviest rain in September and October. Some restaurants and boat services close, but beach days are quiet and rooms are cheapest.
Aim for May or early June if you want warm, calm water without winter prices.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: below average for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Cruz Bay on St. John is the best base for backpackers, since Salomon Beach sits in Virgin Islands National Park about 1.5 km (1 mile) east of the ferry dock. Cruz Bay has the island’s only real cluster of bars, grocery stores and the ferry terminal, so you meet other travelers easily and can walk to the trail in 20 to 30 minutes. Budget is relative here. Expect campground or shared-cabin options from roughly US$40 to 100 a night in winter, and private rooms often above US$150. Cinnamon Bay on the north shore offers national park camping and basic cabins, with a quieter, nature-focused crowd, but … read more 👉
Cruz Bay on St. John is the best base for backpackers, since Salomon Beach sits in Virgin Islands National Park about 1.5 km (1 mile) east of the ferry dock. Cruz Bay has the island’s only real cluster of bars, grocery stores and the ferry terminal, so you meet other travelers easily and can walk to the trail in 20 to 30 minutes. Budget is relative here. Expect campground or shared-cabin options from roughly US$40 to 100 a night in winter, and private rooms often above US$150. Cinnamon Bay on the north shore offers national park camping and basic cabins, with a quieter, nature-focused crowd, but it requires a taxi or open-air safari bus to reach Salomon. Staying on St. Thomas in Charlotte Amalie and taking the ferry across is cheaper but adds around 45 minutes each way. Book winter stays months ahead, since beds are limited.


Best quality hotels in United States Virgin Islands

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Salomon Beach is a calm, sheltered cove with gentle, clear water, and it is among the safer swims on St. John. Waves stay small most of the year, though winter north swells can occasionally bring a little surf. Sea turtles graze the seagrass offshore, so stay off the bottom and keep your distance. Stingrays and sea urchins occasionally turn up, so shuffle your feet in the sand and watch where you step on the rocks. The sun is strong with little shade beyond the palms, so bring reef-safe sunscreen and water. The trail from the road and the Honeymoon Beach connection are short and well used. Daytime theft from unattended bags happens in the Virgin Islands, so keep valuables with you or leave them behind.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

From Cruz Bay on St. John, walk or taxi about 20 to 30 minutes to Salomon Beach via the trail from Lind Point. Ferries from Red Hook on St. Thomas reach Cruz Bay in about 15 to 20 minutes for roughly US$9 to 10 each way, and from Charlotte Amalie in about 45 minutes. Most backpackers then follow the Lind Point Trail and the Salomon Bay path, which is under 2 km (about 1.2 miles).
Salomon Beach is good for swimming and snorkeling, but not surfing. The cove is sheltered with calm, clear water, and snorkelers commonly see sea turtles, rays and small reef fish near the rocky edges. Bring your own mask and fins, since rental is easiest in Cruz Bay for roughly US$10 to 25 a day. There are no waves to ride here.
Salomon Beach is free to enter, though it lies inside Virgin Islands National Park. Hiking in from Lind Point costs nothing, and the park’s only beach fee is at Trunk Bay (US$5 per person). The only costs are getting to St. John, such as ferry fares of about US$9 to 10 from Red Hook, and any gear you rent.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Virgin Islander beaches near Salomon Beach

Explore more nearby:

  • Hawksnest Beach—Sea grape shade, picnic tables, rocky-edge snorkeling, roadside parking| 2 km away
  • Jumbie Beach—Short dirt trail, tiny crescent, no facilities, Peace Hill ruins| 3 km away
  • Trunk Bay—Marked snorkel trail, Trunk Cay, lifeguards, overlook stop| 3 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Salomon Beach catches people out because they arrive with no water, no food and flip-flops, then regret the hike. Pack a full bottle, a snack and sturdy sandals, and bring your own mask. I would go early in the morning, when the cove is empty and the water is glassy.

✍️ 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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