Salt Pond Bay is a "double treat" - Quite possibly the best snorkeling in all of the Virgin Islands AND you get two very nice hikes out of it with the Ram Head and Drunk Bay trails.
The East End of St. John is the less "busy" side of the island, not too many tourists, and thus, this beach and bay are relatively uninhabited, so you don't have to worry about swimming on top of someone. Ample parking at the trail head down to the beaches. Although it's known for snorkeling, this bay is PERFECT for SUPing - since it's a small bay, it's relatively calm, which lets you see TONS of stuff. You will see sea turtles, rays, conch, and lots of other beautiful marine life. If you're afraid you won't get your workout in while you're vacationing on St John, grab your mask and swim out to the two rock formations about 1,000' off shore. You will be glad you did!
The Ram Head Trail hike can be hot - Make sure you take water and a hat. There's not a lot of cover. At the end of the trail is the Blue Cobblestone Beach. This beach is absolutely breathtaking for a swim and is great for a snorkel too. Because of the diverse ecosystem, you will see stuff here that you can't see in other snorkels on the island. Lots of pretty coral!
The Drunk Bay Trail is another hike at Salt Pond Bay, and is accessible from the trailhead of Ram Head. It will take you around the other side of the salt pond and down a small hill. The "fun" at the end of this trail is the abundance of coral sculptures that people have made. This is not a place to swim, as this bay is really rocky and the currents make it kinda difficult to swim. This bay is known for the flotsam that washes ashore, so that can make beach combing fun - who knows, you may find a TREASURE!
There IS a short 1/3m hike DOWN (remember the converse of the whole "what goes up must come down" quote when you're packing your beach bag!) to Salt Pond Bay, but the views are gorgeous and your reward for the hike is just that! And, don't fear - Ms. George will be waiting for you with snacks and cold refreshments when you come back up! read more