Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
Photo: Turn685, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, on the West End of St. Croix about a mile south of Frederiksted, protects about two miles of beach where endangered leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles and threatened green sea turtles nest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which established it in 1984, closes the beach for nesting from roughly mid-April through August; GoToStCroix gives April 1 to September 1, so call the refuge before visiting in spring or early September. The rest of the year it opens on weekends only, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. There are no facilities or food sellers and little shade, so bring water and sun protection. Pets are not allowed, and nothing may be staked into the sand, including umbrellas, chairs and pop-up shelters. The water drops off quickly and there is little reef, so it suits swimming more than snorkeling.
Services
- Free admission
- Weekend access outside the nesting season
- Guided sea turtle nesting and hatching programs
- No facilities
How we checked
Last verified on October 30, 2026. The business has not reviewed this listing.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sandy-point (nesting species and their status) and https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sandy-point/visit-us (beach closed roughly mid-April to August, guided nesting and hatching observation, phone); Caribbean Journal, August 27, 2026, https://www.caribjournal.com/2026/08/27/us-virgin-islands-sandy-point-beach-st-croix/ (established 1984, about a mile south of Frederiksted, 2026 season reopening on September 5, weekend hours, free admission, rules); GoToStCroix, https://www.gotostcroix.com/discover/beaches/sandy-point/ and https://www.gotostcroix.com/discover/points-interest/sandy-point-national-wildlife-refuge/ (weekend hours, no pets, nothing staked in the sand, no facilities, deep water; closure given as April 1 through August 31 on one page and April 1 to September 1 on the other); USVI Department of Tourism, https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/best-beaches-for-families/ (2-mile beach); all accessed 2026-10-30. The refuge's own pages give no daily hours.
USVI Realty does not rank, rate or endorse the places and services in this directory. Hours, fees and rules change, so check the official source before you go.
Around St. Croix
Photo: Jason P. Heym, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Matt H. Wade, CC BY-SA 3.0
