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Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay

BeachesSt. JohnLast verified October 30, 2026

Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay

Leinster Bay is on St. John's northeast shore in Virgin Islands National Park, and Waterlemon Cay, a small island in the bay, is a popular snorkel spot. Park at the Annaberg Sugar Plantation lot, reached by a spur road off North Shore Road, and take the Leinster Bay Trail: about 10 minutes to a narrow sandy entry over shallow coral heads, or another 10 minutes to the main beach. From there, snorkelers cross the seagrass or follow the eastern shore to the cay, watching for urchins and rocks at the entry. A strong current runs on the cay's north side, facing Tortola, so stay on the south side; the Department of Tourism recommends the cay only for experienced snorkelers and confident swimmers. There is no fee, no lifeguard is listed, and pets and glass are not allowed. The waterfront is part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Services

  • No fee
  • Parking and restrooms at the Annaberg Sugar Plantation lot
  • Leinster Bay Trail: about 10 minutes to the first snorkel entry, 20 minutes to the main beach
  • Snorkeling around Waterlemon Cay; strong current on its north side
  • Johnny Horn Trail starts at the east end of the beach
  • Moorings, a dinghy tether at the cay and a mooring fee station for boaters

How we checked

Last verified on October 30, 2026. The business has not reviewed this listing.

Source: National Park Service pages https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/snorkeling.htm, https://home.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/frequently-asked-questions.htm (updated December 5, 2024), https://www.nps.gov/places/annaburg-sugar-plantation.htm, https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/annaberg-sugar-plantation.htm, https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/johnny-horn-trail.htm, https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm, https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/fees.htm (updated September 29, 2026), https://www.nps.gov/viis/learn/management/compendium.htm (updated October 6, 2026) and the park alerts feed https://www.nps.gov/viis/park-alerts-viis.json (no closures posted), plus USVI Department of Tourism https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/hidden-underwater-gems/ (recommended for experienced snorkelers and confident swimmers) and https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/top-st-john-beaches/, all accessed 2026-10-30.

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.

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