Beaches · East End

Haulover Bay (North)

Haulover Bay North has quietly become one of the most talked-about snorkeling spots on St. John, after years as the overlooked half of Haulover compared to its counterpart across the road. A short walk through the woods from roadside parking drops you onto a pebble-and-coral-rubble beach with no sand entry point; the easiest way in is at the apex of the beach where a sandy bottom comes closest to shore. From there, repeat visitors and local guides agree the best snorkeling runs along the western (left-facing) side of the bay, where elkhorn and brain coral stand among sea fans in what several describe as a genuine coral forest. That payoff comes with real caveats: entry is rocky and can be difficult depending on swell, sargassum seaweed collects here at times, and the currents and chop can turn unsafe when the wind is up — several visitor reports specifically recommend checking conditions and going only when calm, ideally in the morning or when wind blows from the south. There are no facilities, restrooms, or rentals at either Haulover beach, so this is a bring-everything stop.

Haulover Bay (North), East End, St. John

Photos