Hike· St Croix· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)

Annaly Bay Tide Pools

17° 45.8′ N · 64° 50.7′ W

Swimming-pool-sized natural basins in the rocks at the west end of a wild north-shore beach, reached by a rainforest trail over the ridge from Carambola.

British Virgin IslandsUS Virgin IslandsSpanish Virgins

Practical

Coordinate is the tide-pool position given by GoToStCroix (17.7638 N, 64.8455 W). Trail: 5.2 miles round trip from the Trumbull Trailhead near the Carambola Beach Resort guard gate, about 1.5 to 2 hours, steep at first, then a side trail and dirt road down to a pebble beach; scramble over wet, slippery rocks to the pools, which are 4 to 5 ft deep. Rough surf on the beach: check wind and sea first and skip it in a north swell. No facilities, spotty cell service; first-timers are advised to go with a guide (GoToStCroix). Annaly Bay is also a DPNR mooring/anchoring area, but the beach is exposed.

Best for

A jungle hike to natural sea pools

Season

Calm, low-swell days only (avoid winter north swells)

Nearby