the #1 rated Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge beaches, is a two-mile crescent of sand on the southwestern tip of the island. The refuge is a hatching ground for leatherback turtles, open limited times(10 – 4 on Saturdays and Sundays), & not at all during the breeding season. Each side of the beach is different because of the orientation to the water and the winds. The southern side had big waves and a flat beach, the eastern side had a drop of about 10 feet down to the water, but calm waves. This is where Shawshank Redemption was filmed. There are no facilities or shaded areas here, so we could not stay long.
Yonah C.
Place rating: 5 Westminster, CO
Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge is a protected park on the southwest end of St Croix with pristine beaches and lots of wildlife. Its difficult to get to without a 4WD car(we had a crazy adventure getting there without a rental car, which involved bribing a cabbie and hiking down to the beach in the dark– not recommended). The park is only open for limited hours– its only open weekends from 10am-4pm and most of the park is closed April to August for sea turtle conservation. If you want a unique and amazing experience with the turtles, you can sign up for a nesting or hatching watch on select days from May-July through the St Croix Environmental Association( ). Its the only way to get into the refuge and see the turtles when the park closed to the public. To go on a watch, you have to sign up in advance and get a membership($ 35/individual or $ 50/family) but its so worth it and the money supports local conservation projects. The watch starts at 8pm and last until midnight or later. If you go be prepared to sit on the beach under the stars for several hours. Its a good idea to bring some snacks, warm clothes and a beach towel or blanket to sit on. To be respectful of the sea turtles, cameras and flashlights are not allowed. This is not an activity for people who don’t like the dark or sitting still for long periods of time. But the wait is worth it. I loved sitting on the beach under the stars without city lights or noise, a rare experience that took me back to what the island must have been like hundreds of years ago. Seeing the primeval giants(leatherbacks can grow up to 6ft long and 600 lbs) is an unforgettable experience, as they return to the beach of their birth to lay their eggs. If you can make it for a watch, its an experience you’ll never forget.
