Salt Pond Bay Trail
A short, sunny path from the South Shore Road leads down to a beautiful sandy cove with great snorkeling. It's an ideal spot for families, but bring water and sun protection as there is little shade.
Highlights
Descend through cactus and scrub to the sandy beach
Protected cove ideal for snorkeling and swimming
Trailhead for the longer Ram Head and Drunk Bay trails
Salt flats where residents historically harvested sea salt
Trail statistics
Distance | 0.5 miles out and back |
Elevation change | ~100 ft descent |
Difficulty | Easy |
Trail type | Out and Back |
Estimated time | 15–20 minutes |
Parking | Salt Pond Bay parking lot off South Shore Road |
Description
A wide, sandy path leads from the south shore road down to Salt Pond Bay. At only about 0.25 mile long, it is one of the island’s easiest hikes. The trail descends gently through an area of low shrubs and cactus, with glimpses of Ram Head in the distance. At the bottom, a broad beach of sand and small pebbles curves around a clear, shallow bay. The bay’s namesake salt pond lies just inland, sometimes ringed by a white crust in the dry season. Swimming and snorkeling here are excellent - sea turtles, rays and colorful reef fish are frequently seen. Because the trail is exposed and hot, bring water and sun protection, especially when hiking midday. The bay has limited facilities: there is a small parking area and sometimes portable toilets, but no shade structures. Many hikers use Salt Pond as a base for exploring the Ram Head or Drunk Bay trails; after those more strenuous hikes, the bay’s calm water provides perfect relief.
Distance & Difficulty
0.25 mi
Easy
Trail Map & Gallery
