Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, located on St. Croix’s West End, was designated a Natural National Landmark in 1980. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department, and is the largest leatherback turtle nesting site in the U.S. Hawksbill and green sea turtles also nest at Sandy Point. The Refuge’s sandy beach, inland scrub plants and woodlands, and salt ponds with their fringing mangrove forests provide a habitat for over 100 species of birds. There is no admission to enter the park and it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays (holidays included) from 10am to 4pm. Sandy Point is also the longest stretch of beach in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Because of turtle nesting season, Sandy Point is closed from April 1st until September 1st.
Sea Turtle Nesting
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge’s primary focus is the conservation of nesting habitat for the endangered leatherback sea turtles. Every year, thousands of visitors flock to Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge to enjoy the wide, sandy beach and warm, clear waters in a natural setting. In addition, thousands of more participate in the educational experience of guided sea turtle nesting and hatching observation. The two miles of continuous sandy beach, with its deep near-shore water access and the lack of a fringing reef provide particularly ideal conditions for leatherback sea turtles to nest. For opportunities to visit Sandy Point to watch for wildlife, contact the St. Croix Sea Turtle Project at stxturtles@gmail.com.
History
Established in 1984, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The refuge was established when 340 acres were purchased from the West Indies Investment Company, acquired specifically to protect nesting habitat of endangered leatherback sea turtles. An additional 43 acres have been acquired since then to conserve the Aklis pre-historic archaeological site and a stand of the endangered Vahl’s boxwood tree.
Sandy Point contains the pre-historic Aklis Site, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Aklis Site is an important pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Caribbean dating back to 200-400 A.D., about 1,200 years before Christopher Columbus arrived in the West. The site is large by island standards, at least four contiguous acres. The site has yielded high-quality artifacts including tools made from conch shell and bone, pottery shards, and even complete ceramic bowls. This site was even added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Recreation
You can visit the Refuge, including postcard-worthy beach, on weekends from September 1st through July 31st. This beach is popular with locals and visitors alike as a great place to relax in the sun, snorkel, and float around in the water. Sandy Point is also popular for birding, nature walks and environmental outreach programs.
Fun Fact : If you’ve seen “The Shawshank Redemption,” the shores of Sandy Point should look familiar. The final scene was filmed right on Sandy Point’s beach, though it was said to be Zihuatanejo, Mexico in the film.
