Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
A long stretch of white sand at the island's southwestern tip, an important nesting site for leatherback turtles and the filming location for the ending of The Shawshank Redemption.
Sandy Point is the longest beach in the US Virgin Islands, with about 3 kilometers of white sand and clear water that are almost always uncrowded. It is a key nesting ground for leatherback, green, and hawksbill sea turtles, and it is protected by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The ending of The Shawshank Redemption was filmed here, on the beach used as the stand-in for Zihuatanejo. It is usually open only on weekend daytimes outside turtle nesting season (roughly 10:00 to 16:00). There are no facilities, so bring your own drinking water. It is about 8 kilometers from Frederiksted.
Opening hours
Weekends outside nesting season, about 10:00–16:00
Nearby sights
- Frederiksted Pier
- Fort Frederik
- Estate Whim Plantation Museum
- Rainbow Beach
- St. George Village Botanical Garden
- Cruzan Rum Distillery
- Mt. Pellier Domino Club
- Annaly Bay Tide Pools