Is there an entrance fee at Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve?

NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee.

Is the visitor center open?

NPS says the Salt River Bay visitor center is closed after Hurricane Maria damage. It points visitors to Fort Christiansvaern at Christiansted National Historic Site.

What activities does NPS list here?

NPS lists paddling, kayaking, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, swimming and museum exhibits.

Under the national NPS rule, pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet where allowed, and they are not allowed on designated swimming beaches. The park may close more areas to pets.

All parks › Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): February^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 12,126^[3]
Visitor centers: 1^[4]

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is a National Park System unit in the U.S. Virgin Islands^[5]. NPS lists it as fee-free, so there is no entrance fee^[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS counted 12,126 recreation visits here in 2025^[3]. February was the busiest month in 2025 with 1,629 visits^[2]. March was the quietest month at 900 visits^[2]. The Salt River Bay visitor center is closed because of damage from Hurricane Maria, according to NPS^[6]. NPS points people to the visitor center at Fort Christiansvaern in Christiansted National Historic Site for information^[6]. NPS lists the Interpretation Division as the contact for tours^[6]. NPS describes the weather simply as tropical^[7].

Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, February, is highlighted^[2].

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	1,497
February	1,629
March	900
April	900
May	900
June	900
July	900
August	900
September	900
October	900
November	900
December	900

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	10,707
2022^[3]	12,155
2023^[3]	13,731
2024^[3]	13,185
2025^[3]	12,126

Pets and dogs

The national NPS rule says pets must be crated, caged or on a leash of six feet or less where they are allowed^[8]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, and service animals are excepted^[8]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park^[8].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee here^[1].
The visitor center is closed, so plan to get information elsewhere^[6].
NPS lists paddling, kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, SCUBA diving and museum exhibits as activities^[9].
Fees and hours change, so confirm on the official park page before you go.

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve?: NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1].
Is the visitor center open?: NPS says the Salt River Bay visitor center is closed after Hurricane Maria damage^[6]. It points visitors to Fort Christiansvaern at Christiansted National Historic Site^[6].
What activities does NPS list here?: NPS lists paddling, kayaking, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, swimming and museum exhibits^[9].
Are dogs allowed?: Under the national NPS rule, pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet where allowed, and they are not allowed on designated swimming beaches^[8]. The park may close more areas to pets^[8].

Facts and sources

NPS lists Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 10,707, 2022: 12,155, 2023: 13,731, 2024: 13,185, 2025: 12,126. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Salt River Bay NHP & EP). National Park Service
Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve) in the U.S. Virgin Islands. National Park Service
Operating hours, Salt River Bay Visitor Contact Station: Due to damage suffered from Hurricane Maria, the Salt River Bay NHP&EP Visitor Center is closed. For information about Salt River Bay - its history and natural environment - please visit the Visitor... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve. National Park Service
National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
Activities NPS lists for Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve: Paddling, Kayaking, SCUBA Diving, Snorkeling, Swimming, Saltwater Swimming, Museum Exhibits. National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.