1. Polihale Beach State Park

1. Polihale Beach State Park

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Waimea, HI

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Polihale Beach State Park

4.6 (163 reviews)
Open 5:30 am - 7:45 pm

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Catherine D.

The 5 mile off road drive is NOT for the faint of heart but man oh man is it FUN! After a longer off road experience you get to a tree and if you turn left it opens to one beach entrance with no bathrooms from what I could see and if you went right at the tree there are multiple bathrooms with showers and picnic tables. There is no shade on the beach so def bring cover and enjoy what ends up being virtually a private beach with a beautiful view!!! Well worth the drive if you can make it :) bring shoes to walk onto the beach! The sand will be HOT

Alex K.

This place is amazing. One with nature for sure. But getting there was a little trek. Of course, totally recommend by a local. It's off the main road, then there's about 3 miles of unpaved roads. Highly recommend off roading car, jeeps and so on. Took us about half an hour to go that 3 miles as road was rough on the tires and rather be safe. Driving through it felt like we were lost and honestly didn't know where we were going. Once we started to see cars coming the other directions, that was a good sign. Once there, there's a little parking area that cars were line along. A little picnic area, restrooms and showers. But once on the beach, it just takes your breath away. This is what Hawaii is all about. The miles of stretch of white sands, blue water and the lush green mountains behind. It was beautiful. And only a handful of people on the beach. If you want peace and quite, look no further. This will definitely be on the list of must visit again. One of the most beautiful beaches on Kauai.

Emma Y.

If I have to pick a place to get married now, I'd be super happy if it were to be here on Polihale beach. Pictures could not do justice. The bumpy road to the beach, the white soft sand, the waves, the air, the miles and miles of dramatic cliffs known as the napali coast. It feels like you are at the end of the world We came on an SUV and it took a good 20-30 mins one way on the dirt road, but totally worth the drive. Got to spend almost half a day chili, relaxing, reading books and walk/run on the beach. The sea was choppy so not sure if there is a good time to swim around other time of the year. If you get there early, the whole beach/paradise is all yours.

camp wherever
Andrew H.

5 stars for the beach! 3 stars for the State Park. Let's count the ways: The facilities: FOR SHAME. Toilets barely work. There were two stalls, one was out of order. The urinal was filled with mud. The showers are a literal horror show. There are massive cobwebs and spiders filling the entire area. The road: is laughably bad. How is it that there is a smooth paved road on Kaua'i, going up into the misty mountains, attaining nearly 4,000 ft of elevation but yet this flat road on the driest part of the island is a non-stop washboarded, teeth-chatting, vibratron? Seriously, the road is 5 miles of steep speed bumps. It's not difficult 4X4ing, just annoying and slow. In fact, you don't even need 4WD. You just need some high clearance. If you're low to the ground, you will scrape your car. It took us probably 20-30 minutes to go 5 miles, in a Jeep Wrangler. But the beach is marvelous. It has great weather, it has stunning views of the stars over head. It has glorious sunsets! Camp sites aren't really assigned, so get there early if you want the best ones. Camping permits don't seem to be enforced. Maybe if they did that, they could raise enough money to fix the road, or at leas remove the spider nests from the showers.

Wide open beach with no crowds
Jerry H.

Poli'Hole State Beach is located on the west end of the island and it's just south of the Na'poli Coast. For the best sunset in Kauai on a clear day, Poli'Hale Beach is hands down the best beach for it. There are very few people who venture out to this remote beach. On a weekday, there were a total of 12 people at the beach spanning several miles long. You felt like you were there all alone with the crashing waves and sea breeze on a deserted island. There are fresh water showers available when you get out of the sand. There are also bathrooms at the beach and the end parking lot. Simply take the sugarcane road until it dead ends at the Poli'Hale Beach parking lot. The only draw backs for the beach is: 1. It's far from the rest of the island being on the far west end. Also, you must drive down 4 miles of an old, bumpy sugarcane plantation road to get to the beach. A rental car can make the journey slowly, but if you have a Jeep Wrangler - it becomes an exciting, fun off road adventure. We drove 20-30 mph on the bumpy road while cars had to slow down to 5-10 mph. If you are going to come here, get a Jeep. The waves are strong here and the on steep shore break could be dangerous for inexperienced swimmers. I would not recommend this swimming area for little kids. However, there is an incredible view, as you wade in the warm water, you look north and see the Na'Poli Coast. It's simply magical.

Bob A.

A gorgeous stretch of beach. Cars can drive on this stretch of beach and there is camping in the state park as well. The amenities are very limited and the road in and out is very rough to say the least. The road signs say 4-wheel vehicles only, but lots of vehicles going to and fro were not 4-wheel capable. You should also be sure to check the bottom of the area you choose to swim/surf, lots of rocks so be prepared! I'd love to spend the day/night, I just am not prepared. You can be. And that includes being prepared to haul your garbage out if need be. It's a big beach, but parking is limited; you can choose another location with similar beach access. It is beautiful!!

Marissa S.

Wow! Paradise! Forget the 20 minute drive on unpaved road to get here because all of that bumpy ride is worth it. It's a long a stretch of beach with mountain views to one side. You can easily think you have it all to yourself because there's almost no one there. It's so peaceful! The sound of waves crashing, fine sand on your feet, and the wind blowing on your face...imagine that. This is the place to be one with nature. And the sunset? Breathtakingly beautiful. I saw several tents when we got there and upon leaving, I was so jealous they get to stay overnight. Yes, they have facilities. I would love to camp out here next time!

Chanelle H.

The road is definitely no cake walk, but being from a place where every other road is a dirt road filled with potholes it was nothing impossible. Having a jeep or vehicle with 4WD is recommended but this is doable in a car if need be! The long drive is so worth it!

William P.

You'll need a good four wheel drive, lots of patience, some nerves of steel and you will experience what Kauai was, not what it's become. You can and will get stuck in the sand if you are not experienced with off road once you reach the beach.. just saying, it's worth the drive if you want solitude a bit of eeriness in being vulnerable -- it's the end of the road here- cell service works but that's not saying help arrives quickly , it's 4 miles in to the beach once there it's easy to find your private spot- stay overnight though waves can get loud. No services so bring everything you'll need. Stock up in Waimea- have gas full- bathroom at end of road- basic-

Ashley J.

This place was a hidden gem.. if you follow the directions on gps, you'll go down this road that looks a little sketchy. The road isn't paved. It's rocks the whole two miles from leaving the main road. If you don't have a truck just drive very carefully. You can drive your car on the beach if you have all week drive. My boyfriend and I didn't feel like taking Chances but plenty people drove up. The waves were too strong to swim in. Even the smaller waves were aggressive. No lifeguards on duty. So just be careful. Totally worth it!

The campground is another mile down the dirt road from here
Steve N.

A few weeks ago, I celebrated my 35th birthday by camping on a gorgeous beach, in the shade of the majestic Na Pali Coast by the Pacific Ocean, witnessing the most beautiful of sunsets and sunrises, counting uncountable stars that flooded the darkest of skies, falling asleep and waking up to the sound of roaring waves, exploring the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kauai after 3 years, all of it with the love of my life by my side. When researching for our camping trip to the Garden Island, we checked out all the possible options. Polihale State Park stood out from the lot for many reasons, the main ones being that it is beautiful, is at one tip of the majestic Na Pali Coast, is hands down the best sunset viewing spot on the island, and is at a remote location (read, not easily accessible, hence fewer people). The only caveat was the road to get to the camping area is a terror and warrants a 4WD (though we came across many sedans making their way slowly yet not steadily in and out - hats and tires off to those bravehearts!), plus it can cost you a fortune if your rental car breaks down in there or you get it stuck in the sand. But luckily we got a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited from Alamo, and covering the few bumpy miles took hardly 20-25 minutes each time! Polihale State Park Campground served as our base camp for a couple of nights on the island, and we loved every moment of our stay there. We reached just in time to catch the sun setting right over the crescent-shaped Hawaiian island of Lehua (adjacent to the island of Niihau, the north shore strip of which was also in view), and it was a sight to behold! Be it the sunrise on the next 2 days or the sunsets, each light show put on by the sun was spectacular! Since it's an undesignated campground, we pitched our tent on a dune not too far from the restrooms with an unobstructed view of the ocean. The breeze was cool and pleasant in the mornings and in the evenings. The towering cliffs behind the campground ensure that the scorching hot sun doesn't hit the tents until late in the morning, so it felt good to sleep in a bit after catching the sunrise. In the night, the millions of sparkling stars lit up the darkest of skies looming over Polihale State Park, and we got to see the arc of the Milky Way oh so clearly with our naked eyes! The relentless roaring of the Pacific Ocean drowned out the deafening silence, but felt like music to our ears and it lulled us to sleep. The restrooms are adjacent to the parking area at the end of the unpaved road, right at the starting of the campground. So, the further you head in to camp, the farther away you are from the restroom. The restrooms (both, Hers and His) were clean and had running water. The beach shower was great and it was fun to bathe under the stars! The ocean out here is pretty rough throughout the day, and there are no lifeguards, so it's better too admire the ocean from a distance. We enjoyed walking in the shadows of the mighty cliffs of the Na Pali Coast and picking up many colorful shells scattered hither and thither on the beach. Enough of my rambling! To summarize, if you're in Kauai and plan on camping or simply catching the sunset, there's no better spot than Polihale State Park. I rest my review (and my weary fingers *ouch*)

Sand in my antique bottle ;)
Kathy T.

Polihale Beach State Park encompasses a state park with a remote beach on the western side of Kaua'i. It is framed by the Na' Pali' mountains and is located a few miles away from the town of Kekaha. Called the "golden-sand" beach, it is considered a 'wild' beach because the shore is unprotected from the open ocean. Also, the beach drops off rather rapidly to deep water and strong rip currents, making snorkeling and surfing unsafe activities, so stick to sunning and viewing. The path to the beach is poorly marked on a dirt sugarcane road, making a four-wheel drive vehicle necessary, unless you want to get stuck in the sand and have to call a tow truck. It is about a 30 minute drive on the unpaved access road to the actual beach. The road was completely closed in 2008, due to heavy rains washing out the path. Most of the year, especially during the Hawaiian Summer (March--October), the sun is extremely intense and there is little to no shade. There are bathroom facilities and showers, but no lifeguard or medical help nearby. Still, well worth the trek if you are beach-hopping along the Kaua'i coast. Breathtakingly gorgeous sunsets every evening are guaranteed! *****FIVE FABULOUS STARS!!!!!***** 21/100

Paulito O.

As far west you can go to hit the beach, 4x4 is better but you can do the dirt road in a car if you take it easy.

The "Western Wall" of the Na Pali Coast backs up onto Polihale Beach

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Review Highlights - Polihale Beach State Park

One of my favorite beaches, when I'm in Kauai I spend a day or two here just to enjoy serenity and remoteness!

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