Beautiful large beach which will have barely anyone there! Beware of the waves, there is no lifeguard and there is a current. There are some spots in the shade if you don't want full sun. 10 minute walk to the beach which can get slippery. We did it in flip flops and walked back to the car barefoot since we almost slipped on the way down. Not a flat walk but doable. Parking lot isn't super tiny, but it isn't big! We went in the afternoon on a weekday and didn't have any problem finding a spot. read more

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Small hike to get here, but it was well worth it! It is a large beach, so you won't have any issues finding a space to relax without being annoyed by other people. The water was rougher than other beaches I visited on my trip, but not too rough where you can't enjoy it. There was a beautiful view of the Lighthouse, which was cool to see since I had just visited it before coming here. All around, a very pleasant beach to hangout at. I didn't walk far enough down for the Lava Pools, but that's just something to look forward to next time I visit. read more

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Kauapea Beach, aka Secret or hidden beach, is one of the nicest stretches of sand we've found during our numerous visits to Kauai. To reach it set your G-maps to "trailhead, Kauapea Beach". There's no sign so just turn onto the gravel road when told to do so. We got there around 10 am, and were lucky enough to snag one of the dozen or so parking spots in the small lot. From there it's a bit of a steep slippery hike down to the golden sand. We were in flip flops which was not ideal, hiking shoes would have been better. If you take your time and aren't hauling too much crap it's ok. Obviously coming back up is a steep, slippery slope so again, take your time and be careful. The beach itself is broad and very long with golden sand. We walked over 30 minutes and didn't even reach the end. There are no services or lifeguards so use the beach with care. Very scenic and worth the long drive to the north shore and slippery hike. read more

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Most epic beach on Kauai!! No bathrooms or lifeguards. It's a hike going there and on the way up. The views are awesome!! It's on the north shore, so waves tend to be bigger here. Surfers were heading down as we were coming up. If you can do the hike, you will not be disappointed. read more

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This is a beautiful almost deserted beach on the North Shore of Kauai. The only reason I can't give it five stars as it is a pretty steep climb for some. The beauty of the area is astounding as you can see all the way to the lighthouse from one side. Going down to the beach is much easier than going up. There does seem to be plenty of parking, but be mindful that some homes are in the area, so be careful as to not block driveways. read more

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This beach has a steep path down to it, but even in sandals it was fine. The beach is massive with tons of pools of water that my six year old loved playing in. The waves were enormous! We enjoyed watching surfers. Definitely recommend! read more

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We love this beach! Very relaxing, great for exploring. It is quite a hike to get down to the beach, but once you arrive, it's paradise!

Secret beach. No so secret anymore but definitely pretty secluded. Just past the lighthouse but definitely can see the lighthouse on the beach. Hike down is steep. Prob best to wear better shoes but I wore slippers and took our time. Go bring snacks but please clean up. You can spend some time and enjoy the beach. read more

A little bit of a treacherous and steep hike to get down, and you're forced to wade through a small body of water that goes up to your waist to get onto the beach proper, but it is so worth it! There's volcanic rock, little tide pools, and the most beautiful ocean views you could ever imagine. 10/10 recommend finding this secret beach and spending the day there. The difficult climb back up will be worth it in the end because of how amazing the experience is! However, only attempt to go here if you are physically capable of a steep hike up and down for about 10 minutes each way. This beach not accessible to those who have limited mobility or mobility difficulties. read more

While not a complete secret, it's a good getaway from the more crowded beaches of the north shore. Parking is available along the street just before the dead end. The short hike down can be challenging and a bit moreso on the way up. There a branches to grab along the way, but it might be a good idea to wear sneakers (and take flip flops for the beach itself). It's nice to hear the ocean on your hike down but don't get distracted to avoid injury. Speaking of, the waves are huge so proceed with caution. It's a good place to bathe in the sun with a great view of the lighthouse in the distance. The waves crashing against the lava rock pools are a sight to see but again, be careful. This beach is definitely worth the hike! read more

Secret Beach & Lava Pools - Beaches Near Me

Secret Beach not so secret anymore. It's located in a secluded area with a very mild down hill hike. But whatever goes down must come up. The trail itself is a clear cut, well traveled dirt pathway towards the beach along an residential area. The beach is a long stretch of nice soft sand and while there (late afternoon) seemed to be a good spot for surfers and surfing in general. Waves broke far from the shore wee about 2-4 footer. Perfect for longboarding when far out and bodyboarding, closer to the shore. Although the beach isn't as secret as aptly named, it's a still a decent beach to hang out, catch some sun, catch some waves and check some tide pools. read more

Secret Beach & Lava Pools - Not so secretive but still fun as heck - Beaches Near Me

I went here after someone said it's their favorite place on earth. It's definitely a nice little beach area that's pretty secluded. The parking lot is found after driving down an unmarked road, and you'll find a few private compounds/mansions. There's a bit of a steep hike down that I assume can get slippery. It's not much of a secret but it's definitely quieter than other beaches. read more

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The trail to get to this "secret" beach is pretty steep. Save your flip flops for the beach itself and please, do yourself a favor and wear shoes with traction! In any case, this beach is beautiful and worth the sweat! read more

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Shhhh.. don't tell anyone but here is how you get to the Secret Beach. As you go on Kuhio Highway, turn right on Kalihiwai Rd about mile marker 24 or so. Make a right turn on the all dirt road down to the end where you see a two story home that is fenced in. Park there and head down the path. Be careful going down there as it is a bit steep. It will be helpful if you hang on to the fence on your left as you head down initially to avoid slipping down. Once you get there, you will find the Secret. If you look to your right, you will find the best view of the Lighthouse and on your left you will be able to check out the Lava Pools. Many surfers come out here to catch some of the bigger waves so don't be surprised to find them there. Lovely beach but not meant for swimming! Picturesque and stunning views in seclusion. Don't tell anyone, OK? =) read more

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From Kilauea Lighthouse, we looked down and saw the beautiful Kauapea "Secret" Beach. I knew about it from my research, but once we saw it from above, we knew we had to catch the flip side. As it had been raining all night and morning, the steep trail was very slippery, but we managed our way down in flip flops. This was my favorite beach, nestled into the cove with the lighthouse in the distance and the lava pools snaking up and down the coast. We were careful about watching the waves as we walked along the beach and over the rocks, and I must say it was really tempting to hop into one of the pools as I saw the local kids doing, but I held off for safety reasons (and regretted it). I found a hall pass defiantly left on the rocks, excusing a local student from school for the day because he was "sick" - sick of school, ready for the beach? After exploring, we plopped down and enjoyed nature's show. I waded out a bit and make no general claims other than to say the waves were fine for me. I was really happy to just, you know, play. We snapped a couples shot, grabbed driftwood sticks to ease our ascent, and went on our way. read more

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Beautiful view, just get there early or be prepared to wait for parking. The parking gets taken up about half a mile in each direction, luckily when we went people were constantly coming in and out. read more

Just got back from Kauai last week and never made it back to secret beach this year. I was there a year ago and it was quite a chore to find the road where you need to park as it's not marked. You almost need to be using GPS to find just the right place to park before going down to the beach. I found this to be a secuded place and the lava pools are great to use as the day I was here the waves were so big you didn't go close to the water with fear you'd be swept away. But, in the lava pools it was so calm and the water was as warm as bath water... really nice. This is an interesting place to explore and you'll see some skippy clad people here so don't be surprised. read more

Secret Beach & Lava Pools - Lava pool - Beaches Near Me

Best part of my 3-week, 3-island Hawaii vacation! A must! read more

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So pretty, totally worth the small hike. Recommend having snacks and drinks to spend time on the beach and at the lava pools

Beautiful beach, low traffic & perfect to take some nice pictures. Highly recommend & relatively easy hike down! read more

Secret Beach & Lava Pools - Secret beach - Beaches Near Me

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Far end of north shore kauai. Near tunnels beach. Pretty cool. Calming. Recommend read more

Warning: do not try to come here when it's raining. You can easily slip on the trail, even with Tevas. It's dangerous for young and elderly people. It was peaceful, even with the rain pounding down on the sand. We hid in an overhang from the rain. I can see how it's great for dry weather, though. The waves were too strong for swimming when I was there. If you look down at the small pools, you can find mini frogs and tadpoles. read more

Secret Beach & Lava Pools - Tadpoles - Beaches Near Me

You have to come here if you're staying on the north or east side of Kauai. It's much quieter and slower than other beaches and the lava pools are so cool. Just follow the GPS and it takes you to an area of parking and you'll see the path down. It's definitely a short hike down & back up that we weren't aware of but I was able to pull it off in sandals and I'm not a huge outdoorsy person lol. Only thing is be careful with kids as it is steep in areas. The lava rock pools are all the way to the left once you put your feet on the sand. Be careful! The sign said people have died before. But we were and we really enjoyed getting in the water, it was so peaceful and fun and not something you can do anywhere. read more

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Go in the summer months when the water is calmer. Extremely strong currents and a dangerous shorebreak in the winter months can be deadly. The high cliffs walls coupled with the blue water and view of the lighthouse make this a strikingly beautiful beach. It is well worth the 15 minute hike to gain access. There are no facilities and it is best to keep the load light for the trek back up. There are not many people on the beach so it adds to the isolated feel of the beach read more

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This beach is a must see beautiful lava rocks, blue water, and slightly warm waves. According to my cousins, this is the only nudie beach on Kaua'i. Everyone was in suits - all 10 of us in sight. Well, except one cousin. I will catch a tan here again next time. Tip: before you try to tan without lines, you might want to do some additional research - things could change. read more

What this beach lacks in shade coverage, it makes up in spades with basic swimming options. So you'll need to bring one of those big beach umbrellas (if you're a vampire, I am), and if kids are joining you, forget about leaving anytime soon. As you enter the parking area, go ahead and follow the road up to the sign at the end of drive, forbidding any further entrance. Park. You probably won't need a snorkel, but if you longboard or surf, go for it. This western edge of the beach offers two swimming options, the rollicking ocean side that's actually somewhat amateur-swimmer safe, and a mellow inlet around the corner, an awesome paddle board and inflatable spot. Probably the most memorable beach during our long stay, you'll want to plan a lot of time to do this one right. read more

I've concluded that most of the bests spots on Kauai require a little hard work and an adventurous spirit to get to. And it's so worth it! As others have notes- getting to this beach can be Little tricky. Both google maps and yelp failed us. We found a blog post with really detailed directions and found our way. Parking is a little tight and definitely make sure you don't leave any valuables in your car. We stuck out like sore thumbs in a bright blue mustang rental. But, like any place that attracts a lot of tourism, you have to be vigilant about where you park. Now, back to the beach. If you plan it right you can comfortably spend the day at this gorgeous spot. Pack good walking shoes, plenty of water, sunscreen and any other items that'll make your day at the beach total perfection. We didn't find the home down or back up to be extremely strenuous. But then again, by the time we visited this beach we had a few muddy and steep Kauai homes under our belts. The walk back up is steep but short. We visited during "winter" (Thanksgiving) and the surf was high. Luckily we got a sunny day here. The beach is enormous. And I most say- you can really feel the power of the ocean here. Seriously- listen to the locals when they advice you not to get into the water. We sat back and took in the views and watched surfers in awe. I tipped toed around the edge of the shore, but even there you can feel the current. I echo fellow yelpers in the sentiment of "respect the ocean." I'm sure summer days are better for enjoying the lava pools. Yes- there's a nude section at this beach. But like I said it's a giant beach and plenty of room For all. This place is special. We were there only ones there plus a one other person on the Far East side of the beach. It's amazing how secret this beach really felt. I highly recommend a visit here. Kauai at its finest. read more

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We were not expecting to hit up this beach because it's too dangerous to snorkel. Why would you go to a beach if you cannot snorkel? Secret Beach changed our minds and we are glad we made it! First of all, do not follow the google maps directions. Google "secret beach kauai directions" and many sites will lead you to it. The trail to the beach was fairly easy and can be done in flip flops (if you are relatively fit.) The lava pools are to your left and you should exercise caution if the seas are choppy. We are very adventurous and decided to go into the lava pools even though the tide was high. Some parts were dangerous and super scary to walk through. The beach on the far right is a nude beach so don't bring your kids here because it will freak them out. We saw the Parents of the Year walk their 5 year old kid past an old guy with his legs spread wider than the wingspan of a Jurassic Park pterodactyl. We spent most of the day basking in the sun and eliminating our tan lines. The crowds dispersed shortly before the sun set but exhibitionist Enrique stayed spread eagle until the sun set over the sea. Please bring a flashlight because the trail can be treacherous in the dark. read more

Secret Beach & Lava Pools - Sun setting... - Beaches Near Me

By far, one of my favorite beaches on Kauai! This beach is not too difficult to find. Beware if it's rained recently because the road may be muddy and the path will be slippery. This golden beach is long, with lots of amazing views. There are lava pools to the left, nice shade towards the cliff, a view of the lighthouse, and al natural bathers (aka naked) on the far right end. When you head out, remember everything you want to take you'll have to carry down the trail. My husband and I packed one backpack and took an insulated bag with lunch. We spend most of the day here several times. Depending on the time of year, the water may or may not be safe to swim in. We were there, you couldn't even wade in to cool off the waves were so big. On the flip side, this is a fun place to just sit and watch the wave. A beach umbrella is a good idea here. The only shade is all the way at the back of the beach, far from the water. Many people had tents and umbrellas up closer to the water. This is a very unique beach, a must visit in my opinion. Its towering cliff walls, lighthouse view, powerful waves and lava pools make it amazing. I only wish it was also good for swimming and snorkeling too. read more

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The hike down is worth it. The views are amazing. We did it in flip flops as we were not planning on hiking today. I would recommend trail shoes it was super muddy. Hubby ate it right at the bottom. Not little kid safe in my opinion. Think about going into the water here. It was low tide and it's wicked. People have died here. Not kid friendly unless they are just getting their feet wet. read more

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Loved this beach-not necessarily a secret because there were quite a few people on the beach. The way to the beach was about a 5 min hike down to the beach itself, going up was a nice work. We thoroughly enjoyed the waves, the sand and the true serenity of Kauai's beautiful beaches. read more

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We liked this beach so much the first day that we made the hike down the second day too. We walked to the East a long ways to our own private spot. This gives you a nice view back down the beach where you can see anyone coming. We only saw 8 people in 2 days, and only 2 made it down to where we were. At the end of the second day our tan lines were gone. The ocean is very rough and dangerous here. We did go swimming in the shallow area but we have spent many years going to Hawaii beaches. You have to have repect. We packed two backpacks with food and drinks for the day. OH ya, sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen. read more

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Favorite beach we visited in Kauai!!! The path to get to the beach is fun (longer than I thought) but if you are bringing stuff for a full day it might be rough carrying it up and down!! But definitely worth it as this area is gorgeous!!! Fun swimming and great views of the lighthouse! read more

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Beach and trail that was a difficult to find. We ended up noticing there actually is a secret beach road and just used the gps to get there. If you try to put in just Secret Beach, you won't find it. Limited parking but we were able to park on the side of the road. The trail to beach wasn't super long but it had rained recently so it was really slippery and steep! The beach itself is beautiful but the surf is really rough so not really able to swim. We ended up relaxing and watching the surfers. read more

Secret Beach & Lava Pools - Beaches Near Me

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Worth the hike down! Just beware if you are not in the best shape or have any knee or back issues it's a hard 10min home back up from the beach. But it's not too crowded and you can get your own little area and feel like you have the beach to yourself! read more

Secret Beach & Lava Pools - Beaches Near Me

Well worth the excruciating hike down (for ppl who are not regulars to hiking) and back up. The view is breathtaking. The fresh water pools are so nice and the lava rocks are really awesome. Lots of people surfing and beautiful spot to spectate read more

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The hike down can be a little slippery if it rained recently. But it's worth it. One of my favorite beaches on the island. The surf is sometimes a little rough but it's an awesome beach and it's so beautiful. It has a view of the lighthouse read more

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Absolutely amazing. Recommend hiking sandals to hike down and back up, super steep trail. Surf was rough, only swimmable for really strong swimmers but the kiddie pools created with the lava rocks were great. Set up camp back by the trees in the shade; don't even attempt a beach umbrella. read more

Steep little hike down but SO beautiful and hardly anyone there!! It's our new favorite beach. Huge waves but there's a pool off to the left that's a foot or two deep -- great spot for kids to play. Our 3 year old loved it, we spent several hours playing there. read more

Secret Beach & Lava Pools - Hike down. Steeper than it looks. - Beaches Near Me

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Secret Beach, or Kauapea Beach which is the correct Hawaiian name, is my favorite beach on Kauai. Because it is visually stunning and is clothing optional towards the lighthouse end at the sections of beach called Third and Fourth Beaches. As this is not a state park beach nude sunbathing is legal here. Nudity is illegal at state park beaches. Topfree sunbathing for ladies is likewise legal. See my reviews of Larsen's beach on Kauai, another nude beach, and Mokulei'a or Polo Beach on Oahu for legal notes. I have lived on Kauai since 2004 and this is my favorite beach. I do not go here in winter, only in summer. In winter huge waves can impact this beach, sometimes 20 or 30 feet high. There is no reef to interrupt the impact. These waves erode the sand making it difficult or impossible to walk along the beach. I met two people who personally knew two people killed here by the waves taking them out to sea. Do NOT go left to the so called pools in winter. That is where one of the drownings took place. A very beautiful place in summer when you can walk the whole length. It is that way now, early May. No restrooms or water take what you need for food and drink. But go light, it is a long way down and a long way to walk the length to the clothing optional areas. And a long way back up. If you stay for the sunset be certain you have a reliable flashlight! read more