Hideaways Beach Photos
|
Hideaways Beach, Kauai
Kauai has a number of secret gems and the appropriately named Hideaways Beach (see more photos) is one of them. It can be accessed only after a difficult climb down a very steep path. You'll have to hold on to the metal poles and ropes that have been put there as a security measure. The trail is not suitable for people who are afraid of heights (next to the trail the cliff drops off sharply) or for people who have mobility problems or for children. For this reason, the beach is lightly visited.
There are actually two access trails to the hidden beach - the concrete pathway that leads down the cliff (which is used by guests at the nearby Pali Ke Kua Condominium), and the public right-of-way trail, which is much more difficult. In the beginning it is steep steps with a railing and after that the trail is a dirt path, which can be slippery and dangerous when wet. It takes about 10 minutes to walk (or better said, to climb) down to the beach. Also, watch out for mosquitoes. There are plenty of them on the trail.
Hideaways Beach is crescent shaped and the large, grainy sand is a golden yellow where sea turtles can often be seen. Trees provide plenty of shade. Just 300 feet (90 m) long, the beach provides an intimate and secret feel. For those who know its beauty, the trek down to the beach is definitely worth it.
Swimming isn't the best here because of the rocky ocean bottom, but the snorkeling conditions are good when the waters are calm. When the surf is high, however, the water can be murky and rip currents and pounding shorebreaks form. Winter swells also tend to swallow up the narrow shoreline. There are no facilities at the beach.
Hideaways Beach Overview
- Secluded sandy and narrow beach on the North Shore of Kauai, near the Pali Ke Kua Condominiums in Princeville
- Not recommended for small kids and people with mobility problems
- The beach has two beaches separated by a rocky outcropping
- Great for snorkeling when the surf is calm
- Hazardous currents and shorebreak may occur at the beach
- Slippery rocks and sharp coral
- Small public parking lot is located at the trailhead that leads to the beach (in the beginning, the trail is a narrow walkway with a metal fence on both sides of it, which is located next to tennis courts)
Location: End of Ka Haku Rd., Princeville, Hawaii 96722 Directions: Located in Princeville. From Highway 56, turn onto Ka Huku Road and follow it almost to the end of it. Stop about 100 feet (30 m) before the gate house of the St. Regis Princeville Hotel (public parking lot is located at the right side of the road). The trailhead is on the right side of the parking lot. Don't park on the side of the road in this neighborhood. Your car will be towed.
|
