When researching our trip to Hawaii, the number one thing I googled was “how to get to Queen’s Bath in Kauai.” I never could find the information I was looking for. So that’s why I’ve created this post for you – to help navigate your way down to these ancient tide pools with breathtaking views!

In the ancient days, Queens Bath was a place where royalty went when they wanted to relieve stress. These tide pools were formed and separated from the ocean by lava rock. We were lucky enough to experience this place for ourselves and it was the highlight of our Kauai trip.

DISCLAIMER: It is VERY dangerous to visit Queens Bath! During high tide, when the waves are above 4 ft, and the winter months, the waves could sweep you out to sea. So please be super cautious of the times you go. It’s best noted to not go if the waves are above 4 ft.

PARKING

First things first, parking. There is a small lot that holds about 10 cars adjacent to the trailhead. During summer months and high visiting seasons, you do need to get there earlier than 8am in order to snag a spot. Princeville is a small Kauai community and you’re not able to park on the streets. If you miss out on a spot in the small lot, there is another public lot that you can park at. It’s approximately a 15-minute walk away from the trailhead.

TRAIL

Please always plan your visit by the tide chart and visit during the lowest tide possible. When you get to the lot the gate may be closed. Many people turn back after seeing the closed gate, but there is an entrance all the way to the right of the gate (pictured above) that you can access the trail from. Pro-tip is to grab a walking stick once you walk through the entrance. It came in handy for me as I was hiking down to the tide pools.

The terrain is very rocky and it’s best to use hiking shoes/water shoes because your feet may get wet. The trail takes about 15-20 minutes depending on your athletic ability. Please note that right before you get to the baths you have to scale down a pretty large rock (pictured below). That walking stick comes in handy during that part!

TIDE POOLS

Once you arrive, there are a couple of tide pools to check out. When the waves are less than 4ft tall, you can scale down the rocks to swim in the calm waters but that’s not really my thing. So I just admired them from above. It was still just as magical!

So if you’re brave enough for this hike, you can bathe like royalty. I hope this makes your trip to Queens Bath a little easier. Check out the below video for the drone footage of Queens Bath.

For more of our Hawaii guides head here!

XO,

Courtney