Queen's Bath, Hawaii, United States
4.5 (1.619 reviews) Spent Ranking #4 in Kauai Geologic Formations
Worth the hike!
Once a bathing spot for the royals, this stunning natural pool is now a popular summertime attraction. To get there, you'll need to take a 15-minute hike across slippery lava rocks, so wear a good pair of shoes. In summer, the pool resembles a large hot tub and the waters are calm and clear. During winter, however, the water can be treacherous, so avoid visiting during those months; the pool may even be closed. Before you go, be sure to check the surf report online, and only attempt the hike down if the waves are less than four feet high. – Tripadvisor
Address
Kapiolani Loop, Princeville, Kauai, HI 96722
Current local date and time now
Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 22:51
User Ratings
4.5 based on (1.619 reviews)
Excellent
60%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
5%
Reviews
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5pacificwhim 5:00 PM Jan 10, 2023
Queen's Bath is incredible...but be smart
I went to Queen's Bath with my family in 2022 and it was wonderful. But...you have to pick your time and be prepared. The dire warning stories you read about QB being dangerous aren't without merit. Like many things, having fun vs. tragedy is about being smart. So... Smart Timing: Only go May-September. Don't even risk it in the late fall, winter, or early spring. There's just too much potential for surprise big waves that could wash you into the open ocean. We were lucky enough to have 85 degrees and flat seas—perfect conditions. Smart Research: Know the ocean conditions. Ideally, you want calm seas and dry conditions. Dry conditions manner not only because that makes the lava rocks on the way to QB less slippery, but because the trail down is less treacherous. DO NOT underestimate the potential of the trail down from the parking lot to ruin your trip. If there's been rain, it's a muddy mess where it's easy to slip, catch a foot in a root, and twist an ankle or knee. We did the trail when it was a little sloppy, and other than me falling on my butt (ow) we did fine, out and back. Smart Gear: DO NOT do the trail or the rocks around QB in flip-flops. Buy waterproof hiking sandals like Keens. They grip better, stay on your feet, and help you stay upright. We all wore them and they were perfect. Smart Parking: Oy, the parking. So, we stayed in Princeville and were able to walk to the QB trail in about 15 minutes. However, there were plenty of cars backed up, so this is an issue. You'll pay to park at the golf course. Maybe take an Uber? There aren't great solutions here, so prepare to wait and stay aloha. Bottom line, if you're smart and respect nature, Queen's Bath is wonderful. For us, the water was warm and buoyant, the weather perfect, and the few other people there with us were great. Worth the effort.
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4Jessica Erban 5:00 PM Aug 1, 2022
Must do!
Overall: this is a must do on Kauai! 4/5 because there was no parking so we had to park at the golf course which was $20 and a little far walk but nothing too bad The queens bath itself was mediocre. We went during the summer and it was calm but water was green and very still. As we kept walking along the rocks it got better. There were other inclosed tide pools that had clearer water and less people. Warning: the tide is strong so don’t go in the water if you’re not a good swimmer. We saw a bunch of turtles and little fish with amazing mountains in the background. The hike down and up from queens bath isn’t too bad. It’s about 15min and not too strenuous. My group age range was 19-25 so we didn’t struggle at all but I can see it being hard for an older group of people but definitely still doable.
