Queen’s Bath Falls, Hawaii

I was driving along Kauai’s northern shore, hoping to find some waterfalls. One of my guidebooks mentioned several, but most didn’t have safe places to stop. I knew about Queen’s Bath Falls, so I decided to look for that instead. It seemed like a more accessible option.

After finding the nearly full parking area (even on this moderately rainy day), I set off on the hike. The trail was enjoyable, passing a few small cascades along the creek that eventually becomes Queen’s Bath Falls. When you reach the main falls, the view is stunning. The water flows into a cove that opens to the Pacific Ocean, creating a dramatic and picturesque scene. From there, you can take in the shoreline, the ocean, and the falls all at once. When I visited, several turtles were swimming in the cove, which was incredible to watch.

As you approach the ocean, be cautious. I didn’t find it particularly dangerous, but carelessness could definitely lead to problems. Sometimes, it seems possible to swim or bathe in the pool near the falls, but during my visit, the waves were far too rough. I didn’t even consider getting in. Stay safe!

Directions:

1. Follow HI-56 north along the shoreline. Enter the town of Princeville.
2. In the town of Princeville, turn right along Ka Haku Road (if you were headed north).
3. Drive along Ka Haku Road past some different condo/resort areas.
4. Turn right onto Punahele Road. This is a road that forms a loop.
5. Continue along Punahele Road to where it turns into Kapiolani Loop.  You will see a dirt parking area to your left, enough for maybe 8 or 9 cars. You should not be parking in front of any houses/condos.
6. From there, you should see a trailhead on the right side of the parking lot. It’s a pretty easy trail to follow once you’ve found it.

Accessibility: 7/10 (easy/moderate)
Distance of Hike: 0.6 miles (1 km) round-trip
Height: ~15′ (5 m) per drop (would depend on tides)

Where in the World is Queen’s Bath Falls?