Polihale State Park

Venture off the beaten path and visit Polihale State Park, considered by many in-the-know to be one of the most beatuiful (and less crowded) beaches in Kauai. It’s a bit tricky to find, as you’ll need to travel several miles of dirt road (make sure to bring a map!), but its well worth the effort. The north sands of Polihale Beach are adjacent to the stunning Na’Pali coast mountain ridges—so close, in fact, that people can reportedly hear the bleats of mountain goats in the distance. Strong currents make the waters unsafe most months of the year (summer is calmest), save for a tranquil pool in the area known as “Queen’s Bath.” Also, there’s no lifeguard on duty, so best to stay on shore and frolic among the beach’s sand dunes which can sometimes reach 100-feet high.