Princeville sits on rocky bluffs overlooking the ocean on the north shore of Kauai.   There are long beaches at either end – Anini Beach is a fine beach for families on the east side and the wide crescent of Hanalei Beach is on the west side.   For most beach-goers these are the best choices, but there are more options for anyone willing to hike down the bluffs to pocket beaches and rock pools.

The larger beach is accessed through a private condo property (where we were staying).   The steep paved trail goes to the beach where there was an offshore rocky reef, suitable for snorkeling or swimming only in calm conditions.

 

The trail down to the smaller of the two beaches is steep and slippery.

Surfers launched from this beach to enjoy the Hideaways Breaks.

In the winter seasons, the prevailing winds bring lots of big waves to the north shore of Kauai.  There are rocky shelves and reefs along the north end of Princeville and a trail down to the Queens Bath.

A small waterfall is at the bottom of the downhill trail to the rocky shelves above Queens Bath.

There are several large pools that fill with each wave surge and then then lower as the seawaters drain back.   In calm conditions (summer) it is possible to swim in these pools, but it would not be safe on any day with active surf.

We have been to Queens Bath three times but each time has been unsafe, and there have been a few drownings at this spot.

This is, however, a wonderful spot to enjoy watching the incoming waves strike the headlands.   A number of active surge channels and overflowing pools make this a worthwhile spot to hike.

We were hoping to hike over the rocks from Queens Bath to Hideaways, but the rocks were wet and difficult from active seas and some earlier rain showers.

The trail to Sealodge Beach starts at the edge of Sealodge Resort at the end of the road and descends steeply to a rock shelf trail.   There is also a trail down to the end of Anini Beach.   That end is called Wyllie’s Beach, but it can be accessed friom the Anini Road too.

Sealodge Beach is the best beach of the Princeville Cliffs area.   The sandy crescent has a good reef for surfing and and the shoreline is protected by the west end of the Anini Reef.

The shallows of the Anini Reef stretch to the east, a good spot for snorkeling in calm conditions.

At the west end of Princeville is a steep paved path down to Puu Poa Beach.   It starts in behind the St. Regis Hotel.

This sandy protected beach is mostly used by those staying at the two large resorts overlooking the beach.   We hiked down then continued to mouth of the Hanalei River.

We could have waded across to Black Pot Beach, but we had been there a couple of days earlier so we  just hiked over and back,  a total of 2  km.

 

 

Each of the 4 beaches is a short hike, but if we take into account getting to the trailhead, hiking down, walking the beach, exploring, and hiking back up, there is a day of hiking on the Princeville Seacliff Trails.