Before getting to Kauai's famed Napali coast, you'll need to get through the bumpy pothole-ridden road first. The roughly 5-mile trek to Polihale Beach State Park is, well, rough. It's a rutted old cane hauling road that kicks up clouds of red dirt with every passing vehicle braving the drive.
Getting there.
While the state of Hawaii's website recommends four-wheel-drive, you'll probably still see the occasional small sedan launching over potholes seemingly larger than the car itself. The dirt/gravel road leading in is notoriously tough on vehicles. Because of this, many car rental companies don't allow you to drive to this beach park either. It's common for cars to get stuck, especially after flooding from heavy rains when the road can turn into a mud-bog passable only with monster trucks.
At the junction in the dusty road, you can either go left or right. Left leads you to Queen's Pond, an area of the beach frequented for its large protected tide pool–which can disappear if the sand moves around. Right goes to a campground tucked at the foot of Napali's colossal cliffs.
We took a left in hopes of finding a nice spot to cruise. The January report didn't forecast any monstrous surf, so we knew Queen's Pond would still be perfectly safe for floating around.
Posting up.
Continuing along, the road doesn't get any less bumpy–often worse. But in no time, we were pulling up to a stunning view of aquamarine waters straight out of a postcard. Bigger swells during the winter churn seas that create very dangerous conditions. You'll see the occasional rescue tube near campgrounds for good samaritans, as there are no lifeguards anywhere nearby. The closest tower is in Kekaha, about a half-hour drive away (road conditions permitting).
Posting up for the day, we pitched a big beach-umbrella anchored with some small nylon rope tied to a few tent-stakes buried in the sand–don't want the umbrella to somersault down the beach. There's no shade in sight, and the sun's growing heat reminded us of why we brought so much drinking water and a cooler packed with snacks.
Polihale Beach is 15-miles of golden sand that stretches far beyond where the eye can see. It's the longest continuous stretch of beach in the state.
A few tents dot the long expanse of sand; it's becoming of this place. It's not easy to get there, but the quietness leaves us with a calming, peaceful feeling of escape.
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