Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on April 8, 2021
Set right underneath the first Napali Coast cliffs, Ke’e Beach is the last place you can reach by car along Kauai island’s north shore. If the stunning landscape itself justifies a visit, snorkeling lovers will also want to enjoy the waterscape. The spot is fine for beginners, especially in summer, and a wide variety of fish can be observed here. If you’re lucky, you will also spot green see turtles.
Located on Kauai island’s north shore, Ke’e Beach literally is the end of the road. Located in the Ha’ena State Park, it is also the gateway to the spectacular Napali Coast. Going further means hiking the Kalalau Trail which starts here.
To access this little beach from Lihu’e, take Kuhio Highway and head north (hwy 56 and 560). You will need about one hour to drive all the way to the north shore (40 miles/65 kilometers). At the very end of the road, you will reach a big parking lot with showers and toilets. Park here and walk to the beach, which is located less than 100m from here.
During summer and winter holidays, the parking lot fills up quickly: arrive early in the morning or you will have to park in another parking lot 300m from the shore.
You will explore the small lagoon closed by a reef visible on your left when facing the ocean. Enter the water from the beach, remaining in the area closed by the visible reef.
From the beach, swim through the small lagoon. Stay away from the area located close to the sea cliff, the reef stops here and you will be exposed to open sea hazards such as big waves and strong currents, especially during winter months.
The reef (↕1-2m) and on the reef crest (↕0.5-1m) to access the most interesting areas. Coral is rare on the seabed, but a wide diversity of fish can be seen in the whole area. Triggerfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish and surgeonfish come and go on the reef crest.
Look for schools of big scrawled filefish that usually come here. Kauai is not the best Hawaiian island to spot green sea turtles but they can sometimes be seen in Ke’e lagoon: try your luck on the furthest areas from the shore.
In the summer months, beginners will love this well-sheltered spot. The beach is popular and can be pretty crowded: be careful when sharing the water with other swimmers.
During the winter months, currents are very strong along the whole Kauai north shore. Don’t get in the water if sea conditions are bad or if lifeguards tell you so.
The beach is set in a wild area. there are no restaurants or hotels in the vicinity, but you can find a few snacks. Camping is forbidden in the Ha’ena State Park but some still settle on the lawn beyond the beach. A wide range of restaurants and accommodation can be found in the nearest town of Hanalei, about 4mi/7km from the beach.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
Anyone been snorkeling at Ke’e beach lately? We have reservations for Tuesday and wanted to know if the lagoon is safe and has visibility.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
