Salt Pond Beach Park Reviews

This is a wonderful area for families. There are grass areas with shelters for shade, a nice beach, and most importantly an area that everyone can actually swim in. We found that most of the beaches have strong waves or rip tides. This beach does as well, but it also has a sheltered area that even little kids or people who are not strong swimmers can go in.

There is a kids area blocked off with rocks, but bigger waves still come over wall and can push the little kiddos around. The older ones can ride their boogie boards which is nice. There is also strong currents that pull so be careful. I stayed in the water with my kids and noticed it pulled to your left so eventually if you didn't watch where you were being pulled you could end up in the area with no rock barrier. I wouldn't let mine go near the wall of rocks. The day we were there the waves were big so it wasn't safe to be near the wall.

Last year this became our favorite beach, lot better chance of sun in the winter months, protected area for snorkeling with lots of fish. Remember to take rings off before snorkeling as high chance of them falling off during snorkeling, we saw 1 guy spend an hour looking for his.

Unfortunately we discovered this beach on our way back to airport. It has a little lagoon that looks safe for swimming and maybe snorkeling. There is shade, parking, pavilions, grills, restrooms and shower. (Although some of the facilities were closed.) Also a few homeless and a lot of tent campers. We will visit here when we return to the island.

We spent a lot of time on many different beaches during our 16 days on Kauai, Salt Pond Beach Park was the only beach we returned to several times. It has something for everyone. Safe areas to swim with gentle waves. Rocky areas great for snorkeling and soft sandy beaches perfect for laying out. It is a lifeguarded beach and also has many picnic tables and pavilions. Like all of Kauai's beach parks, the public restrooms are awful, just close your eyes and nose and go. But if you are looking for a great beach with fun for all, this is it!

Great beach park. But the rip tides and currents and strength can’t be ignored. Follow the lifeguard warnings and flags. Don’t be stupid. A huge 600 lb 7 ft monk seal came into the protected area and if she can enter so can the 17 ft tiger shark in the other side of the rock face. You have to be careful! The facilities are good. The county takes good care. Pick up your plastic please!

This is a very large South facing beach with plenty of areas with lawn and sand, a covered area with picnic tables and barbecues. There is also a protected area perfect for children. Another area had people swimming, boogie boarding and snorkeling. People had set up tents on the eastern side of the vast lawn area. Someone had put up a hammock between two Palm trees. Plenty of room to park and this was on Sunday afternoon. The only disappointment was the bathrooms, at least they have them, but they are dark, graffitied and smell.

Great beach, sandy entry to the ocean with sheltered swimming. Lots of fish to see close to shore, lifeguard on duty, showers, restrooms and plenty of car parking. Perfect.

Plenty of sand and an unobstructed view to the west and southwest. Nice view of the hills to the south as well.

A nice quaint beach with a lot of parking and nice sandy shoreline. You can walk the entire shore and even get a great view of the skydiving and planes landing at the very close runway. There are lifeguards and chickens! A few transients made it a little off, but they mind their own business.

This beach is well protected by a reef making it a very safe swimming beach for families. There are lots of palm trees and plenty of sand so you can get sun or sand or move around. Also well equipped with facilities. It is located next to the airport runway so you will see / hear the small planes at times but it's infrequent and not at all intrusive - it was kind of interesting actually.

We spent an afternoon at the beach here. A couple gals in our group waded in to watch a sea turtle. Most everyone else just sun-tanned for a few hours. The beach was clean and folks seemed to respect other people. Over all - very relaxing.

loved this beautiful beach..very clean with bathrooms and beautiful water. the waves can be a little strong coming over the rocks so be aware. There is a taco truck that parks there,the fish taco was good, the steak..not so much.

We were most lucky today to visit the park and see 4 Monk seals on the beach sunning themselves. The park is nice and not crowded. The beach is a little tough for walking but pretty to look at. There are ample facilities for picnics and sunbathing with several rest rooms. The water is very clear. A nice place to visit and spend a few hours and if you are lucky, see a Monk seal.

Nice out of the way beach with nice waves and nice views of the ocean. Parking can be a problem but worth the visit

A fun place to swim, beautiful sunsets. There is a lifeguard during the day. Lots of locals, parties, busy. Loud at night if you're camping.

The beach is in a cove so its nice for snorkeling. Has some waves but not a lot. Not good for body boarding and surfing but great for a nice swim and jumping small waves. Good sand. We snorkeled and saw tons of fish including a puffer and needle nose. Not great grass but again good water and sand.

We visited Kauai in November during high surf conditions. This beach was more sheltered from the waves and also has a lifeguard station. We enjoyed snorkelling here and saw a large variety of reef fish. There is a washroom and shower building but no other amenities nearby. Stop at Hanapepe to get food, water and snacks. Have fun and be safe. Always ask the lifeguards about the conditions before going in the water.

This beach was great for our family of 4 with two teens. The beach is gorgeous and is pretty protected from strong surf. There is plenty of parking and there was even a taco food truck there the day we were there. We came here after coming down from Waimea Canyone. It was a perfect place to rest. There is a little bit of shade and there are covered picnic areas. The bathrooms were very dirty.

This was our favorite beach you take the little ones. Perfect protected area for the little ones to experience the waters. Uncrowded so there was plenty of area to set up beach chairs and be comfy.

This is a nice beach area for families with lots of facilities available.

Not ideal if you're looking for a relaxing day at the beach though.

We stopped here with little kids. The park is nice. It has lots of grassy area and lots of covered picnic tables. They all were in use by day camper beach goers when we were there. Also the waves were quite strong coming in and out so it didn’t seem like a good beach at the time for little kids. Boogie board would have been good though. I tried to snorkel and it was too murky at the time so I didn’t snorkel long enough to see anything.

Friday night had loads of people, day camping and lots of folks with Hawaiian flags an DJ equipment set up with music. So it seems things really go down on

We went here to go look to spear something but instead ended up just playing in the water. Later on we watched a guy grab a speargun and go much further out than we were going to go Spearfishing.

It has a taco stand in the parking lot which is very nice. Everything about the beach was very pleasant.

I would definitely say that the water changed from the morning to the afternoon for a good visibility to poor visibility.

This is an easy beach to swim and there's lots a life although small. A good beginners beach.

Aloha!

After coming here the first time we kept coming back. It just has a great feeling of serenity and authenticity. There is a smothering of tourists and locals here but the total numbers are small so you can really enjoy the place without feeling crowded out.

Beautiful cove wth life guard and bathrooms - perfect water and palm trees for shade. Grass area and showers

If you have small kids this beach is great. They have cover picnic tables and bathrooms. Food truck is parked for food and drinks. It's a bay beach so not a lot of waves.

My husband and I have been here twice. We've seen a wide variety of fish each time. Some areas are not recommended for snorkeling and have potentially dangerous currents. Check with the lifeguards before you go snorkeling. They'll guide you to the best and safest place to see the fish. When we were here today, we saw a resident monk seal. Fun to see, but please don't go close to this lovely creature - monk seals are protected by law. There are public restrooms, covered picnic tables, and freshwater showers. It is not the prettiest beach on Kauai, but it seems to have dependable snorkeling.

Loved this beach. Not crowded light wave action and great for swimming. Can snorkel as well one area has rocks and fish and eel the rest of the beach area is sand bottom. Rest room facilities are at the beach as well and it is lifeguarded. Overall a great family beach.

This beach is more secluded than others. It’s smaller and much quieter than most. Great for families with younger children because there’s an area that is calm for the kiddos to play in. Good place to soak up some sun and enjoy the day!

There were good and bad things at this beach. The good consisted of a wonderful Mexican food truck, a good place to snorkel, and the beach was fairly clean. The bad consisted of the bathrooms, trash, and a lot of vagrant people.

We ended our long day exploring Waimea Canyon with a relaxing swim and sunset watch on this beach park. We were informed about Salt Pond by our server at our breakfast stop that morning, and with other tourists and locals (not too many) were able to fittingly transition from an epic day of hiking to a relaxing evening.

Spent several days in the Poipu Beach area, which was great - but for a PERFECT beach experience, make the drive to Salt Pond Park Beach. Great swimming, snorkeling, picnic tables, showers, lots of parking, etc. Highly recommend.

Pretty beach that's very safe for swimming and snorkeling. Has restrooms/changing facilities, etc. worth a drive to the west shore.

Large beach area that can get busy. Lots of locals go here as well. Water is fairly safe as protected by a reef.

VERY calm water especially for families with children, barely any current or rip tides. The beach has restrooms, and showers, there are also grills...plenty of grass area for kids to play sports and a few trees on the sand to provide shade.

For a day at the beach, this is a good place to go and take the family. Sit on the sand, stay on the grass, use the facilities. Camp if you have a permit.

Nice swimming beach. The park has sheltered picnic tables, bathrooms and showers to wash sand off. The view is beautiful.

This is a favorite beach in this area, always plenty of cars and people. There is plenty of room and it also has the clean restrooms and a few shower stations. It also has some seating areas to protect from the sun or rain if you choose. Swimming is good and plenty of sand if you want to bask on a sunny beach. Beyond the sand there is plenty of room before you get to the cars to have a picnic. Not too farand within sight is the Salt Ponds where they change the salt water to table salt.. Check out sunsets.

My wife & I spent the day working our way around the south side of the island visiting sites & beaches. This was our favorite beach. There was a lot of room on the beach. I liked that there was a lifeguard tower on the beach. There were a lot of locals at this beach. While we were there a group of about 100 (?) children ranging from about 5 to 16 that came to the beach. All ages seemed to have a great time. I liked that families had the option to have their children swim in the area that was enclosed by rocks. We enjoyed swimming in the ocean and lying on the beach.

Big stretch of beach.
Also restrooms, showers, picnic areas and grill option.
Pretty clean and quiet.
Lots of parking available.

Some of the best snorkeling on the island. the cove over by the airstrip is the better of the two. Fish are really big. Not just the little critters. Beautiful swimming for laps if you want.

There is a shallow protected area that is perfect for little kids. I sa several babies playing in the water. There are picnic tables and restrooms.

Every time I come to Kauai this beach is always on my list of places to go. It is much quieter than Poipu and also has a lifeguard station. This beach is more suited to swimming than snorkelling.

One of the best spots on the island to snorkel. We saw a sea turtle, the most amazing cuttlefish, eels, a sea slug and an array of fish and sea life too many to list. It’s a walk to be beach so be prepared. The sign says .3 mile but felt a bit longer. And what does down must go up. Meaning the walk back is the worst part. But worth it!!! There is a bathroom but bring toilet paper. Gorgeous spot!!

Salt Pond Park is about 20 minutes away from the Poipu resort area. Head west down Hwy 50 and take a left a Lele road and then follow the signs in. There are washroom facilities on site and a large beach area that seems to be moderately popular with locals and tourists alike. There is decent snorkeling in 2 locations close to the rock outcroppings that partially guard the shoreline to the left and right and good swimming in the open area in the middle. We also saw monk seals on the beach both times that we went here. They do not do much other than sleep, but it is always interesting to see them laying on the beach. The weather seems to be a bit nicer here and I read somewhere that Salt Pond is one of the least rainy spots on the entire island.

If you are looking to spend a few hours at a decent beach with facilities - this is not a bad option.

Snorkelling was just ok but our first monk seal sighting made our trip. They were resting at first which was awesome enough, but then they began swimming & playing.

Easy to swim and relax here. A reed protects the swimming area so no large waves to play in or boogie board on here. Large sandy beach with bathrooms, close parking, shower, bbq area.

This is our favorite beach so far in Kauai. The waves are super mellow with lots of good snorkeling spots. Rafael's taco truck was parked down there and we had some amazing tacos al pastor for lunch. It was an easy mile walk down from the nearest bus stop, past a neat old cemetery. There's plenty of parking though if you do have a car. The beach was relatively empty when we showed up around 9 am, and though it filled up into the afternoon I still wouldn't say it was crowded. We would absolutely come back to this beach anytime.

We have visited this beach twice on our visits to the island and have found that it usually has calm surf for beginner snorkelers. Not the quantity of fish that some of the other snorkeling beaches have. But easy water to enter and exit.

The times we have visited there have been mostly locals at the park. So it is a nice quiet park to enjoy the water or just relax and nap.

This is a great beach for family. There is a protected area to splash around in for little ones on one side and nice open water area on the other. It has bath rooms, life guards and a food vendor with tacos. In all a great place to spend some time in the sun.

very average beach.... may be great for family since within confines of lagoon , minimal waves but area not the best. A quick drive from Paco Taco nearby.

Was the last beach I visited in Kauai; wish it was the first! Incredible sand and water. Calm surroundings, my favorite place in Kauai.

Loved the tranquility of this area, not too busy and easily accessible with plenty of parking and space! Especially kid friendly with a large area to stand up for littles.

Escape the rain for this sunny southeastern beach. There is a large parking lot here and facilities with bathrooms, showers and picnic tables. Lots of people were camping by the beach. There is little sun cover here, so bring your own. The sand is soft and golden. The beach is beautiful and there weren't many waves. The bottom of the bay is soft sand, not many rocks. The water is cool here. We got here in the morning and the beach got busy by 11am. The gusty winds and the lack of sun cover was too much for us after a few hours so we went beach hopping.

The park and beach are beautiful and the grounds and facilities are adequate, however the wild roosters will keep you up all night crowing. Literally neither my husband or myself got more than 2 hours of sleep. Also seems to be a popular spot for the locals to party late, nothing at all wrong with that but if you're wanting a good night of sleep it's not peaceful or quiet. Would definitely bring earplugs next time or more likely just skip this camping spot all together. Worth a day stop but would not camp here again.

This beach park is off the beaten path so don’t miss it if you’re goin to or coming back from Waimea canyon. It’s one of the best places for watching sunsets. There are pavilions with picnic tables available and public restrooms as well. The water is calm and protected by a natural lava rock barrier. There is snorkeling on the right side close to the rocks and there is also a stretch of beach farther to the right that has a shallow lagoon for swimming which appears to be cut off from the open ocean. This is a good place for kids to swim. There are also lots of palm trees for hanging up hammocks. The star gazing here is quite amazing too as this location is very secluded and far from any city lights. Highly recommend stopping here in the evening!

Salt Pond Beach Park is located on the southern tip of Kauai near the town of Eleele. It is also located right next to the small Port Allen airport and is about 20 miles southwest of the main international airport at Lihue. This park has a protected swimming beach and a larger beach that is partially protected from the ocean. This park has lifeguards and has pretty clean bathrooms. It was not very crowded on a weekday so there were a lot of empty parking spaces to choose from.

I visited this park with my wife on a Thursday afternoon in late January and really enjoyed the nice quiet beach. We sat by the protected part of the beach and the water was very calm. Kauai has some wild beaches with strong currents with big waves so this beach is great if you are bringing children (or anyone that just wants to jump in the water and cool off). There was a Mexican food truck in the parking lot that was really convenient around lunch time (and the guy running it was nice and friendly). I bought a burrito and coke and brought it back to my beach towel. There were a few palm trees that provided a little shade for us.

Overall I enjoyed relaxing at Salt Pond Beach Park and recommend it (especially if you are swimming with kids or are staying on the southern end of the island). Go on a weekday if you want a relaxing day at the beach (as I heard it can get crowded on the weekends).

Lovely beach. Some picnic tables. Lifeguard. Grass area. Great place for sunsets. Big parking lot.
Frequented by locals and some long term tent campers. Some trash.

We Stopped at several beaches, this was a beautiful beach with good water but we did not see Salt Ponds when we were there.

Salt Pond Beach is located in Hanapepe, it is a wide crescent-shaped beach that is good for both snorkeling and swimming and is lifeguarded. Facilities at the park include restrooms, showers, pavilions and ample parking. It is a very popular beach with both tourists and local families. When we were there a food truck selling Mexican food was in the parking lot.

This place a perfect to see the sunset also you can enejoy the beach with the family. This is place you have to visit if vacationing on Kauai.

Great beach for a picnic, Sunset is awesome, good for kids and adults, weekends are fun since local families usually have parties.

Nice hidden beach off the main road with plenty of easy access parking. Plenty of tide pools to explore and snorkel

This is another phenomenal beach park on Kauai. We came here several times during our stay. We stopped by on the way back after visiting the Canyon on the west side of the Island. It will not disappoint.

Very low-key beach, with lifeguard - though the cove is protected by a reef so it's already very safe! There are (rudimentary) change rooms, barbecues (BYO briquettes), picnic tables and a couple of shelters. There's usually a taco truck there for lunch, too! Great spot to bring a book and a towel and while away the hours. Snorkeling is poor, but the swimming is good.

The beach is nice and clean - rain is a rare appearance. The lagoon is good protected by a stone wall. But you will not find very much shadow, so take care of sun protection. Snorkeling is okay, some fish will be seen.

I cannot help but say that as nice as this beach was, the locals should be ashamed of the amount of trash everywhere.

Well protected beach for swimming and snorkeling. Good assortment of fish but you have to approach the far rocks of the reef. Fish seem to be more skittish than other Kauai sites. Bathrooms typical for public beaches, minimal and could use some cleaning. Beautiful views

Beautiful beach good for swimming because of the calm water. Just a little crowded and some trash but besides that, would recommend it for the family

gorgeous nice sand with gentle waves
there is a life guard reminding people to not stand on the rocks to get pushed off
great warm water
picnic area and restrooms
what you want in a Hawaii beach

obviously no other services so you bring own towels, chairs, coolers, drinks etc

I loved this beach! It was mostly locals, and the swimming was quite good. The snorkeling to the left of the sand bar was a little murky, but I love that the park and beach was relatively uncrowded and unpretentious. There were lots of families having parties and cookouts. Great place to go with calm waters.

We spent several days here during our stay in Kauai. The view is lovely. The water tends to be fairly calm and good for swimming. By the rocks, on the right side of the big area was some decent snorkeling. The bathrooms are old but clean and there are outside showers and tables. The view - wild! And we saw a ray on the top of the waves/

We visited this beach twice during our recent visit to Kauai. It's one of the best beaches on Kauai. Nice sand, small waves, an area for small children to play between a flat rock ledge and the beach, and a good place to view sunsets. It has restroom facilities and there was a food truck there in one visit.

Many families enjoying the beach and picnicking. Life guard on duty. Facilities under repair. Many homeless hanging out here.

I love going to the small pond at the end of the parking lot. There are a bunch of fish on the reef there. Its fun to play on that side when the waves break over the rocks, kind of like a salt water jacuzzi. There is a lifeguard on the larger beach. Clean bathrooms and plentiful picnic areas/shelters/BBQ grills.

The speech was relatively easy to get to and had uncovered parking. Far-right or west side of the beach had a lifeguard. There was some Shelter From the surf at the edges and a rather generous crossword. Coral was not abundant but there were interesting reef fish period not crowded. Well we were there a Hawaiian monk seal swim past us to get onto the beach for afternoon sun or a nap.

Salt pond beach, one of my favorites on this last trip. The best sunsets - clean beach, public bathroom/shower, Tent camping on the grounds. It's an active beach for locals, great for swimming and sunning.

We stayed in Kapa'a so this was the longest drive to the beach we did but I'm glad we did. The beach had at most 10 families on it and it's pretty long. We were on one edge of the rock wall which had a lot of fun fish to look at but watch out as it is pretty shallow. There were covered picnic areas as well as a pretty clean bathroom which was a definite plus. The only downside was that it was quite windy so our umbrellas really didn't work.

Beautiful beach with lots of covered areas for picnics. A local's beach. Rocks have shells and interesting sea life.

This is really nice place for family with kids. No waves with calm water. Good for just swimming or snorkeling. Pretty big parking. Sunny place even in winter.

Easy gentle beach, perfect for learning snorkeling. Too protected for bodyboarding. Saw monk seal and many kinds of fish. Freshwater shower for cleanup. Lovely!

salt pond beach was our goto beach many afternoons. it was safe for swimming and the rock barrier protecting the beach was fun to snorkel and see the variety of critters. we saw flounder, puffer fish, a variety of angel fish, barracuda, and other interesting fish.

All around best family beach this side of island. Lifeguards and protected swimming even a sheltered swimming hole for small children. Not much surf but big open protected easy entry swimming area.
Rest rooms and covered picnic tables are fine but need more cleaning and less user trash.
Camping allowed here. Gets crowded on weekends.

Unfortunately we couldn’t spend much time here due to heavy rains. But it looks like a great beach for picnics and camping. There are restrooms and well maintained park. Plenty of parking without any fee.

This was the highlight of our trip to Kauai. Yes, we saw Waimea Canyon and Hanalei, but the tidal pools at Salt Pond Beach were the best. We saw baby eels, a crab that looked exactly like a rock (until it moved), small manini fish, and a small silver fish with iridescent, glowing eyes. I wish we had spent more time here and put on our swim suits and goggles to explore.

I wish they charge a little more and kept it clean. Washrooms kept clean but need makeover- tooo old and primitive, no soap or sanitizer, no mirror. No closed shower, only standing cold water shower by the beach. That is, if you stay few days you probably want to wash your privates properly.
2 SHELTERS have outlets to cook or to charge.

This beach has good shelter from rough waters so it is a decent option when there are rough waters, especially if you have kids. It's pretty... dumpy, crowded with locals who are 'camping'. The beach and showers are pretty dirty and littered, mostly due to people making this their home. Take the 10 minute drive down the road to Kekaha beach.

Good ‘locals’ beach. Not a ton of tourists especially on the weekends. Regular sighting of monk seals. Good snorkeling especially to the left as you look out. Nice to have facilities there.

We stopped at the beach for a little relaxing and snorkling. Well the snorkling was not so hot. It was smooth water, but, just a few fish. Beach would be ideal for kids. There was a big ole fat seal sunning itself all day on the sand. First it laid on it's belly then after a couple hours turned over on its back, belly up!

Spent a beautiful sunset at Salt Pond. I loved watching the waves crash into the tidepools right off the beach. Great areas to swim, beautiful palm trees. I felt pretty safe alone.

A beautiful calm beach that's a bit out of the way down on the south shore. We were on our way back from Waimea canyon when decided to stop off and check this place out. It's in a bit of an odd place, you go past the town recycling center, past a small cemetery and all the way to the end of the road.

The park itself is pretty big with a good amount of parking. There's also bathrooms but like so many of these in the parks, it's a bit rustic.

It was a Saturday afternoon and there were several groups of locals who had camped out for day to enjoy the nice weather. It also appears that the park is popular with people camping in small pup tents but they didn't seem to have an impact on the feel of the beach.

Even midday on a Saturday it wasn’t too crowded and it’s a great gentle sloping beach. There are several spots that are very sheltered and good for little kids. We even saw a monk seal lounging on the beach after a long night of fishing.

Nice spot to swim or hang out.

Nice beach on the south side of Kauai. Less crowded than poipu. Calm. A bit deeper than poipu beach so little ones can't go out as far. Great beach.

Stopped here after exploring the Canyon - so beautiful, wish we had more time here. Nice sandy beach with a “protected area” for kids to swim. Had a lifeguard and bathrooms, with plenty of parking.

The park is small but very scenic like everything else on Kauai. It's a protected bay so the waves are small and it's shallow a ways out so it's safe for swimming. Bring some type of floaty and enjoy yourself.

We were staying on the North Shore in Princeville but could not snorkel in that area due to high surf conditions. Since the surf on the south shore was much more favorable we headed to salt pond since it was recommended. The beach is great for sunning and swimming but not a very good snorkel area. It had a few fish in the area protected by volcanic reef but not much coral. Mostly just sand and rock. We did get a visit from a seal who wanted to relax on the beach. They do have great facilities, bathrooms, pavillions, showers and try the fish tacos from the food truck parked here.

We were visiting Kauai and wanted to find some quieter beaches on the south shore to visit (Poipu beach was insanity when we tried there). This beach was recommended to us by several business workers in the area and it is a great beach. Nice mix of areas with shade and sun, the beach has a lifeguard tower (who were very good at telling kids to snorkel in safer areas of the beach where the current was less strong) and is not crowded at all. The sand and water are gorgeous - so if you're in this area or want to make the drive, we recommend trying this beach!

I wouldn't waste my time at this park. Yes is has public restrooms, and camping is allowed, but it looked more like some folks are living there rather than just camping. There are a ton of wild chickens, so be prepared to listen to them if you do decide to camp. The area they they have sectioned off for kids to swim in isn't much of a salt pond, but more a giant mud puddle that was missing most of its water. There are far better beaches on this island, so don't settle for this one.

Some sacred Hawaiian sites are by the road as you make your way. The park is off the beaten path and used by local homeless (lots of tent homes) as well as families. It didn’t feel dangerous but best during the day.

Just really pretty, good amenities, nice local vibe - we had a family reunion going on in the background with so much aloha. Beautiful

This is a nice, scenic beach. Life guard, bathrooms, plenty of parking. Seemed like a good mix of tourists and locals. Sandy beach is good for kids. We enjoyed an afternoon of laying in the sun here. Didn't have our snorkel gear yet but did hear of people seeing a lot of fish.

This large, popular beach is a good bet for those staying in the nearby resorts. Lots of sand and snorkelling make day trips a pleasure. The beach is very popular for sunset viewing as well. Take your beach chairs and make a day of it. Covered picnic tables and washrooms are on site.

This park was fun and easy. We camped and started off in the wrong spot. May seem intimidating with some of the full time campers but everyone was fine and did not party into the night. The lady that keeps the park clean does a great job and is super friendly! Area was nicely situated to grocery shop and head up to Waimea Canyon.

A great, safe splash around with showers and BBQ facilities. Really enjoyed donning my swimmers and having simple fun there.

Beautiful, quiet beach! Loved it! Waves were gentle but it is a great spot for swimming. Good amenities, parking, and not crowded.

We really enjoyed this beach. First of all, on a tuesday it was not busy at all.
It is dry and hotter than any of the other beaches, lovely protected lagoon like water, with good snorkelling.

Nice beach. Not too many waves, good for snorkeling. Several pavilions and picnic tables. Some grassy areas. Plan to go back to watch the sunset!

We're glad we found this beach during our Kauai trip. It is not crowded, the sand is nice, and the beach catered to the different tastes in activity for our group.

The beach is calm (went during Dec) for novice snorkelers and offered diverse marine life near the rocks for the more experienced snorkelers. The kids had fun boogie boarding on the side which had larger waves and the more leisurely people in the party just hung out at the picnic tables.

We saw a sea turtle swim up to the beach, just resting and sunning itself. It was a very relaxed atmosphere, probably because it was not crowded!!

My husband and I went to Salt Pond Beach about three times on our Hawaii vacation. We were there in March and the trade winds were strong so most beaches were too extreme for us (beginner snorkelers) but Salt Pond had a protective reef that kept the waters calm enough for us to snorkel. There is also an abandoned yellow dog who lives there who is very friendly but sad.

The sunset at this beach is clear, all the way to the horizon, so it is one of the most epic places to set up a picnic dinner with beach chairs. Locals gather to tailgate. It's on the dry side of the island, so the sunsets are wonderfully predictable, too, even if it's raining elsewhere.

This is the perfect Beach for families or someone just interested in fantastic swim in the Pacific Ocean. The beaches naturally sheltered by a lava breakwall. There's tons of clean sand. Lifeguards on duty. Perfect showers and bathroom facilities.

A mixture of locals and tourists with camping as well: lifeguard, decent restrooms, and often calm waters with snorkeling. There is also a kids area that is very safe. It does get crowded on weekends. Beautiful sunny spot!

We've been coming to SPB for decades. Always an awesome experience. Mellow surf, great protection for snorkeling, and facilities.

I visited a LOT of beaches on this trip. This was my favorite because it was the least crowded, no hawkers selling crap and just a very laid back vibe. Exactly what I look for in a beach. Plenty of famous beaches if that is your thing. Come here to kick back and enjoy the sand and sea.

This site was very clean and taken care of we spent two nights here and were very happy with it's location. Sunsets were beautiful!!

Such a beautiful to beach and it was the only place on the island with sun on a very rainy day! Advice I got was to drive west which is what I did. Loved this beach!!
There were a lot of kids at the beach too, very family friendly.

There are nice protected swimming areas here, which attracts many families. There are restrooms and shady areas.

Very Hot on this side of the island. The waters very nice and warm pretty big waves the day we were there. Overs some palm trees for shade. Toilets and showers available, life guard on duty. Just didn't enjoy the smell from the salt ponds, the breeze was blowing it in that direction. It was nice and clean not very crowded. Just very hot and dry compared to the north side of the island.

Beautiful sandy beach, snorkelling is average but the water is great for swimming for adults and children. Nice park with bbq, washrooms and picnic tables. This beach also has a lifeguard. Monk seal and turtles decided to share the beach with us today and sun bathe.

Beautiful Salt Pond beach park. Barrier reef protect the big wave so it was safe for kids to swim and snorkeling with life guard on duty. There are restroom and shower. Soooo...nice.

Loved this beach because 1-easy acess 2-ample parking 3- low waves and in some parts none 4- area where the water was shallow and protected by a reef 4-washrooms,showers and food trucks ,what more could you ask for ? Oh yeah and an area to snorkel and see various fish close to beach

Forget Poipu beaches which can be both crowded and rough swimming (yes, even Sheraton Beach can be a rough and exit).

Salt Pond Park is wonderfully sandy, has a lifeguard, the usual restrooms and shower, and is great for swimming in a relatively sheltered area. Because it's just past Hanapepe, there are fewer tourists, and even on weekends, it wasn't mobbed with locals.

At the far end of the beach is small reef for snorkeling, but mostly, this is a great swimming beach.

This beach has two areas that are protected by breakwaters. The larger area has some mild wave action and we who fear ocean water were able to wade out and enjoy ourselves. The second area is even more protected, quiet and shallow; perfect for little kids. I particularly liked the rock formation that protected the small lagoon. It had many small lifeforms, including sea urchins in the many holes in the lava rock.

My husband and I spent a couple of hours here to avoid the rain in Kapaa. The weather was perfect. The beach was great. The only negative was the lack of shade. There were some tourists but it was really s local beach.

The rocks catch the salt water at high tide. Then at low tide they dry up . The rocks protect the beach from the ocean waves to give calm waters at lower tides.

Beautiful beach with bathrooms, rinse station, lifeguards, and we saw some seals playing in the ocean and come up onto the beach as well. Not very busy which was nice as well

We stopped several times to check out the local beaches, most were super clean. Nice views, of the Salt Pond Beach, too. One of the nicest places we stopped at! There is a picnic area which is very good. Overall a great place to visit. Friendly and welcoming!

Salt Pond Beach is on the western shore and, I've read, that it stays rather dry over here. It is protected by the reefs, so the break is rather mild. Thus, it is good for kids. There is a lifeguard on duty and you will find a restroom, showers and picnic tables. Bring water and food and make a day of it!

Good for snorkeling, too.

Free parking is just off the beach.

This is a fairly quiet beach as it is away from the "action." If you want to chill, this is the beach for you. If you are looking to be near hotels, restaurants, bars, etc., you might want to try other beaches.

Didn't swim, just stopped by to eat my lunch and there were plenty of shaded spots to eat. Nice park grounds and facilities. Was there on a Saturday so it was crowded, but didn't have trouble finding a spot.

Nice beach a couple miles(?) or so from the main highway. Great for swimming. Cooking stations, restrooms and a very nice & safe beach that is kind of a lagoon with a breakwater, good for kids or beginner snorkle types. Many Kauai locals go here to avoid us tourists. A hidden gem of a beach.

spent a lovely 2 hours here - walking, swimming, reading - very family style place....protected. beautiful sand, very clean park.....bring your own chairs and water shoes nice but not necessary - snorkeling on the left end down by salt ponds

Perfect day at the beach! We set our CV airs up on the edge of the sand beach and spent several hours swimming and watching the waves crash over the rocks. A monk seal beached itself and then swam back and forth for hours (it was amazing!). Would highly recommend this for a family.

This park is a favorite camping place of the locals. The beach isn't real deep, but the swimming is safe and protected (not a lot of surf in November). Located on the southwest corner of the island, it affords a fabulous view of sunsets. There is a bath house with restrooms.

Well worth the drive over this way. If you go on a Friday, you can drive into Hanapepe for the Friday Night Art Walk for great art, street food vendors, and live music.

Good beach lots of seating and plenty of parking the water is pretty protected in a small area, water was to ruff pass wall to snorkel and found multiple pieces of broken glass

We loved snorkeling and relaxing at Salt Pond Beach Park. Ample beach space as it is quiet and hidden.

Restrooms available, also clean and usable. People we met there were nice, the place not too crowded. We had a little bit of wind that day, which on the one hand helped cooling down from the sun, but caused some waves and current. It was still possible to go swimming, but we didn't take our 9-month baby with us this time. On our second visit we were more fortunate having less wind and surf so we took our baby swimming this time. Since there's a reef protecting the beach on either the left our the right side of the area, swimming was safe (and a lot of fun) for our baby. One of our favorite beaches on the island. Can be crowded on weekends, lots of locals there with their family and friends.

Really nice beach and is kid friendly. Grandson had a good time here. There is like 3 levels of swimming areas which makes it great. There is a small glass beach located near here but most of the glass you need to search for. We found a few of red, blue, orange, amber, clear and green ones. There is a landfill as you turn down the street, but it's clean and didn't smell it either. You can hardly notice it. There are some quaint shops to look around in too.

Nice, clean beach. We went snorkeling. There are a few spots to snorkel just somewhat murky and shallow. Saw a good amount of puffer fish and other varieties of fish. Would be good for a family, however the water doesn't stay shallow for long ofd the shore

This is one of our favourite beaches on Kauai. Nice stretch of sand, good for kids to swim, water isn't too rough. Very relaxed atmosphere. Love it!

saw the most perfect sunset here! the beach itself is nice although has a lot of people living in tents (didn't look like just camping!) has bathrooms and outdoor showers

Salt Pond Beach
A great beach for children and to get your feet wet! There are showers, bathrooms, and picnic tables, great for families. The waves are not the best for body surfing or boogie boarding, but there is some snorkling! We snorkeled and saw a few fish and three eels. I would recommend wearing water shoes here!

We were there on a Wednesday and not very many people. The sand is great. The beach is in a horseshoe shape with a break across the mouth to protect the cove. There were several snorkeling there too. Two bus loads of school kids had a field trip there so locals like it too. Good place to rinse sand off and restrooms. Good beach.

One of my favorite beaches on Kauai. Skip the turnoff for the park, follow the sign for the airport. Drive past the heliport to the end of the road. Park next to the beach. If you have small kids the lagoon at this spot is perfect. Enjoy👍

Great beach!! Kids had a blast! Would definitely go back even though it was a little drive from poipu.

Perfect place for the whole family to go snorkling. Lots of beautiful fish. Right next to the sky diving airport. Please remember whatever you pack on please pack out. Keep the island beautiful

The weather and ocean were temperamental during our December stay so finding good snorkeling was tough -- the summer favorites like Tunnels and Ke'e were not even safe for swimming. We ventured south to Salt Pond Beach on a weekday and found it almost empty and very protected so we could snorkel. I can't even tell you how many different types of fish we saw - so many! I'm told weekends are much busier because this beach is mostly a "locals beach". LOVED IT! Included changing rooms, bathrooms, showers (pretty primitive but did the job), and trees for shade.

Good for all ages, rocks to stop the big waves from coming, some picnic tables and facilities. Just overall nice.

South shore, so it will pretty much ALWAYS be sunny! And stop in old Hanapepe town while you are there for a funky old-time street with great shops and galleries.

Thoroughly enjoyed this beach. Lots of room to spread out, lifeguard on duty, bathrooms, pavilions and parking were all a plus. This is an excellent location to watch a true unobstructed view of the sunset. Seemed to be a favorite amongst the locals as well.

The title says it all .. has what u need .. wasn't overly crowded .. kind of cloudy to snorkel but nice view .. saw a monk seal and e enjoyed the water for a few hours

My husband and I always come here when we visit for a relaxing day of snorkeling. We visit during the winter so the north shore can be tricky but Salt Pond is always a success! This perfect little cove is perfect for snorkeling and swimming and we even got to see some seals! It's calm and very pretty and would be good for families!

It was very windy the day of our visit; however, the beach drops down to the water providing some protection. The water was great for snorkeling and lounging in the water. Some shade is provided. Recommend this beach for a quiet day.

We had rented snorkel gear and headed off to several locations this being one of them. Not a big beach area but they had this section where the waves would crash over the rocks( which you col walk on) into a smaller tide pool area and not only was it pretty to look at but smaller kids (5-10years) seemed to enjoy the rush of water over the rocks.

We made a quick stop to check out the beach for a future stop and were pleasantly surprised to see a small group of people gathering on the sand. We know what that means! A monk seal was safely sun bathing in the roped off area. What a treat! It looked like a lot of people having a picnic while enjoying this beach. Other than the restrooms, everything seemed great.

Not the nicest place, but we stopped for a sunset after our charter boat trip. Glad we did... incredible setting to watch the sun disappear into the water next to the mountains. Our youngest enjoyed summing in the calm waters while the rest of us took dozens of pictures.

Great beach. Not too crowded. Must be careful of current even though life guard is present. LOTS of homeless encampments nearby. No obvious problems for us. Just need to be aware.

We spent a great morning here. There was tonnes of parking and great swimming areas for our toddler. The bathrooms were not super clean but there were ample picnic tables and some shelters available. It was easy to find as the signage off the highway was clear.

Enjoyed our visit to this nice beach. There is lots of parking and close to the beach if you have lots to pack with you. This beach is on the south side of the island so it can get very hot. Take lots of sunscreen.

This beach is amazing.

Camping here on the weekend is challenging. It's hard to find parking and difficult to sleep with the big parties that happen. The locals are super nice and invited us to hang out, and they were having a great time. I think its fun that this is a local part spot, but it makes it not the best camping spot

We just came for sunset. It was gorgeous. You can tell this beach is popular with the locals. The wash house is under construction but they have porta potties.

After a long morning hiking Waimea Canyon we grabbed some poke and a beer and headed over to salt pond. Huge park and beach clearly filled with majority of friendly locals. Nice near shore reef to break the waves and let the kids frolic in the water. Plenty of large picnic eating areas and a large adjacent one has a big party going on including local musicians. As easy and casual as you’d want from a beach park

This is a pretty cool little spot to lay on the beach. It has protected snorkeling from the dangerous currents in Kauai. When I went out into the water, it was murky and cloudy. I was very disappointed, and went out several times on both sides of the beach. All the same. Murky and creepy. The beach is beautiful, and has public restrooms. The parking is easy and plentiful. Give it a try for yourself. The snorkeling maybe better when you visit.

Beach was beautiful, clean, sand was amazing, ocean clean and nobody there. Amazing beach day in amazing kauai at the Salt Ponds. We staying in Waimea to do the Blue Ocean Zodiac and went to beach to play and was really surprised at the quality of this beach. I have been coming to Kauai for years and was surprised I missed this in the past.

Most people who visit Poipu stay near the point and beaches there. I encourage you to drive a little further to this beach. It is bigger, there are at least two long sandy crescents, and the waters are protected by reef's that calm the bigger waves.

The smaller of the beaches is ideal for small children, who can swim, run, look for fish and be at all times easy to see. The larger beach is good for older kids, and has good snorkelling and some waves. It is also deeper.

There is plenty of grass, some shade, and an abundance of parking. Clean change and rest rooms and a very relaxed atmosphere.

You could easily spend a day here with a large group and feel totally relaxed at the end.

Ok, ok, ok....That statement needs clarification. Things important for this # 1 RATING. 1. Big sandy beach area which is important for lounging, walking, and Not getting walked on. 2. NO ROCKS in the water, enough said. 3. Calm reef protected waters for small children and wading with friends and family. 4. Tables, restroom and lifeguard present. 5. No restaurants or resorts to compete with you enjoying your beach time, ie, pack a lunch for a change. LAST but NOT LEAST , AWESOME SNORKELING.

Really nice safe beach with restrooms, picnic tables, good amount of parking. Small inclosed swimming area great for kids and some snorkeling. Larger adjacent beach for water sports and better snorkeling.

Enjoyed our day at this quiet, family friendly beach. Had no problem with parking or finding a nice spot to spend much of the day. It's a sheltered cove, suitable for swimming or snorkeling. Clean, well maintained restrooms for changing after a swim.

Perfect beach to spend an entire day. The sand here is soft, the water clear and life guards. There are however, a ton of mosquitoes that seek shelter in places out of the sun. The bathrooms were covered, as well as the top of our sun umbrella. They weren't swarming or biting during the day, but if you don't like seeing them, keep that in mind. There were monk seals sleeping on the beach while we visited. Not a lot of tourists, mostly local families. Beautiful beach!

There is ok snorkling at either end of the cove, but serious rip current in the center. The lifeguard warned us away unless headed out to surf the offshore break. There are shelters, restrooms. You can drive to the east cove by going along the airport.

We came here, curious of the name. The rock formations were quite interesting and made great shots. This is also a very popular spot for locals in the late afternoon.

Bathroom, life guard, nice area to camp. Walked the beach, some nice little pools for the kids to play.

We visited Kauai in January 2016 and had several days under a high surf warning. After trying to snorkel in one supposedly protected area and getting tossed around, we visited Salt Pond the following day (still under high surf warning).

The bay is sheltered by lava rocks which kept the wave action to a minimum. The calmest waters are on the left (next to the airfield).

While we didn't see any turtles or exotic fish, we did see lots of common varieties of fish and a few crabs.

The sand was soft and golden brown and there were plenty of palm trees, picnic tables and fresh water showers. The rest rooms were not fancy, but were reasonably clean and did feature running water.

The lifeguard was helpful in pointing out the best places to snorkel.

There were some people camping along the border between the park and the salt pond where they harvest sea salt that made the place look junky.

We came to this beach when the weather was bad on the rest of the island. I'm so glad we did. There is nothing special about it but it was a good place to relax, swim and soak up the sun. There are restrooms and picnic tables. It's hotter & dryer on this side of the island so if it's raining where you are come here.

It wasn't crowded even though there was some kind of jr lifeguard event happening. Nice beach with fairly calm waters.

We liked this beach, it was not too crowded. The views were beautiful and it was easy to swim. We even had a seal surface next to us and he then proceeded to lay out and rest on the beach. Recommended take water shoes as it was bit rockier than expected.

Beautiful spot for sunset. Many people bring picnics to the beach. Bring your camera - the view has a pretty background with rocks making for great photo ops.

This was the perfect beach to spend the day if it happened to be cloudy near Lihue.Also a great pit stop before or after the canyon or lookout.We drove out of the clouds and into a pristine beach with a natural sheltered cove perfect for the kids.There is a lifeguard on duty,wash/change rooms,picnic tables,shade from the palm trees,and even a food cart for snacks.seems like a popular spot with the locals.We weren't there 15 minutes when a Monk seal (endangered species) swam into the bay and parked not more than 6 feet beside us on the beach !! The lifeguard came along and informed us it was a pregnant female and set up signs around it to keep people to a proper distance.A very cool day !!

I think we've gotten spoiled by the remoteness of Barking Sands beach, where two's company, three's a crowd. Salt Pond beach is lovely, but it's fairly crowded, and the crowd is not particularly concerned with cleaning up after themselves. I'm always surprised that people litter the most beautiful places in the world. Seems to be a hangout for some shady characters, too. There were plenty of families and small children because the beach itself is fairly protected.

This is a very quaint beach that is usually not crowded. You can snorkel, swim and
hike and just hang out. The view is amazing.

Lovely place to have a dip in the sea as long as the warers aren't mudfied by run off following Hurricane Lane.

The park and beach are nice, but what we found most interesting are the salt ponds and the locals that harvest from them. It is salt that is not sold and only given to those they choose. We were fortunate to recieve a bag from them which has a wonderful and unique taste. Very special place and wonderful experience to meet interesting locals exhibiting their craft and care for the salt beds.

The wide cove beach with large rocks, probably lava rocks give the area character.
I parked my rental car to take photos of the peaceful park and
started a conversation with a Hawaiian.

Great local beach with mostly local people. Bathrooms, picnic tables, lots of grass, a few covered areas.
We figured out it’s called salt pond because there is a nice area (see pics) that is protected by reef / rocks that kids and others can swim in with issues.
Great local beach that is not as busy as the hotel beaches!

Very nice beach with some shade for afternoon heat. Spent a few hours here enjoying the views of the ocean. It was busy but not overcrowded with people of all ages. There was a mule seal ignoring everyone.

Salt Pond beach is a nice beach with bathroom facilities. There is some kind of reef that keeps the water calm so it is good if you don't like waves of if you have children with you that want to play in the water. There were quite a few people camping there when we visited. They had their tents up and hammocks in the trees...don't know if they were living there or just camping for a few nights.

The history of this family owned land and salt production is so interesting. And they don’t commercially sell the salt because tradition says you can only barter for salt! But the beach, waves and views are incredible in this off the beaten path locale.

We stopped on a weekend when this park was ground zero for organization picnics and gatherings of locals. It was an interesting crowd, but the facilities (picnic tables and bathrooms) were stretched a bit thinner than is probably normal. The beach was fine, but bring your own shade unless you decide to stay up in the picnic area. Plenty of shallow water for the kids.

Looks like a great place to take your family. A lot of locals swimming on Saturday. Protective reef left. Nice swimming pool for the Little's.

It was a nice place for the kids to swim, coz it had a section in the end of the beach that had a breaker..the park was clean, everybody had a great time

This is a gem on the South side of Kauai. Salt Pond is a well maintained public park with beach access and mostly calm surf. The park includes covered shelters, restrooms, showers, lots of parking and a life guard.

There is limited shade from the sun, so bring your sunscreen and a hat. The beach is protected by an off shore reef, which also enables good snorkeling.

The beach is a bit steep, so watch the little ones in the surf. For adults and older kids, the surf is easy to navigate with a gentle swell just off the beach.

Visitors here are a mix of locals and tourists who find the location. Very low key setting with lots of room to spread out and enjoy the day. I would recommend a few beach chairs and a picnic lunch.

The location also enjoys a wonderful sunset with a unobstructed Westward view.

This was definitely one of our top favorite beaches in Kauai. Amazing views, comfortable beach, and gorgeous sunsets. Absolutely loved the sunset from here.

When it's rainy on other parts of the island, Salt Pond is almost always sunny. It is more spacious than Poipu with lots of amenities such as bathrooms, picnic area and lots of parking. There is a bit of snorkelling around the rocks on the left side of the beach, and the water is warm. This was a great stop on our last day as the weather on the rest of the island was declining.

We were told to check out Salt Pond Beach because it had great snorkeling -- it doesn't -- however, it's a great little beach! Clear water, shade trees, restrooms, close parking -- a quiet, relaxing place to spend half a day.

We checked the weather and opted to head south since the north shore was forecasting rain and wind. We had read about SPB in our handy Kauai book we picked up at Costco. We were worried it would be crowed since this is where the locals go and it was Sunday. This was not the case. We enjoyed watching some local kids catching fish and saw plenty fish snorkeling around the rocks. It wasn't totally in love with SPB, I think I'm bias because I really LOVE the north shore.

Like other places on Kauai this is not fancy touristy location. The washrooms are very basic but adequate. If you like sun and swimming on Kauai this is one of the most safe, least crowded, places to relax and just enjoy the simplicity of a nice swim, golden sand, and a palm tree to sit under and read a book. I will return!

Last time I was at this beach, drove up and saw a bunch of homeless people using the beach as a bathroom. We didn't feel comfortable do we left ... somehow walking on a beach that's been used as a bathroom doesn't seem enjoyable...

Sandy beach with some shade, clean bathrooms, lifeguard on duty, protected from big waves. Great place to swim and hang out.

This beach gives you a lot: parking, swimming and snorkeling possibilities, beach amenities, etc.
Try it out and you will not be dissapointed

We just stopped here to cool our feet and relax by the water. The beach did it's job. There were families swimming and there was a place to change into your swim gear.

Great Park. Keep your distance from the tent campers. The beach and water are very pleasant. Clean Bathrooms. Midweek the park is never over crowed like some other beach's on Kauai.

Salt Pond Beach Park is very pretty and somewhat more sheltered and protected than other beaches in the area. We were treated to a monk seal snoozing on the beach.

Stopped here briefly because we heard it was a good snorkeling area. The water was way too rough and the facilities and area were not all that nice. There are better beaches to visit.

Off the beaten path- less touristy than other beaches. Safe swimming space for kids, especially if they are new to snorkeling. Lifeguards galore. A sea turtle was sun bathing near us. Spent a couple of hours there, just taking in the calm.

We stopped at Salt Pond Beach after read great reviews as we traveled through the area. The beach was one of the larger ones we experienced on Kauai. We unfortunately couldn’t get into the water because of a jellyfish warning. There were dozens of them washed up on shore, so we had to be really careful even walking on the beach.

It was fun to watch the other seal life, like the sleeping seal and crabs going about their day. This would be a good beach for a picnic too as there are lots of picnic tables and shade.

Ample parking, lifeguard present, numerous covered areas with picnic tables, and restrooms. The beach itself is steep - so "beach walking" is more strenuous than at Hanalei. We saw a fabulous (endangered) Green Sea Turtle on the beach who later worked its way back into the water. Lovely experience!

Safest beach we found for kids, very shallow, rocks break the waves, creating a little safe bay.
lots of locals, toilets, showers, shade, lovely day out

Best beach on the west side of Kaua’i ! We have been coming here for the past several years with our daughters...9 & 12 and they still love it! There is enough beach with the protected reef enclave for the smaller kids to route around for shells and ocean treasures as well as chasing small fish in the tidal pools....as well as swimming in the protected larger bay for our older daughter who wants a bit more privacy from her sibling!
All in all a great location. Several wild chickens around and plenty of picnic tables provide shade and a place to chill of the sun is blistering down.

We spent the day. It was not crowded and there are lifeguards and bathhouses. Great place for a family or couples. There is a jetty to protect the beach from the waves. Share the beach with a Monk Seal. Also if it is raining at your hotel, still go, this beach will be sunny (happened to us) !!

We always visit Salt Pond whenever we are here in the Island. We come for picnic, barbecue, swim, fish, and gather opihi. The beach is very safe for the little ones and not crowded on any given day. Love this place.

A good beach to swim and sun at. Rest room and water facilities. If you want to snorkel this is probably not the place but it is a good place to practice if you are a novice. Surfboarding about 150 yards off the beach before the early surf break. Water can be cloudy in the afternoon, clearer in the AM

Do make time in your travels to stop by the Salt Pond Beach Park. Bewutiful, we love going there a few hours before sunset, one of the best sunsets on the Island. Great photo opertunities as well.

In the protected and kept by lifeguards area, it's safe to swim, good on this South coast.where the sea could be dangerous for people who don't know the local conditions or who don't take care...
Tbis beach has all facilities and you'll find lot of local people on it.
The snorkeling certainly must be good outside the ridge of the rocks but the conditions must be very calm to try it.
So enjoy the swim on the shore.
The wind can be very strong on this beach, in the afternoon especia!ly... Be careful at your stuffs which can be quickly in the water !..

We didn't experience great snorkeling on the island of Kauai, however, you will see some decent variety of fish snorkeling near the rocks that enclose much of this area. The shallower rocks near the eastern side of the beach actually provided more clarity than the more western side where most people were at. There is also a small bathroom - not much of a changing area - but better than nothing. Covered picnic areas provided a dry space for us to keep towels as it rained pretty much off and on our whole trip to Kauai.

A few miles past Poipu you come to Hanapepe and just past the little town, a sign points you to Salt Pond. Go. It's a wonderful crescent of sand with a reef break out a bit so it's a great swimming spot for all ages We were wishing we had our snorkels with us as this would be a great spot for snorkelling. It's lifeguarded, and we saw lots of young families, locals mostly. We had a great day here.

The salt pond is a beach on the south/west side of the Island. It is less rolling large waves and there for more relaxed swimming. It is enclosed by barrer rocks. Has rest rooms and showers. Is very very large beach area. Parking is free and lots of it. Very layer back for a day at the beach.

It was perfect but a little crowded. We could tell it was a place the "local" families went to. Snorkeling was awesome and there was a lifeguard. What we weren't expecting was one of the best sunsets on island!

From a cruise ship we went on our own excursion. This place was great if you like calm swimming (nice wav e breaking reef) and lots of wildlife. This place as a locals flare. Rosters everywhere, monk seals laying on the beach, birds, and a mongoose were spotted. Great family beach!!!

We went on a cloudy day, we were not very enamoured , but I can see it's a good safe calm place to swim

I like this beach a lot. It is a little out of the way for the usual South Beach crowds, so it is less crowded, although they do allow camping here, so there are some semi permanent users. If you have little kids, this is a great beach. There is a very quiet and shallow end which is protected by a rock breakwater at the East end of the beach, and there is another breakwater toward the middle for kids with a little more experience. There is plenty of calm quiet water for adult as well, and a little snorkeling, although not really great snorkeling. Just a nice laid back beach.

Very chill,lots of room to sit on grass or the sand.Lifeguards, bathrooms super safe to swim . Really a beautiful beach, no condos or hotels in the area so it's local and real.Rapheals food truck is there to grab a bite at. There are covered picnic areas.Lots of good snorkeling as well.

We were on the return trip from Waimea Canyon and made the stop at Salt Pond Beach Park - Excellent Swimming Beach! Lots of great sand and perfect conditions make this an excellent swimming beach.

This is the beach you expect when in Hawaii. The sand and palm trees. The reef makes the swimming great and safe. The facilities at the park and the parking are excellent. Make the effort to go here.

Best place on the west side for families and for older folks who don't want the high surf. A reef forms a protective barrier to the big waves, but it's perfect for those of us who just want a nice swimming spot.

Salt Pond Beach was our favorite beach on Kauai, The beach is shielded from the unsafe currents by curved walls of volcanic rock. This makes it safe to swim and snorkel. The beach is especially beautiful at sunset. We went during the week and had the beach pretty much to ourselves. A "must do" on Kauai.

As you drive in, it doesn't look like you're headed to a beautiful beach, but just past the old salt ponds, there is this beach. It's gorgeous, warm and has a nice calm bay to relax at. There are restrooms and showers making it a great beach to come and lay back, relax and enjoy the sun.

We heard a lot about this beach so we decided to go check it out. It was not crowded at all. It was a great place to swim you are protected by a reef so the waves never get to big. There are palm trees around for shade but an umbrella is also a good idea. They have grills and bathrooms. There is a life guard here too. Glad we went and hope to be back one day.

This is a protected reef beach, so an easy place to swim while being able to observe the spectacular surf beyond the reef.

The lifeguards are very good at predicting and announcing when a sea surge is going to happen (beyond the reef). I don't recommend ever going on the rocks (no matter what photo shot you're trying to take) because the surge can take you out.

Lots of parking and bathrooms.

We spent the afternoon at this local family beach. There is a protected area for shallow water fun. A reef breaks the surf and leaves a lovely waist high area to wade and explore the sandy bottom. Covered picnic tables, restrooms and outdoor shower add to the convenience. The beach is long enough that a lot of people can enjoy sand and the view without feeling crowded. The cut off for the park is near Hannapepe and clearly marked.

Visiting Kauai in the winter can be somewhat of a challenge, especially if you are camping. The wind and the rain can be significant obstacles to overcome. Salt Pond Beach Park is a county campground that offers the opportunity to hunker down while still enjoying the many pleasures of Kauai. Firstly its affordable at just $3 per night. Permits are required and can be obtained in advance through the Kauai County Parks and Rec web site or in a pinch you can just set up your tent and the Park Ranger will wake you in the A.M. and collect $5. Its right on the beach and has pavilions which provide electrical outlets. There are two bathroom areas, picnic tables, outdoor showers and water fountains and spigots a plenty. Locals like to party here all the time especially on the weekends. Nights can be a bit loud but it seemed to quiet down about 10:30 or 11:00. As with all Hawaiian islands the weather and climate are extremely variable according to the season and point of reference on the island. Snorkeling is probably best at either end of the beach nearest the rock out croppings. Tent sites are probably best nearest the few scant trees to afford tie downs during the inevitable winter windy conditions. Be humble friendly but stay alert and you should do just fine. ALOHA!

We stopped by on our way back from Waimea Canyon. Wish we brought a picnic and stayed a while, really nice, clean park.

They say that in Hawaii on Sundays you go to church or beach. On the Monday before Thanksgiving I came to this beach in the afternoon. That day would be my last day in Kauai. The day before I went to Poipu Beach to surf for the first time. After all the sightseeing in Kauai for 5 days I wanted to go to a beach for some rest and relaxation before I left for Honolulu.

Since I was staying at Waimea this beach is about a 10-minute drive where I was staying. There was a lot of people that day but not heavily congested that I couldn't find parking.

I arrived there in the mid afternoon and stayed there until the late afternoon soaking the sun and water. The area of the beach is unique as one part of the shore there is no barrier but the other part is divided by a rocky ridge that forms a lagoon. What makes this beach a relaxing atmosphere is the currents near the shore aren't strong. The clear water in the lagoon makes it a soothing feel. As the waves in this beach isn't strong enough for surfing this beach doesn't have a vibrant atmosphere but a laid back surrounding.

This beach is suitable not only for a family with kids but also for someone who just wants to enjoy its vacation in Kauai.

We enjoyed this beach during our visit to Kauai! It has all the facilities you need, plenty of parking, with picnic table (and even a camping area). We love to snorkel and this beach had a very easy, sandy access so we snorkeled by the rocks where there were lots of fish. The water was a little murky but we saw a LOT of fish! I loved it because of all the SAND... unlike so many areas that are rocky.

Nice beach with covered picnic areas. One of the nicer beaches on our trip so far...allows camping. Salt ponds...not much to see there.

Our experience was amazing- we took the helicopter tour around the island. Wiamea canyon was fantastic. We stayed at Club Wyndham Ka Eo Kai in Princeville. We played Makai Golf Club another jewel close by. Hanalei beach experience was excellent. Also Popei park had sea turtles sunning on the beach the one day we were there.

This is a cool and picturesque beach, of which there are is shortage on Kauai. But what was so cool was that one end of this beach was in use by locals, who came out in 4x4s, with tents and grills, and made a day of it. Cool to see. The other end is good for families, and beach playing. And you can see the salt pond to boot.

[Jan2019] This is a great option to visit the western shore of Kauai. Park along the back edge of the park (farthest from the ocean), and then find an open spot on the camping side (as you face the ocean, the side to the left of the washrooms is camping & the right-hand side is day use). Try to find a spot with some shade, but know that the chickens will roost in the trees at night so you might get a loud wake-up call! There is an outdoor shower, dish-washing sink, BBQ's, covered eating area, power outlets, indoor toilet/sink. No hot water. A good beach for swimming with a life guard on duty during the day. This park is frequented by locals, who we found to be really nice (though other reviews warn of loud behaviour and possible theft, our experience was really good). Note that you must purchase your permit before arriving.

We were on a mission to find a good swimming beach: sandy bottom, gentle waves, not too crowded. WE FOUND IT!
Perfect spot for swimming, snorkeling, & sunbathing - with lifeguard & restrooms. Waves breaking over the rocks and palm trees to sit under were an added bonus!

We’ve been here twice and it was uncomfortably windy both times, although it did make it cooler. The snorkeling is pretty good, especially on the east side by the rock wall.

This is a very low key great beach for the family. Restrooms, picnic tables, showers. Safe swimming area.

We are shade snobs when it comes to a beach. Found none here and saw no restroom facilities either, so we kept going to find another beach. There are so many, that we will choose.

Plenty of free parking, restrooms are available. At one end of the beach is a sheltered swimming area, very good for snorkelling or kids. The beach is long enough for a good walk. The beach has a lifeguard. Nearby are the salt ponds for which the area is named. You can view the local workers harvesting pink sea salt!

Just a very nice place to have a lunch break, a picnic or whatever. Also swimming is possible here. I enjoyed my time at Salt Pond Beach Park.

We enjoyed walking on this beach. It was pretty. Mostly just a short stop after the canyon since the currents were pretty strong that day.

The park itself is basic, as one would expect for a state park, but was life-guarded, has soft sand, and saw an amazing number or fish, many of them quite large for a shallow bay area.

What a beautiful beach - has bathrooms, outdoor showers and picnic tables - shade from shelters and palm trees. Beautiful beach great to hang in the water

Off the beaten path this beach was very peaceful. One of the best places to watch sunset. Good for snorkeling as well. Although I did not snorkel here.

A nice day spent on the beach. Snorkeling was average. Picnic facilities were a nice bonus and provided shade for those looking for it.
There are no waves here so it’s great for very young families or those who want to float/wade.
Our day was spent with a sunbathing turtle and seal. That was cool.

This a well maintained beach park.
And you can see where the get sea salt
Beautiful park.
Next to Hanalei bay. This is second on my list.
Take a lunch and stay all day.
Bathroom and shelters.

We visited this very nice beach in the afternoon.
Easy to find a nice spot on the grass close to the water.
Easy access to the water in a protected little bay and not as overrun as Poipu.
This is worth the slight detour from the main road.

This place is just as nice of a beach as Poipu but it's a lot farther away and not much is nearby. The snorkling is decent but the waves are pretty rough (at least when we were there), so it got a little obscured. On the positive side, there are great facilities there - bathrooms, a pavilion, lifeguard station - and it's not at all crowded. The salt pond is on the other side of the beach dune, so it can get a little stinky from time to time (not awful...but noticeable) since sea salt creation isn't the most pleasant of processes. If you're in the water, though, it's no biggie :)

All told, a good, quiet stop.

This is a beautiful park with protected area for little ones to swim! They allow camping also! Highly recommended for families!

This is our favorite place to hang out . Perfect beach not too busy . Great swimming spot that is safe. Perfect spot to watch sunset . Lots of campers but they never bother anyone .

Great Place to get in water and watch the sun set. Not as pretty as north beaches but less crowded THAN Poipu. Good day

This is one of my favorite beaches on the island. Good sand, beautiful water, and has nice calm waves in a protected bay. This is a good place to go and relax in the Hawaiian sun.

Great beach. No too crowded. Great sand. Nice area for kids to swim. Has a protective natural lava break water that keeps the waves to a minimum. You can move farther down to a more open beach with no break water. More waves but still nice sand. Clear water. Has washrooms and changing areas.

The sea is easily accessible and the current is not too strong. It is good for swimming and kids playing. There is not a lot of shade to hide from the sun (palm trees mostly). There are restroom facilities and benches with tables to have a picnic. There are also showers. It is also popular with the locals.
There is quite big parking lot.

Peaceful, beautiful beach. Not very many people there the day we visited. Great for body boarding, swimming, relaxing. Nice facilities include lots of parking, covered picnic areas, showers, restrooms and lifeguards. Good for families with small to mid-size kids. Would be nice for couples who want to get away together.

Great beach at the end of the road with lots of local for flare. Bathroom facilities are available. Very laid back ay at the beach but wear sandals as there is lots of broken glass around. Beautiful scenery and wonderfully clear water.

Great beach for swimming as it’s not rocky on bottom and is protected. Also a nice place to watch the sunset.

We stopped here on our last day in Kauai. It is a beautiful beach, lots of families and it seemed like more locals than tourists. There are areas of very calm water great for younger kids to enjoy the water. We saw a monk seal sunning on the beach. This was the only beach where we saw one. There are some covered shelters with picnic tables, not a lot of shade otherwise. This is definitely worth a stop.

We made a quick stop here to see the beach. Easy access off the main road at Eleele and Port Allen. Narrow curving beach, very popular and open sun area. Salt Ponds are behind beach. Parking area a little rough.

This beach is one of our favorites on the island. It is frequented by locals and has plenty of safe areas for kids. The view of the sunset from this beach is the reason to stop by for a picnic dinner every chance you get. When you get there, don't drive straight to the main parking area. Instead, turn left right before you reach the salt ponds. Drive carefully to the end and make a right. If you are not driving an 4WD, park the car and walk a short distance to the beach. Warning! Red dirt is all over the road, be sure to have some water ready for your return to the car. Monk seals are often sun bathing at this beach undisturbed. It is one of the beaches on the island where you just want to stay. Btw, camping is an option in this park and tents can be seen often here.

We visited this park while on our vacation. It was beautiful. The park isn't very crowded, plenty of space for everyone to swim without tripping over each other. We enjoyed watching the waves break over the rocks.

We stopped in at different beaches in the area, and this seemed the best beach for hanging out at for a while. There is plenty of beach sand to set up some chairs or an umbrella or just stash your bag and go play in the ocean. There is a covered area with tables that had an event going while we were there. The salt ponds background is great, but I would come here just for being an excellent beach to relax at with kids or without them.

This is a great beach year round for children. It pretty much has a natural sea wall that blocks most of the incoming waves. So it stays nice and calm most of the time.

There is a life guard on duty so there is that added layer of safety.

Other than that, there is nothing too spectacular about the place. There are much better beaches out there if you are not worried about calm water or life guards.

The beach was calm and nice. The salt water pond itself is a non event. The beach had more locals than others we have been to.

I camped here with a group for a couple of nights. It is dispersed camping in an open field. The beach is nice and being on the South shore is usually sunny and fairly calm for swimming. There is a bathroom and outdoor showers as well as a few covered pavilions and charcoal grills. Parking can get busy during the day when the beach attracts crowds. There was a lifeguard on duty during the days we were here. Nice, worthwhile place to camp or just spend a day.

We have been to this beach a few times so my husband can snorkel. There is a beak wall at one end of rocks so it is not as rough. This beach has always been very windy when we have been here but could be time of year. Not a lot of shade and too windy to put our umbrella up. There are picnic tables and washrooms. It seems quite popular as there are usually a good number of people there. Also quite a few campers. Not had a problem with parking.

This is a really great beach. It isn't huge so I imagine it can get crowded but it is a little cove protected by a reef. There are picnic shelters and bathrooms as well.
The best part was the seal. The lifeguards put up no go signs all around the seals to protect them(and you).

Took our four year old to Salt Pond Beach. We had a great time
In the guarded pond where she could flop around as she does not swim.

Nice sandy beach in a protected pocket. Picnic tables and restrooms. Love Raphael's Mexican Food Truck.

I decided to stop there while driving around the island because it was on my way and it was a pleasant surprise. Great little beach with white sand and clear calm water. The sea feels like a swimming pool and i saw many people doing snorkeling there so I'm sure there were a lot of fishes to see.

Have loved going here to watch sunset on my visits. Finally got a chance to swim in the protected cove this trip & it was fabulous. There are bathrooms on the north side. I find the sand over there is coarse; prefer the east side. Beware gotta walk in on the east side unless you've got a vehicle that can drive in the sand. Let's keep this spot our secret, k??

We went there today with our 14 year old son. It was windy. Good area for swimming in the ocean for little ones because it's more protected. But if you're looking to body surf/boogie board/surf, not the place to go. Also there is a homeless (?) encampment with lots of tents on one end of the beach.

The beach’s location was the issue for us. A lot of homeless around the parking area. We did not feel safe

The beach is ok but as a personal preference, North of the Island are the best beaches.

I drove there, felt the area, walked around and left.

To get there you will have to go by a cemetery and a small landfill.

No waves ( so maybe that’s great for families)

Salt Pond is located on the southwestern point of Kauai in a town called Hanapepe. Easy parking, quiet, “locals” beach with calm waters. Lifeguard on duty and restrooms available. Stunning sunsets. The main bay is protected by an underwater reef that stretches across the opening of the bay. Grab a book and sunscreen.

This beach is uncrowded, yet it has picnic facilities and lifeguards, making it ideal for families. The water is protected, and swimming and snorkeling appear to be safe.

Great beach for all ages. My daughter and I snorkelled in the cove while my husband and son walked around exploring and riding the waves. There is a separate tiny cove for the very small ones that is totally safe. There were many adults just relaxing in the large pool as well. There were several seals hanging out. Good snorkeling for stronger swimmers.

Salt Pond Beach Park might have it all. The sand is super soft for sunbathing. The water is warm for swimming and certain areas are full of fish. Which is great for snorkeling. The actual salt ponds are very interesting. Then there's the sunsets. They are really nice from here. Even the locals come to watch.

The beach is very nice, with a shallow lagoon on the left side and some nice snorkeling on the right side. There are showers, picnic tables, restrooms, etc. Kauai weather can vary from one part of the island to the other, so if you want to try a beach on the west side (near Waimea) this is a good one to check out.

Nice quite little beach with picnic tables, restrooms, safe lagoon for swimming and snorkeling. We chose this park over others to renew our vows as it has some really nice palm trees making for good place to take photos. Since we stayed in Poipu, this was a short drive and turned out to be our favorite place to spend time at the beach.

Our 2nd favorite beach in Hawaii (sorry, Lanikai in Oahu takes the cake!). The water was very nice and really calm. We saw a few sea lions relaxing on the beach. We didn’t have snorkeling gear but people were snorkeling. It was not packed at all and we really could have spent all day there. There aren't any chairs or anything, so bring your own. One of our favorite spots!

What a nice place to spend the afternoon. There are bathrooms and the beach has a barrier so that the waves aren't too big. Definitely not good for surfing but great for children and the older set. It is beautiful and we had a very nice afternoon relaxing.

it's so wonderful to find beaches that are not overcrowded! A definite gem to visit. Perfect for a relaxing day. Like all other beaches in Kauai, easy cleanup from saltwater after a days swim!

We went snorkeling here, there was a good variety of fish and not real busy we were able to have a nice time but of course there were chickens.

Nice secluded beach that’s out of the way. When we were there hardly anyone there. Nice snorkeling in the cove

Very clean beach in a cove area so very sheltered from the emenities. Sand is a fine white sand freat for sun bathing. Great water temperature!

We were recommended this place for a sunset swim by a local. It did not let us down!!! We got to see striped fish along a rainbow sunset.

We were here for hours, definitely a beach you can spend the whole day at! Restrooms, showers, picnic tables at this location. Also a decent amount of shade. We stayed near the smaller area, to the right. The current was very strong, but because of the shore break, we were played comfortably all day.
Monk seals frequent here and we saw some fish too. We didn’t snorkel, but you could see them swimming around you.

Nice sandy beach, a little safer than many, with rock walls helping to protect the bay from the crashing waves seen elsewhere. Swimming and snorkelling in the shallow waters. As with most beach parks it benefits from picnic tables and barbecue pits, toilets and showers. A beach park for all the family.

This is a great place to take kids swimming, snorkeling and is a very nice beach with a lifeguard. Was pretty windy the day we were there. You can walk in the rock wall out in the water too!

I don’t particularly love this beach but it is perfect for families with young children. The water is shallow and the reefs keep the water calm. It is kind of cool to watch the waves crash over the reefs making small natural waterfalls.

This beach has facilities and covered picnic areas. Great for swimming since the cove is protected by a reef. Good snorkling. Nice sandy beach with tiny shells....first shells I have seen in Kauai. Plenty of parking, easy to access. Will definitely return here.

Nice place for picnic with tables and great view of ocean. Restrooms are in a building too. Bring a carry out here from Hanapepe and enjoy.

Beautiful beach , great for swimming and picnics , Clean bathrooms and while we were swimming a seal swam right by us and slept on the beach .

This is a beach with something for everyone. We were amazed to actually find parking on a Sunday afternoon, and there seemed to be a lot of local families there playing wonderful Hawaiian music; some of them even greeted us with smiling "Aloha"s! Most of the adults in our group sat beneath the palm trees and enjoyed the views, but the kids had plenty to do in the water. The older kids snorkeled in the water straight ahead, which is partially protected by lava rock that curves around. The younger children spent the day in the cove to the right, which is almost completely surrounded by lava rock that is smooth enough to climb on. Every five minutes or so, waves break over this natural jetty and cascade down, creating mini waterfalls that the kids ducked under. The snorkelers in our group saw many colorful fish, and even the kids in the keiki area were treated to small schools of fish darting by. There is also a small pond about the size of a large bathtub, with a sandy bottom, within the lava rock. It was a perfect beach for kids as they could splash, swim and play in perfect safety. We also enjoyed the chickens, doves, and Brazilian cardinals strutting about. Amazing place!

This beach was never crowded, had a lifeguard, waves that my 7 yr old son could play in and an area for snorkling and swimming for smaller kids. There were showers to rinse off that had warm water. Bathrooms were not all that great but the overall features of the beach made it worth it. Then at around 7, drive to the point to watch the sunset! So beautiful. Would highly recommend.

This was the best place on the island to watch a sunset. It was not crowded and there was a wide-open view of the setting sun.

My husband loves to snorkel and he was able to snorkel along the reef of rocks which was about 30 feet from the shore on the left side of the beach. He saw 15 + different kinds of fish, including an eel hiding in the rock reef. We also saw a sea lion jump up in the beach, and one sleeping that the lifeguards had put a barrier around. The beach was relatively quiet, with some local families. Beware the orange sand will stain your feet!

Great beach, not too busy. There’s pavilions and a life guard. A monk seal jut happened to be sunning there that day.

This is a pretty quiet beach with nice, small waves and smooth sand. It's a little bit of a search to get there, but it was worth stopping by.

Very crowded beach with hard to find parking and we really weren't impressed compared to a lot of pretty Kauai beaches. Local beach full of large groups of people who were picnicking and partying too. Could be ok if you are in the mood for that we just weren't as we are more the less crowded beach types. Just really didn't like the vibe there on the day we went but it was the weekend too.