The Secluded Hawaii Beach You Can Only Reach Via An Old Dirt Road And A Hike
By Megan Shute|Published April 18, 2019
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
The Hawaiian Islands are home to 750 miles of stunning coastline — putting the island state behind Alaska, Florida, and California when it comes to coastline length. And while among that coastline you will find countless rock formations and sea cliffs, the beaches are what truly matters. And while most of these beaches are easily accessible — with parking lots just steps from the sand — there are others that require a bit more effort, including this stretch of sand nestled along Kauai’s northeastern coast.
Welcome to Larsen’s Beach, a stunning slice of paradise you’ve likely never heard of set in a peaceful rural area. Also known as Ka’aka’aniu Beach, Larsen’s is nestled between Moolaa Bay and Waiakalua Beach, but much harder to access.
There is no road that leads all the way to the beach, and the one that leads near it is a dirt road. Once you reach the end of the road, you’ll have to embark along a steep, rocky trail before you finally get to this beach.
The beach was once easier to access via an easy, gently sloping trail that cut through private property, but a land dispute led to a fence being put up to prevent visitors from trespassing. The alternative is much steeper, and some consider it to be quite challenging.
Combining its limited accessibility and a two-mile-long stretch of fine, white sand backed by brush and trees, you'll probably feel as though this is your own private paradise.
With its crystalline waters, Larsen’s can offer phenomenal snorkeling during the summer months, though conditions are often deceptive and dangerous, with strong currents channeling through the reefs. Because of these dangers, snorkeling is only advised for those who have plenty of experience, support craft, or both. If you stay close to shore and away from reef channels that lead to deep water, though, you should be fine.
Another thing to be aware of? Due to its remote location, Larsen’s has a reputation as a nude beach, though you’ll likely only find a handful of people here without clothes at any given time. You see, there is no county or state law against nude sunbathing, and while some state parks like Haena Beach Park have ordinances against it, Larsen’s is not one of those places.
Have you ever been to this secluded beach before? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below, then click here to discover some of our other favorite Hawaii beaches you can’t reach by car.
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