I went to Queen's Bath with my family in 2022 and it was wonderful. But...you have to pick your time and be prepared. The dire warning stories you read about QB being dangerous aren't without merit. Like many things, having fun vs. tragedy is about being smart. So... Smart Timing: Only go May-September. Don't even risk it in the late fall, winter, or early spring. There's just too much potential for surprise big waves that could wash you into the open ocean. We were lucky enough to have 85 degrees and flat seas—perfect conditions. Smart Research: Know the ocean conditions. Ideally, you want calm seas and dry conditions. Dry conditions manner not only because that makes the lava rocks on the way to QB less slippery, but because the trail down is less treacherous. DO NOT underestimate the potential of the trail down from the parking lot to ruin your trip. If there's been rain, it's a muddy mess where it's easy to slip, catch a foot in a root, and twist an ankle or knee. We did the trail when it was a little sloppy, and other than me falling on my butt (ow) we did fine, out and back. Smart Gear: DO NOT do the trail or the rocks around QB in flip-flops. Buy waterproof hiking sandals like Keens. They grip better, stay on your feet, and help you stay upright. We all wore them and they were perfect. Smart Parking: Oy, the parking. So, we stayed in Princeville and were able to walk to the QB trail in about 15 minutes. However, there were plenty of cars backed up, so this is an issue. You'll pay to park at the golf course. Maybe take an Uber? There aren't great solutions here, so prepare to wait and stay aloha. Bottom line, if you're smart and respect nature, Queen's Bath is wonderful. For us, the water was warm and buoyant, the weather perfect, and the few other people there with us were great. Worth the effort.

My family and I enjoyed swimming in Queens Bath today on 6/2/2023. We got there early at about 10am. The hike down was slippery and steep, but only about 20 mins total. We wore Teva sandals which helped. We saw some fish in the pool, but not a lot like we saw in 2009 and 2011. We saw a colony of about 20 turtles next to the pool! It was so special to see them. Some were huge! There were a lot of people there. The ocean was calm. We kept watching the ocean, however, for any sudden changes. Truly spectacular experience!

Amazing free place. DO NOT miss it! Parking is free at the trailhead, you just have to wait, there are only like 10 spots. I recommend to go at lunch time because that's when the morning groups come up because they're hungry and before the after lunch peeps get there. There is also plenty of parking at the nearby golf course for $20. It's about a 1/2 mile from the trailhead. We opted to wait for trailhead parking spot, because we had a cooler.

Arrived at the peaceful moment of queen s bath. Then came the 🌊. Wave 1, we say ha. Wave 2, we say, ah. Wave 3, we say Wow, Wave, everyone running for our lives… Just like a queen, peace and authority can be dealt out to you in parallel. 😃 It’s serene to just sit and watch the waves. Brave kids were diving off the cliffs around the corner. If experiencing up to 15 feet up and down diving is your cup of soup, then look no where. Surfing turtles 🐢, huge ones, are so fun to watch. They ride the waves, paddle paddle, surf, paddle 😃 Princeville has some of the best of Kauai.

Seems like the signs and information advertising that people die here all the time just attracts folks who can’t make good life decisions. So many poor swimmers, weak hikers, and generally out of shape visitors flock to this spot. I can understand a quick visit to pretend you’re royalty but bringing a snorkeling sinkhole with your back to the ocean is just stupid. And people bring their kids…. Great example of how you ruin history for everyone.

The walk down seems treacherous because it is steep with lots of exposed roots and slick dirt but it is a very short walk so you can probably manage it and it is worth it. The views were spectacular over the black rocks. Great place for photos. Just know, if you plan on swimming, it is crowded, or at least it was when I was there. This isn't a secluded romantic spot or anything like that. It was wall to wall people in the bath. Still a cool experience just maybe don't expect to swim if you're very introverted or hate crowds.

OMG. this is a must do if you are relatively fit (we are in early 60s and active), and heed the warnings and are careful. The hike down is muddy and very slippery. We saw several ppl take small falls (thankfully no one seriously hurt). But the view when you get down there is so worth it! Fabulous! We went on a sat morning and to our great surprise there were parking spots available in the small lot at the trailhead. It was a very adventurous hike down (less so going up) but again well worth it. We did NOT go in the water but others did. I understand you're really not supposed to anymore.

I went with my sister to Queen’s Bath. Wear hiking shoes or nonslip sturdy shoes. I’m not kidding. The path is basically mud steps that people have created with their foot steps. I was there the middle of Sept. My sister who had lived in Princeville said that it would be safe to go in the water based on the waves she was seeing. It can be very dangerous if you go after Oct 1st but you still have to have someone watch the sets of waves as they come in. It was an awesome experience and I was in for maybe 5 min. Just don’t ever turn your back to the ocean. I was very careful on the rocks walking there and back. It was beautiful to see and worth the trip. Leave young kids with a sitter. Don’t take them there.