On the far west side of Kauai is one of its most beautiful beaches: Barking Sands Beach. Even if you’ve made the trek to Waimea Canyon and gone hiking in Kokee State Park, Barking Sands Beach is still a bit further. Is it worth visiting? Is Barking Sands Beach a kid-friendly beach? We’ve got answers to these questions and more so you can decide if you want to add it to your Kauai trip.
I love getting to share our tips and tricks, especially when it comes to the Island of Kauai. If you have any additional questions about visiting Barking Sands Beach, the state parks in this corner of Kauai or anything else, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more.
Why Visit Barking Sands Beach
Despite Hawaii being known for beautiful beaches, the beaches tend to not be very big or stretch very far. Barking Sands Beach on Kauai breaks that mold with being one of the longest beaches in the Islands. What I really love about Barking Sands Beach is that it checks off the box for being a walkable beach. I love beach walks and Kauai is very limited when it comes to being able to do this. That’s the main reason I happily make the drive all the way to the west coast of Kauai.
When it comes to the waves, they are pretty intense here. This is a good beach to enjoy the sand and let the kids get splashed with you nearby, but it’s not a beach for free-swimming unless you’re a very strong swimmer. The currents off Barking Sands Beach are intense and at the change of tide can make a fierce rip current.
Why is Barking Sands Beach on Kauai called this?
Barking Sands Beach on Kauai gets its name from a curious natural phenomenon that you can experience in a few places, including North Florida and a few islands in the Caribbean. When the dry sand is stepped on or shifted in the right way, it produces a sound resembling a dog’s bark. This unusual effect is caused by the unique composition and size of the sand grains, along with the way they rub together under pressure. It’s a rare occurrence, but it’s part of what makes the beach so fascinating!
Prepping for a Day at Barking Sands on Kauai’s West Coast
When you plan your morning or afternoon at Barking Sands Beach, be sure that you remember to pack your beach towels, shade of some sort, reef-safe sunscreen and a lunch. There aren’t any food options by Barking Sands, but you’ll drive past lots of options, including markets to grab food on the way.
Also, if you arrive and it seems busy (which would be surprising), you can keep driving as the beach is fairly long. You’ll find a spot, no doubt. Many of the pull outs for the beach park have picnic tables and some even have restrooms.
How to Add Barking Sands Beach to your Kauai Itinerary
Adding Barking Sands Beach to your Kauai itinerary is easy. Because it’s located on the western side of the island, you’ll have to head to that general direction to visit Waimea Canyon. After your time hiking at Waimea Canyon and visiting Kokee State Park (also right here), you can head back down towards the ocean and go west to Barking Sands. If you’re too tired after your hiking, save Barking Sands for another day or pair it with a visit to Polihale State Park, which is just past Barking Sands Beach.
NOTE: if you’re visiting Polihale State Park, it really is beautiful and you’ll love it, but the road into it is awful and if you have a lowriding car (there are a lot of Nissan Altima rentals on Kauai) you won’t be able to safely navigate the Polihale Road.
Also, something to keep in mind about Barking Sands Beach is that it’s NOT a snorkeling beach. Barking Sands is a relaxing or wave-sport beach. If you show up with a skim board or surfboard, you’ll stay busy, but it’s not a snorkeling spot. If you do a helicopter tour around Kauai, when you fly around this part of the island you can see the waves from the air. It can be intense.
More Things to do on Kauai
Kauai is my second favorite island so I always have ideas for fun and beautiful things to do on Kauai. Because the island isn’t huge and there’s just the one road going around it (not even all the way), you can plan adventures on both the north and south shore in the same day as long as you allow yourself time to get between destinations. Here are our top picks for some of the best things to do on Kauai.
- Beach days at Poipu (south shore), Lydgate (east) or Hanalei (north)
- Smith’s Hawaii Wailua River Cruise – Lihue, east
- Kauai Coffee Co tour – near Hanapepe, south
- Waimea Canyon State Park – Waimea, south
- Na Pali Coast hiking at Haena State Park – Waineha, north
- Kilauea Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge – Kilauea, north
There are, of course, many more things to do and so many beautiful hikes and beaches, but these are just our top picks that you can easily add to your Kauai itinerary to ensure you have an amazing experience here on the Garden Island.
Where to Stay on Kauai
There are three main areas to choose from when you’re planning your trip to Kauai. You can be on the east side (Lihue or Kapaa), the South Shore (Poipu, Koloa or Waimea) or on the North Shore (Princeville or Hanalei). I actually prefer to stay in Kapaa because it’s directly in the center. We’ve stayed all over though and it’s always easy to get around. The south shore is the most interesting with towns and epic sights, and then the east is most convenient with easy tourist activities and beaches, and then the north is much more rugged and is the start of the Na Pali Coast. Take your pick!
I hope you’ll consider doing the trek over to Barking Sands Beach. It’s one of the best beaches on Kauai to relax on and really shows off the beautiful world of the Garden Island. If you have any other questions about visiting Kauai or how to enjoy island hopping in Hawaii, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a beautiful Hawaii trip. Aloha!
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