As the farthest point on the North Shore, Ke'e Beach is spectacular. Everybody knows it, so the parking situation is tough and there are lots of people there. But there's still plenty of room to spread out and park yourself on the sand if you wish. We spent two afternoons here -- one just enjoying the views and people-watching, and the other snorkeling. (We rented from Snorkel Bob's in Kapaa, and we highly recommend them -- super friendly service, different levels of equipment to choose from and reasonable prices. They also have an after-hours drop if you don't get back to town before 5 when they close.)

The snorkeling here is amazing -- the water is absolutely clear and the variety of fish on the reef is amazing. The only thing that upset me was the amount of people walking on the coral -- if you go here, please don't do this! I think a lot of people think if it just as rocks, but it's not. Anyway, I'll stop preaching.

Do wear sunscreen or a rash-guard shirt (can be bought at Wal-Mart or Snorkel Bob's) to protect your back and shoulders from the sun. The water is cool so you won't realize you're getting burned until it's too late. Eeek!

All that said, Ke'e is gorgeous, a great snorkel spot and definitely worth the drive.

Visited this beach in July 2006. It is at the very end of the highway after many one-lane bridges and some slow driving. Only facility is a restroom that had been vandalized. Parking is limited and spots are in high demand. The beach is very nice as is the water and there are some shady areas where you can get out of the sun. Saw a monk seal resting on the shore, a hundred yards or so around the bend away from the crowd. There is a nearby trail up the mountain which if I remember correctly takes about seven hours and is challenging. The whole area is very scenic.

OK, I have to disagree with previous postings. Although it is a beautiful beach it was very crowded. We went to this beach twice during our stay. The parking area was overcrowded with cars and smelled like urine. We found the beach to be dirty and crowded compared to some of the other beaches we visited on Kauai. There were seedy characters hanging around and we did not feel safe leaving anything on the beach while we were snorkeling. (the snorkeling was actually pretty decent). If you're looking for a quiet, uncrowded clean beach this is not the one for you. It is a great place to watch the sunset on the north shore, and if you get there before 7 am it's a good place to snorkel. Other than that I wouldn't go. There are much nicer beaches on the North Shore.

This is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Hawaii -- I've been to four of the Islands and the one beach that stands out in my mind is Ke'e on Kauai's North Shore. I still cannot get out of my mind's eye its gorgeous white sand, crystal blue waters, and the most shades of green anyone will probably ever see in one setting hang high above the beach along the Na Pali coastline. The beach is at the end of the main road that winds its way through the spectacular grandness of the North shore of Kauai. The parking area can be a bit tricky as it is not paved and you may be disappointed that it is crowded, however, most people parking here are heading on to the Kalalau trail. The beach has nice sand, no service, but does have restrooms (and shower to hose off). The entry is a nice, sandy bottom and just a short swim to the coral reef -- so that if you bring small children or non-swimmers there is a shallow, sandy bottomed area for safe swimming. The fish here can vary in numbers, but the two or three times we went we always saw lots of honu (turtles)! We were there in the summer, so the currents are not as strong, but still be careful I think the currents off shore around Kauai are the strongest of any of the other islands. My boyfriend and I love this beach. We cannot wait to go back again.