Baldwin Beach Park

Last updated 12. Sep, 2011 by in Beaches | Hana Hwy, Road to Hana Beaches

Baldwin Beach

Baldwin Beach

Rating: ★★★★☆

In a nutshell: Baldwin Beach Park is a beautiful, long white-sand beach on Maui’s North Shore. A favorite with local families.
Minuses: Surf in the middle area can be rough.
Sound-bite: “Gnarly wipeout, brah…I know a good chiropractor in Paia!”



DETAILS:
Baldwin Beach is a wonderful, long, wide, sandy beach park just outside of Paia. Fully equipped with lifeguards, bathrooms, showers, barbecues, picnic tables and a covered pavilion.

During winter months, the main stretch of beach can have fairly large and regular shorebreak, so it becomes a popular destination for more experienced boogie-boarders (chiropractor’s tip: don’t try and cut your teeth here!)

If you have young keiki or you’re not a strong swimmer, don’t let the bigger surf fool you, there are also protected swimming areas on both the east and west ends that offer calm pools for even the littlest ones. (The west end is know as Baby Beach and the east as Baldwin Cove).

Cultural Factoid

The dunes backing the beach from the lifeguard stand to Baby Beach are an ancient Hawaiian burial site.

The entire stretch of beach is also popular with runners, and it is possible to continue on past the cove on a well-worn trail along a sea-wall. That will bring you to a clothing-optional beach and further on through a small wooded area that leads to Paia Bay. (End-to-end distance is just over 1.5 miles.)

With all this going for it, Baldwin Beach Park is the most popular beach destination for North Shore families. On weekends and holidays the large parking area can become packed, but have no fear if you like privacy – the bulk of the crowd is usually around the pavilion and lifeguard area, so even on the busiest days you can claim a nice secluded swath of sand all for yourself!

If your travels bring you by the North Shore early in the morning, definitely pit-stop here and take a long beach stroll – Baldwin Beach typically has a mystical feel in the early morning that is quite different from the vibe late in the day. Oh, and if the broker who booked your time-share sold you on west-facing shores as being the only place to see a spectacular Maui sunset, he’s lying to you – many of the spectacular sunsets I’ve witnessed on Maui were from this very beach. (check our Facebook page to see one!)

Key Info:
Mile Marker: #6 (Hwy 36 aka Hana Hwy)
GPS Coordinates: 20.913502,-156.394544
Facilities: Showers (temporarily out of service), Port-a-potties, Lifeguards, BBQs, Picnic Tables, Electricity. NOTE: Pavilion area closed temporarily for repairs.
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2 Responses to “Baldwin Beach Park”

  1. beata

    12. Sep, 2011

    Is it possible to camp here? any permit is required?
    Thanx.Cheers.Bea

    Reply to this comment

    • Mark

      12. Sep, 2011

      Aloha Bea -

      You can not legally camp on Baldwin Beach Park. The closest legal campground to there would be Kanaha Beach Park, though I’m not a big fan of that campground as it tends to attract a rougher crowd.
      \
      My favorite campsite is in Kipahulu at the National Park – and that campground is also free and requires no permit.

      Have fun!

      Reply to this comment

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