Our Airbnb host told us about this and it was the highlight of my trip. So many turtles, it's free and not very crowded. I would suggest going on a weekday and early, if you can. I was swimming in the area to the right and large turtles would come over to visit. They would swim right up to us. There is no sandy beach but a large grassy area to sit on and relax. You won't miss the sand, trust me! The weather was perfect ( a few days ago) and much cooler than the other side of the island, it was a magical day! As tempting as it may be, don't touch the turtles! They are endangered, it's harmful to them, and you can get a huge fine. You are supposed to stay 10 feet away from them, but it's very hard when they are swimming right up to you and they seem very curious. I found myself having to back away. Also wear reef safe sunscreen. Our Airbnb host said the turtles are always here. This is the best place on the island in my opinion. Have fun! read more

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Most amazing area on the coast within Hilo, it's clear waters are spectacular no joke! Watched the sunrise and couldn't be any happier.

This was definitely an interesting place. We heard there are turtles that come here, but due to some uhh scheduling errors, the only time we could check it out was at 9am on a weekday. I think the turtles come out later. This is a park with some lava rock right next to some water. There are some pool style poles and steps built right into it. The water here is extremely clear but that early in the morning it's also pretty chilly. It will take you time to get used to it. When we arrived there were a number of locals there basically swimming laps. Vry interesting to see. We ended up snorkeling for a bit and there was better sea life here than I expected. You aren't going to see very colorful coral or anything but there's some colorful fish. I'd say maybe this is a hidden gem. Not many parking spots but if you want to see some very clear water, and go for a refreshing swim or snorkel with some fish then I recommend it. read more

Next to Kealoha Beach Park is the more serene and beautiful Carlsmith Beach Park. Frankly, it is hard to tell where one park starts and the other begins. This park has a small angled parking lot along the road and a restroom area before taking the path that leads past some gardens with mature trees and stone steps cut into the lava rock. Grass covered rock adds a bit of color to the garden area in the south part of the park. As you wander towards the ocean, the path turns to pummeled lava rock with lots of leaves scattered about. Beyond that, there are rocky coves of relatively shallow water that were being used for swimming and scuba lessons. The weather didn't cooperate during our visit (cool and rainy) to see many fish or turtles, but it did stir up the ocean and create some exciting crashes of the waves along the protective barrier reef beyond the park. It is amazing to see that much power emerge from what looks like a gently rolling sea. Apparently I don't have enough knowledge to predict the big sprays. But considering the rain and cooler temperatures, we were still able to enjoy our shortened visit to the park. I would love to see this when the flowers are blooming and the sun was shining. Beautiful area. Review #2372 read more

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First of all I fell in love with the big island and all of the beaches, waterfalls, streams, volcanoes! This little gem is so beautiful! Bring snorkeling gear! It was a little cool for me when we visited to snorkel but there were several in the water. Even wading in it you could see the waters teaming with tiny schools of fish! read more

Went here in hopes of finding turtles but we had no luck! Still though, we had fun walking around the beach. This is not your typical beach where you think of just beige sand and water. There are large rock formations and so many trees! The colors of the water are amazing too. Even though it was crowded in the parking lot, there was a lot of space to swim and snorkel. Hopefully when we come back again, we can find some turtles. read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Sea turtles!!! When i took my vacation to hawaii this was without a doubt the best beach area i went to on the whole island. The water in the cove area was about 70' and when you go to the ocean it went to 55'. The place wasn't busy and i spent my time swimming with sea turtles and fish. And fyi remember don't touch the turtles or big fish:) read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

This beach park was super cute. There's no sandy bank (but there doesn't seem to much or any of that in Hilo). But what it lacks in sand it makes up for in clear shallow waters, cute fish, TURTLES, and an amazing scenery. The girls and I enjoyed many hours here. We got here at around 8am and were the only ones there which was so so so relaxing. The park started filling up at about 10 which is still fun, but less serene read more

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This was our first stop while visiting this island and we were immediately welcomed by sea turtles napping on the land and swimming in the water! There are areas where you can snorkel and spot fish swimming or little crabs crawling hiding in the rocks. We went early in the morning around 9am and it was still pretty empty but during the weekend there were definitely more people hanging out. Overall, I do recommend this place being on your itinerary! Check out my instagram @linhtvo and @thetravlrs where I posted more pictures of the beach! read more

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Cool beach with a shelter cover. Good place to snorkel or just lounge in the ocean. You see lots of fish and occasionally a turtle. Just a heads up some parts are colder than others, surface water was chilly and deeper parts were warm. read more

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This is a hidden gem! Beautiful and picturesque beach. The actual beauty of this beach can only be caught by the naked eye. The camera lenses doesn't do it any justice! Not crowded very nice beach with chilly but refreshing water. There were areas that were deeper than others. Some parts had rocky bottoms so If coming here i would recommend wearing water shoes. We saw a giant turtle near the grassy part which resembled a giant pumice or granite stone. The turtles are protected so you should watch at a distance. That area near turtle felt muddy as we stepped around the water. It was a fun day. Pictures attached! Enjoy. read more

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A lovely grassy park and a beautiful cove filled with coral, sand, lava rock, fish, and sea turtles! The series of a few protected coves have extremely calm water. There are many place to get in and out over lava rock, even some that have railings. The snorkeling was great with the usual Hawaiian suspects of reef/coral fish, plus there were a bunch of sand crabs and a couple sea turtles just swimming along with all the humans. It got pretty crowded by midday but there was still plenty of room in the water and on the grass nearby. There's not really any sand on the shore, but the grassy area is just as good. There are some picnic tables and grills and a bathroom as well. Parking can be found along the road, usually not too far away. read more

BEAUTIFUL beach !! Beach is shallow, very clear, and has many turtles in it!! No waves so it is a great place to take children !!! read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Great part of our trip to the Hilo side of the Big Island. The water pools are gentle and there were some beautiful fish in addition to a couple of green sea "Honu" basking in the sun. So nice to see the people respecting the space of these captivating creatures. Definitely a highlight! read more

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Beautiful beach not far from the double tree. Nice views and shallow pockets you can swim and snorkel. We stumbled upon this beauty on our way down the road from Kens House of Pancakes read more

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When we went the waves were calm it's was a great to swim not to salty and you see turtles read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Turtle in the corner - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Favorite place on the east side. I even made a little video! https://youtu.be/S4dDNNW0TFo

Awesome spot to hang out. Beautiful views and you can see sea turtles here. It wasn't crowded and seemed popular with local people. There were kids kicking stound a soccer ball, people picnicking, a couple guys were fishing with nets. Great spot for pix. The bottom can be rocky and sharp so you might water shoes. In some spots, there is soft white sand under the water. Really clear water!! read more

We were not as lucky as other visitors to this park.. we visited for a picnic lunch. There were plenty of picnic spots, a fresh water shower and a public restroom/changing area. Unfortunately the water was rough, grey and cloudy during our rainy visit. The park looked awesome but we picked the wrong day to make the drive from Kona. read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Favorite beach on island! Such an amazing place to wade around, let the kids play, easy snorkeling and sun bathing on warm rocks! Parking was easy as well. Water shoes are a good idea for the rocks, and being sun screen, not much shade. We seen several turtles all over. read more

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Had beautiful flowers, trees, blue waters and grassy areas to have a picnic or get some sun. There are sea turtles that frequent the area but we did not see any because the tide was really high and the waters were rough, but I would definitely go back again. Great snorkeling areas. read more

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We came here on recommendation from some folks we met at breakfast. We were immediately greeted by crabs. Within 2 minutes of wading into the water, we were greeted by two sea turtles. We entered from the side nearest the main road, which allowed us to leave our towels on the rocks and head right in. Fresh water enters from that side, so it was VERY COLD! We made our way past a little rick barrier into the salt water where it was warmer and threw on our snorkels to find many small tropical fish and more turtles! All of the people we interacted with were locals and willing and wanting to introduce us to the nature around us. We learned the black crabs on the rocks are a'ama (sp?) crabs, served raw, and a popular dish at any luau. read more

My wife and I had an afternoon to kill and decided to head here for a bit. Imagine our surprise that this turned out to one of the best beaches we went. There was a massive turtle hanging out, a couple smaller ones swimming around and great snorkeling. We saw tons of sweet fish and got up close with a morey eel! read more

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Love it here! water is super cold. It's fresh water mixed with ocean water. The turtles swim right up to you. Water is super clear also. There are no waves because the rocks block it off and you could swim far out, it will still be shallow. read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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This is my favorite swimming beach in Hilo - although the water can be a bit chilly as rainwater causes an inversion layer. Just swim out away from the entry a bit and water is warmer. Great place for novice snorkelers as the water is not very deep, even at high tide. Turtles love Carlsmith Beach and typically in the late afternoon one or two will show up. They have no fear of humans and they love to hang out by the entry steps. Just remember they are protected by Federal Law and don't touch them or harass them. Water is crystal clear, white sand on the bottom. Beach is lava and has nice grassy areas, covered picnic tables, outdoor shower, lifeguard, and clean restrooms. Parking can be tricky, but there is a lot on the left, just a block up the street. Even if you're not going swimming stop by and take some photo's - very picturesque and gorgeous! read more

TURTLES and more TURTLES! They notice when people are in the water and come up to you to take pictures! You can throw up the hang loose sign and they pop their heads out the water to take pictures. It was a memorable experience read more

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Best beach in the Hilo area! There are places to relax in the park area and places to drop your things and take a dip. There are shallow parts of the water which is great for kids. Snorkeling is awesome there (bring your own goggles) because there's so many fun fish there. You may also get to swim with a sea turtle if you're lucky! read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Definitely the best beach in the Hilo area. Roomy, not much sand though. - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Really pretty spot! Small parking lot. FUn walk through the tress to get to beach area. Not really a beach no sand. Mostly lava rock and grass area. nice lagoons to swim in. Turtles will come right up to you. Don't touch them! It's really cool to be so close to them! read more

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We stayed in Hilo at a friends and have heard there are no good beaches on in Hilo. We were pleasantly surprised by this "beach". There is volcanic rock lining the beach but the sand in the water is white. It is striking to see the blue water against the black rocks. We really enjoyed swimming in the calm lagoon and watching the larger waves outside it. Saw a very large turtle. Nice! read more

Probably one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Hawaii. We were in Hilo for the day on a cruise with Norwegians Pride of America. We originally went to Richardson Beach Park which is about a mile down the road to see the black sand and then we headed up to this beach because of reviews I had seen on yelp and I'm so glad that we did. It's a great area for snorkeling and swimming. read more

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Beautiful beach Park! Home to lots of turtles! Great place if you have kids or looking for a beautiful and chill place to swim. read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Beautiful beach Park with lots of turtles! - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Beat beach in Hilo for families. I noticed that there were a lot of turtles here because people feed them lettuce! It was a little scary for me to be honest, because the turtles can get a little aggressive, looking for food. But overall calm waters and safe to swim! There's no good snorkeling but if you go out further you'll find a few fish. read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Beautiful place to picnic if you can find a parking spot or table to eat at. It was very busy!

Got to swim with turtles!!. It's not very deep so extremely kid friendly and the scenery is beautiful. They have picnic benches, descent bathrooms and good showers. We saw 3 turtles while we were there. I loved this beach. Would come back to Hilo just to swim here again. read more

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We took the wooded pathway to the beach just for fun. The entry is at the small parking lot. It was a bit muddy in places, but that's what the large leaves are good for. You're rewarded with a scenic ocean at the end. Of course if you a park a bit further up the road, you're right on the beach. read more

We shared this beach park with about 10 other people and it was the perfect relaxing day. If you're looking for a sandy beach, this isn't the place for you. There is no sandy bank to lay out and honestly, we didn't get a lot of sun either because of the trees surrounding the beach park which shaded most of the area. However, I don't think that there are many sandy beaches in Hilo anyway. This beach park made up for the lack of a sandy bank with its amazingly clear water and sea life. This is a great place to go snorkeling and we were even able to swim with three sea turtles which was the highlight of this beach park! The water is extremely calm and there is sand once you get past the rock bank. The beach park never got crowded and my friends and I were able to spend time in the water and on the rock bank laying out without being disturbed much. This beach park is the definition of serenity. I would definitely stop by again when I return to Hilo! read more

Carlsmith Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Yelp and the reviews came through big time! We were looking for a spot for our last day here and I went on to Yelp. Can't believe it but the reviews were totally on point. Awesome snorkel and swim spot and just like the reviews said there are sea turtles. Friendliest sea turtle(s) ever! Thankful we stopped here. Best way to end our trip in Hawaii. Thank you Yelp and Yelpers! read more

Beautiful little gem. A little paradise to explore and swim in. Makes yo feel like you are away from the city.

This is a great little beach to play with the kids. There's no sand to sun bathe on but there are several grassy areas for relaxing. We chose to just sit on the rocks when we weren't in the water. What we loved most is the sandy tide pool areas where I could let the kids play for a while. No issues with waves here, it's a protected cove. Be aware, I would suggest parking over behind the hotel and walking through the little "jungle" I think it's better for kids on that side of the park. There are only a limited number of spots over there but we've been several times and not had a problem snagging one. read more

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This beach park is not very well known but is an easily accessible and beautiful gem. My husband and I explored the rocks jutting into the water, and saw little crabs and fish. Then we went to the snorkeling area, and saw 3 giant green turtles. They were so friendly! The water is fairly gentle and shallow, only came to my husband's waist (he's 5'10"). Super friendly water for little kids. read more