Carlsmith Beach Park (also sometime called 4 Mile) may be the most picturesque of the park's near Hilo, and offers ideal clear and calm waters for snorkeling and swimming.
The park has spacious grassy lawn both in the shade and in the sun, tables spread throughout the area for picnics, a small pond and some interesting walkways, and most notably two large swimming coves protected from the waves by rock breakwaters. The water here is cool, fed by fresh water springs which have a strong enough flow that you can see the currents they create where they surface into the pools.
Ladders have been built to enter the pools from paved paths onto the rocks. Lifeguards watch over the coves part time. Tropical palms blow freely in the shore breeze. Carlsmith may be the best place to spend a hot afternoon if visiting Hilo.
Though everyone else is thinking the same thing, and at peak times, you may have a hard time finding a spot to lay out and will be sharing the pools with plenty of other people.
The calm waters here may be ideal for families. There's not really sandy shore to lay out on, but plenty of grassy space is available throughout the park.
Bathrooms are available. Parking is extremely limited - though it is not too far to park at neighboring Kealoha Beach Park and walk back to Carlsmith. There is also additional parking at the end of Lokoaka St where a short trail heads through the trees to the beach park - if going this way, bring your bug spray.
Carlsmith is open from 7am to 7pm daily. There is cost to park or visit the park.
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