Nature at Its Best: The Famous Kauai Trails
The Great Hikes
The Kauai Kalalau Trail Na Pali Coastline is one of the ultimate hikes in the island which takes about 2 days to finish. The trail starts at the end of the road at Kee Beach. Many hikers hike for 11 miles and upon reaching the end at Kalalau Beach, get picked up by a tour bus. From the starting point, you work the incline up to the Na Pali Coastline.
The first 25 minutes of the trail is fairly mudde, steep and rocky although you get to see a great view of Kee Beach. Views of the coastline will come and go as you continue on the trail. Hanakapi’ai Beach is just 2 miles from the starting point but you get to go through streams, boulders, caves and cliffs along the way.
You may choose to stop at Hanakapi’ai Beach. If you go 2 more miles inland, you get to see the 300-foot majestic waterfall where you can enjoy a quick dip. It takes about 8 hours back and forth if you pick Hanakapi’ai Falls as your destination spot.
For families and beginners, the Kauai Kuilau Ridge Trail is good. Drive past Opaekaa Falls to the end of the road just before reaching Keahua Arboretum and the first stream crossing to find the starting point on the right. The first mile has an asphalt base path which slowly rises to a picnic area on top of a valley. Views include Mt. Wai’ale’ale, rolling hills and the ocean. There is a wooden bridge that leads to the end of the trail as well as the starting point of Moalepe Trail. Most find this an easy and relaxing hike.
Kauai Kukui Trail is more challenging which winds down 2000 feet into the Waimea Canyon floor. You get to see a lot of unique landscapes and views in the first 1.5 miles such as dramatic canyon formations, mountain goats and plants.
Choose the forest and brush paths if you’re up for a tough hike. Expect the trails to be slippery during dry days and make sure you have enough energy since you still need to hike back up. The end of the trail is at the Wiliwili campsite and Waimea River. You can also walk to nearby Waimea town through the canyon.
Beautiful Isolated Walks
Kauai Nounou West Trail is located about a mile from Opaekaa Falls. You climb the mountain known as “Sleeping Giant” leading to a sheltered picnic area on the giant’s chest. Some magnificent views include Wailua River, Mt. Waialeale and the ocean. Mt. Waialeale will provide you the same view similar to the remake of the movie “King Kong”. It takes about an hour and a half to reach to total elevation of about 1000 feet from the base to the head.
Kuamoo Trail is another fairly easy isolated route that starts half a mile past Opaekaa Falls. The first mile features a few Hawaiian homes and green canopies. You also get to see a wooden bridge and the river feeding Opaekaa Falls.
Total Kauan trail is about 2 miles long with lots of ferns, vegetation and mud. The destination is in a pine tree grove at the intersection of the Nounou West Trail.
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