![]() Matt and I thought this would be a complete breeze, but it wasn’t. » Don’t Take This Trail Lightly – Now, don’t be afraid of it either. The waterfall or the beach would both be a perfect spot for a picnic. We did bring snacks, but it still wasn’t enough. » Also, Take Food With You – I highly recommend bringing a picnic, at the very least, a snack. We were very hungry, in fact by the end of the hike we were bordering on hangry. We didn’t eat breakfast, but honestly figured we would be fine. » Eat Before You Hike – Matt and I have done 10+ miles of hiking in just a few hours multiple times, so we didn’t think much about doing anything different on this day. » Start Early – Not only do you get a great parking spot (you park at Ke’e Beach, and if you park on the street you will get a ticket), but you’ll get to beat the crowds as well. If you’re looking at doing this hike I have a few tips to get you started: It’s a minimum of eight miles, but if you wander around it can easily turn into an 11 mile hike, like it did for us. This hike was described to us as a 10 & 10: 10 in beauty, but also 10 in difficulty. Hopefully you will have a chance yourself.Matt and I did the amazingly beautiful hike to Hanakapi’ai Falls. But each direction offers a different perspective of an area that is hard to tell someone about-it must truly be experienced to be understood. ![]() The trail doubles back from the falls the same way you came. The falls provides the perfect backdrop for photo opportunities, a picnic lunch, and is a great space to spend some time to simply take in your surroundings. The 4 mile journey takes most people between 3-4 hours with considerable elevation change. When you get to the falls, chances are you’ll be craving a swim. The canopy creates a welcoming cool shade, yet lets in enough light for an array of wildflowers to pop out everywhere you look. Along the way is a giant bamboo grove, housing some of the largest bamboo stalks on the island at up to 30 feet tall. Indeed there is only way to go, and that’s upstream to the falls. This is one place where showing respect to the ocean usually means staying away.Īs you get deeper into the valley, the forest canopy and steep mountainsides create a very intimate setting. ![]() A tally board where the trail meets the beach shows the dozens of lives claimed here by the vicious rip currents hiding only a few feet below the surface. While the beach here is beaming in wild beauty, one must use extreme caution when near the water. Two miles in at Hanakapiai beach is where the trail to the falls leaves the Kalalau trail to head inland. The fruit is in such abundance that there are times when that is all you will be stepping on along the trail. You will be able to smell when they are ripe as the entire seaside walk will have a sweet, fruity aroma. If in season, fresh guava line the trail for this portion of the trip. For two miles you hug the coastline along this iconic trail. The trail begins along the famous Kalalau Trail, an 11-mile epic that takes you into the heart of the Na Pali Coast at Kalalau Valley. The pool beneath the falls is large enough to swim around in, and the surprising chill of the high-altitude source serves as a refreshing way to recharge yourself for the way back. The halfway turnaround point is the namesake falls, a 300-foot beauty that resembles what many would consider an ideal picture of a Hawaiian waterfall. This 8 mile round-trip hike is no easy walk in the park, but is by no means grueling. One of the most popular trails in the park is the trail to Hanakapiai falls. Now the coast is a protected state park, and the trails maintained by the parks allows for improved access that keeps getting better. Most of the trails along the Na Pali Coast are the same ancient routes that Hawaiians have used since they first arrived. For those who wish to feel the Mana of the land, the only way to access the coastline is by foot. The majority of people visiting the coast do so from offshore on a sightseeing boat. ![]() The true power of the Na Pali coast can’t be viewed through other people’s photographs-one must come and experience it for themselves. ![]() But to judge the area on beauty alone is like judging a cake for the icing. It’s true that the lush forests, steep mountainsides, and endless ocean views are commonly accepted as some Hawaii’s most scenic. Despite some of most stunning scenery on the island, the beauty of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast is only a small reason for its appeal. ![]()
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