The Kalalau Trail Hike in the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park.
As the sign at the trailhead shows, the beach is two miles in and is between 1-2 hours. Assume in and out from the beach will take four hours. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and count on them remaining tinged with orange-red mud after this hike. Take lots of water, don a hat and don’t forget to pack snacks. You’ll need the extra energy when you start your return from the beach.
Read thoroughly about this hike before going. There’s a Facebook group you can join that has daily updates on trail conditions. On the posted map, the trail looks deceptively easy. Anyone who has hiked it will tell you differently. Trekking poles will help a great deal. This is a trek up and down over an unmaintained trail. There are a few smooth patches, but most of it is rocks and boulders, slippery mud, and just before you reach the beach you ford a stream. You may choose to move carefully from boulder to boulder or elect to remove your shoes and wade barefoot. This is definitely a hike where carrying water shoes in your pack would come in handy.
If you plan on walking further than the beach, permits are required. Hanakapi’ai Falls is two miles beyond the beach. The trail to the falls is supposedly a bit easier than the first two miles in. If you’re doing this, start the hike early in the morning so you allow enough time for your in and out.
Kauai Views!
The views are truly astounding throughout the hike. There are numerous places where you can stop for viewing and picture taking. Make sure to look north and south because the scenery both directions is breathtaking.
The beach is loud and gorgeous and soothes your soul and your feet when you take a break and relax into the space of it.
Going up, I kept thinking: “I can’t wait for this to be over. This is one of the hardest hikes I’ve done (thoughts of the Cinque Terre were foremost in my mind). I’m tired.” By the time we got in the car and Alex said to me: “I’d like to come back and hike to the falls.” I thought, “Me, too.”
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Read: Hawaii travel blogs
Well that is one beautiful yet dangerous looking hike, Rose. Oh but that view at the end I’m sure made it all worth it. You must have finished this trip in tip top shape!!
That hike was something, Susan! I admire the people who think it was an easy hike! I’m really preparing for our Wales hike in the spring. Sister and I are doing parts of the Pembrokeshire Coastal path.
The photos are gorgeous
I love the views, they are stunning
Good adjectives to describe Kauai, Chinwe!
I hate you sooooo much.
I am reading this at the same time I am looking at a snow covered field, and listening to the weather channel where they are predicting this weekend it will be 20 BELOW zero.
I just hope someday I get to write a post about this place, and you are somewhere that it is so cold the mercury in the thermometer does not go that low.
Honestly, thanks for sharing this post about this wonderful place with us.
Ha Ha, William! You gave me a good laugh this afternoon. I thought 12 degrees bad day, but -20 is beyond dreadful. I hope we both get a nice warm spell–oh, fifty would be good, eh?
It is gratifying indeed, Rose, that during your vacation in Hawai’i you did not just “watch TV in a different time zone” (to quote a recent Jeopardy! contestant) but actually got out and interfaced with Nature in all its splendour. I only wish I could have been there navigating those big boulders along with you…
Meanwhile, you mentioned surfers a few weeks back: somewhat disappointingly, you have yet to show us a photo of you surfing a wave of molten lava although we trust that this is coming up shortly in a subsequent post.
Andy, we were hard-pressed to watch any TV in the evenings. We were happily exhausted every night from hiking and touring around the island. Who needs TV when they’re in such a beautiful setting.
I’ve never hiked this part of Kauai Rose so this is really interesting. There are some equally challenging hikes here in Maui. Most people think of Haleakala or the Hana side when it comes to hiking here but some of the most scenic (and demanding) hikes I’ve been on are in the West Maui mountains and over the lava flows out beyond Makena State Park. Lovely photos, really makes me feel like getting out for a hike!
I am so glad to hear this from you, Marquita. First, it helps me stop thinking of Maui as over-developed, which is what I hear too often. Second, I’m happy to inspire you to pop over to Kauai. I still laugh at ourselves for getting destroyed on Napali and absolutely wanting to go back and do it again! I hope that the recent “raid” reminds people to pack out everything they pack in!
It looks like you’re having a ball in Hawaii.
It was a great trip, Jason–with new snow falling in Pittsburgh this morning, I wish we were there again. Next island: Molokai!
How beautiful are your photographs!
I love to walk at the best of times so would not hesitate to go on this hike.
It sounds tiring but I assume you stopped to catch your breath and to sip a drink.
I agree about us humans being fickle. We tend to complain rather than enjoy the moment. We then look back and reminisce!
Rose, I hope you don’t mind but I think I’ll sit this one out. I’m quite content to enjoy your photos of the view. What rugged territory, hats off to you for hiking this (as a matter of fact, I did see that your hat was off).
BTW – love your new photo – good enough for a VS model LOL
This might be a bit too stressful for me to hike… but man o man, those views are stunning!
Yep, Jacquie. I’d say the work was worth the view, but hey you can always buy a video of it. HA!
Seems as tough some tough trekking enhances the natural beauty. Not like looking out a hotel room window. You have to work for it.
There’s a really good time to look at that hotel window, Ken…after the hike and while holding a nice glass of red wine!
Wow, that looks like a hike for experts. I don’t know if my ankles would be able to handle the rocks. Thanks for sharing. It looks beautiful though.
Those rocks were something else, Sabrina! I am accustomed to more maintained trails such as the ones I’ve hiked in PA, MT, CA…where you might have steep grades, but the path itself is fairly flat. Yikes to this being such a shock!
The views are stunning and bravo to you for doing this hike. It sounds like one I won’t even attempt, so I will have to be satisfied with your lovely photographs.
It was intense, Donna, that’s for sure. More grueling than the toughest Cinque Terre hikes (so far!). Probably the hardcore hikes will say I’m a wimp!
I love this format of your blog. The pictures are really easy to load and see. Very nice. You need to write a hiking book of trails in Hawaii. I would appreciate reading how easy/difficult they would be.
On the Italian Trail scale rating or ours, Seester? HA! I’m glad that the new picture format is working for you. Yeah to non-tech me getting it right!