About halfway down the trail, hikers will reach waipoo falls, a gorgeous 800 foot cascading waterfall. Kokeewaimea canyon final eis 2015 department of land and. Looking for a great trail in waimea canyon state park, kauai. After waimea canyon drive and kokee road merge around mile marker 6, it is another 4 miles 6. Click on a route to see a popup with link to the corresponding printable schedule for that route. Continue on waimea canyon drive for nearly 9 miles until you see a trailhead sign on your right for iliau nature loop listed with kukui trail, which also begins at this point. Here, you will behold what the first people to these islands saw in the upland native forests of kokee tall ohia trees twisting through mists into the sky, adorned with their lacy scarlet lehua blossoms forests of koa trees, with their sickleshaped leafstem phyllodes. This valley, known for its reddish lava beds, reminds everyone who sees it of the grand canyon. Waimea canyon on kauai is ten miles long, two miles wide and 3,600 feet deep. A fantastic sightseeing tour around kauai s most popular places with great photo opportunities at every location. Waimea canyon was as spectacular as expected but enjoyed our drivers very informative commentary there and back and the visit to the kauai coffee plantation.
The lush tropical landscape is rich with varying shades of green that beautifully compliment the. Kauais age makes it one of the most scenic islands in hawaii from the 3,000foot elevations of waimea canyon to the waterfalls and deep gorges of 5,148foot mount waialeale in the uninhabited. May 30, 2017 one of the sights youve got to see on your kauai vacation is waimea canyon. A fantastic sightseeing tour around kauais most popular places with great photo opportunities at every location. Kauai at your own pace with this audio tour app that uses gps to guide you to and.
The history of kauai can be seen in the walls and crags of the canyon as you explore the more than 45 miles of trails. Waimea canyon experience and luau kalamaku combo hawaii. Since the waimea canyon lookout is located at an elevation of about 4,000 feet 1. Hanalei and waimea, kauai, hawaii, containing an area of 4000. Waimea canyon state park w a i n i h a p a l i m a k a l e h a m o u n t a i n s kokee state park hawaii maui molokai. Mark twain nicknamed waimea canyon the grand canyon of the pacific because of its resemblance to the southwests most popular tourist attraction.
See the majestic waimea canyon often referred to the grand canyon of the pacific, stretching 14 miles long, 1 mile wide and more than 3,600 feet deep, the waimea canyon lookout provides panoramic views of crested buttes, rugged crags and deep valley gorges. We based our ratings on views along the way, condition of. Hipalau camp is covered by the waimea canyon, hi us topo map quadrant free us topo map pdf order waterproof printed topo map water land manmade. Kauais waimea canyon and kokee state parks go visit hawaii. Beginning at the north corner of this parcel of land and on the west side of kokee road, the true azimuth and distance to government survey reference station kukui being. Some even offer tours that way you can get an in depth idea into all that they have to offer. The documents and maps available on this site are in adobe acrobat pdf format. Directions if you are looking for directions to waimea, hi rather than an online map of all of the places that you are interested in visiting, you also have the option of finding and saving the.
Our roadways for the most part are two lanes with little or no shoulder. Take a look at what waimeas educational institutions look like such as their schools, colleges, and universities. Pdf packet now additionally includes a kauai beaches map. Kauai s version is bursting with everchanging color, just like its namesake, but its smaller only a mile wide, 3,567 feet deep, and 12 miles long. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking and is accessible yearround. Kauai real estate is in close proximity to one of hawaiis. Dont forget special rental car discounts are available for hawaii. The trail is primarily used for walking and nature trips and is accessible yearround. Moderate one of the most popular and scenic trails in waimea canyon, the canyon trail branches off of the cliff trail and is a 3. The waimea canyon is also called the grand canyon of the pacific.
Waimea canyon, located on the hawaiian island of kauai, is situated within kokee state park. In stark contrast to kauais lushness is waimea canyon state park. Hiking in waimea canyon the grand canyon of the pacific for all skill levels. These hikes offer rich scenery into waimea canyon, which is ten miles long. The cliff and canyon trails are definitely among our favorite hawaii hikes. Occupying 552 square miles, kauai is circular in shape with lush, mountainous regions in its center and beaches covering almost half its shoreline. Waimea canyon state park is covered by the waimea canyon, hi us topo map quadrant free us topo map pdf order waterproof printed topo map water. Waimea canyon see more photos is one of kauais most outstanding natural features. Click on kauai map icons to zoom in, get directions or navigate to individual restaurants, beaches, hikes and kauai attractions. According to tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience waimea canyon state park. Millions of years ago, volcanic activity as well as the waimea river, helped carve out this mini canyon. Bring your camera, a light jacket for the mountain climate and a full tank of gas because there is no service station in this area. The unrivaled canyon hike in hawaii everyone should take at.
Either way, it is a great hike that takes you out over a ridge and then on top of waipoo falls with some fantastic views of the canyon. With its laidback vibe, dusty red dirt, lack of rain, and small historical buildings, it almost resembles the wild west. Find downloadable kauai maps, travel information and more. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. To view them, download adobes free acrobat reader by clicking here. Kauais main airport is lihue airport lih in southeastern lihue. Waimea canyon experience and luau kalamaku combo this is a great combo tour that combines a visit to waimea canyon state park with luau kalamaku, one of kauais most popular hawaiian luaus. The waimea canyon explorer is a kauai hike you will never forget. Waimea canyon lookout closed kauai, hawaii alltrails. Waimea, kauai, hawaii being a portion of the government crown land of waimea. The canyon was formed by a deep incision of the waimea river. Remember you are on vacation and driving on kauai is not like driving on the mainland. There are two ways to get to these state parks via highway 550 waimea canyon drive and by highway 552 kokee road.
Oct 30, 2016 the unrivaled canyon hike in hawaii everyone should take at least once. Few would expect to find a gargantuan chasm of ancient lava rock, 10 miles long and over 3500ft deep. Adjacent forest reserve with long, strenuous hike into and out of the canyon. The best time to go is early in the morning, to see the panoramic view of kalalau valley from the lookout at 4,000 feet, before clouds obscure the valley and. Waimea canyon state park is the largest canyon in the pacific and will undoubtedly capture your gaze, with its 10 mile long stretch at a mile wide and measuring more than 3,500 feet deep. Waimea canyon state park topo map in kauai county, hawaii. Kauai s most striking geographic feature is the napali. Waimea canyon tour features the grand canyon of the pacific, and offers. See hanapepe and poipu before reaching wailua river, hawaiis only navigable river.
Please use caution and be respectful of pedestrians and. Ten miles 16 km long and more than a halfmile 800 m deep largest canyon in the pacific. Waimea canyon is a geological wonder located on the western side of kauai. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is kanalohuluhulu 1 which is approximately 5 miles away and has an elevation of 3,600 feet 733 feet higher than waimea canyon state park. Hike the waimea cliffcanyon trails on kauai go visit hawaii. Your day starts with a scenic drive up waimea canyon road into the islands interior.
Waimea canyon state park waimea canyon, also known as the grand canyon of the pacific, is a large canyon, approximately ten miles 16 km long and up to 3,000 feet 900 m deep, located on the western side of kauai in the hawaiian islands of the united states. Witness the beauty of the waimea canyon state park, also known as the grand canyon of the pacific. The unrivaled canyon hike in hawaii everyone should take at least once. Canyon trail walmea canyon lookout 550 nualolo cliff trail 2. The town of waimea is located on the south west coast of kauai hawaii. For advance information, contact the state division of parks, 3060 eiwa st. Best trails in waimea canyon state park kauai, hawaii alltrails. The unrivaled canyon hike in hawaii everyone should take. Canyon trail waimea 2020 all you need to know before you.
Waimea canyon state park and kokee state park are adjacent to each other on the west side of kauai. The moniker, falsely attributed to literalist mark twain, became popular after american explorer john wesley powell came to the island of kauai in 1869. Located in western kauai, waimea canyon is often referred to as the grand canyon of the pacific, and though the expansive canyon is not as big or as old as its arizona cousin, you will surely never experience anything quite like this geological wonder in hawaii. A geological kaleidoscope of reds and browns, kauais impressive waimea canyonat 14 miles 22. Known for its dramatic colors and towering peaks, some as high as 3,000 feet from the canyon floor, waimea canyon is a spectacle to behold. The beauty to this canyon was imparted by years of weathering and erosion by the waimea river, and the volcanic activity that lead to the formation kauai island. Alltrails has 5 great views trails and more, with handcurated trail maps and driving directions as. Waimea is hawaiian for reddish water, a reference to the erosion of the canyons red soil. Waimea canyon and kokee state park in kauai the complete guide.
Feel free to download the pdf version of the waimea, hi map so that you can easily access it while you travel without any means to the internet. Waimea canyon, located in waimea, hawaii is dubbed the grand canyon of the pacific. Out on the west side, youll find empty land, roads, and beaches, and the very small historical town of waimea. Waimea canyon state park, kauai hawaii travel guide. Kauai s age makes it one of the most scenic islands in hawaii from the 3,000foot elevations of waimea canyon to the waterfalls and deep gorges of 5,148foot mount waialeale in the uninhabited center of. Waimea canyon is a mustsee site on the island of kauai it is a bit out of the way though, as it is located on the far west side of the island miles from any resort hotels. Waimea canyon was formed when the waimea river carved its way through the lava and basalt formations of. Kauai nature tours hike the waimea canyon of kauai, hawaii.
Seeing the grand canyon of the pacific from a lookout is great, but to stand along a cliff edge that juts out into the canyon for a 360degree view is even better. Waimea canyon state park 2020 all you need to know before. Explore waimea canyon state park holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. One of the sights youve got to see on your kauai vacation is waimea canyon. This attractive town can be found near the picturesque waimea canyon. For general information see our hiking in hawaii page or the na ala hele hiking safely brochure. Waimea canyon state park 2020 all you need to know. You can hike to a small waterfall that feeds into waipoo the water is a little cool, but its refreshing after the long hike. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is kanalohuluhulu 1 which is approximately 4 miles away and has an elevation of 3,600 feet 2,101 feet higher than hipalau camp. It rises in a wet plateau of the islands central highlands, in the alakai swamp, the largest highelevation swamp in the world. The great gaping gulch known as waimea canyon is quite a sight. The waimea canyon trail takes you to waipoo falls, one of the most recognized waterfalls on kauai.
Often referred to as the grand canyon of the pacific, this glorious gulch contains 3,000foot tall cliffs with lush green foliage amidst red pops of color, sprinkled with waterfalls. Rim overlooks of one of the states scenic treasures the deep, colorful gorge of waimea canyon. Its a bit of a white knuckle drive on a winding mountain road consider sitting back and enjoying the scenery while your experienced driver guide takes you there. We based our ratings on views along the way, condition of the trails, and general popularity. The waimea river is a major river on the island of kauai in the u. Thousands of years of volcanic activity, earthquakes, and erosion have created a dramatic variation in the landscape. Princeville to waimea canyon state park 2 ways to travel. When possible, we have also attempted to rank the trails on this list. Waimea canyon, also known as the grand canyon of the pacific, is a large canyon, approximately ten miles 16 km long and up to 3,000 feet 900 m deep, located on the western side of kaua. Kauais age makes it one of the most scenic islands in hawaii from the 3,000foot elevations of waimea canyon to the waterfalls and.