One of the main reasons I love hiking is because it’s nearly always a humbling experience. There I am, walking a path untold numbers have walked before me, on a slab of land millions of years old. There is nothing better to remind you of your insignificance of the world. That you are only experiencing a blip in time in the vast, random universe.
I always find myself grateful to be humbled and blessed to be surrounded by great natural beauty. I experienced this tenfold in Kauai, on some of the most beautiful hikes I’ve seen.
These are the four hikes I experienced in Kauai:
Nu’alolo Trail
The Nu’alolo Trail was the best hike I did in Kauai, and possibly the most beautiful my life to date. It was also the longest trail I hiked in Kauai. The reward of the view comes at the very end of trail.
The trailhead starts in Kōkeʻe State Park, a bit past Waimea Canyon. There are about four parking spaces at the very start of the trail. It’s better to park at the park visitor center, which also has bathrooms and a small restaurant.
The start of the Nu’alolo Trail is about a five-minute walk from the visitor center. Trekking poles are recommended, but walking sticks were helpfully left at the trailhead. Also at the start of the trail is an area to clean your shoes to avoid disturbing the natural flora. You should brush your shoes off at the start and end of the trail.
The first part of the trail is will make you think you’re in the middle of Jurassic Park. In fact, some Jurassic Park movies have been filmed in Kauai around this area. If visiting during rainy season, this trail can be difficult to traverse due to slippery mud. July still sees some rain, but it is typically light enough that the trail is still easy to hike.
Climbing past the jungle area, the mid-section of the trail gets sandier. Multi-colored volcanic sands paint the trail in shades of red and brown. There are some steep areas where you need to watch your footing, which is where the walking sticks come in handy. This section of the hike also offers small lookout windows as a sneak peak of the view from the top, as well as views into the famous Waimea Canyon.
One of the Best Views of my Life
There’s a false peak near the top of the trail. Keep following the trail to a narrow ridge that will show the first truly awe-inspiring views from the hike. As I followed the ridge and came up to the view, I couldn’t help but exclaim at the beauty in front of me.
This hike is one of the few ways to get a glimpse of the Nā Pali coast without a permit or boat or helicopter tour. The coast is said to have inspired artists from all over to create many works of genius. And it is hard to not feel inspired standing at the top of this trail, overlooking such incredible natural beauty.
This hike is about seven miles round-trip for the out-and-back trail. The trail takes about two hours each way, but make sure to budget plenty of time to fully soak in the views from the peak.
The return hike is easier, as the trail is mostly flat or uphill. Don’t forget to return your hiking stick and brush off your shoes when you exit.
Queen’s Bath
This North Shore wonder was my second-favorite lookout in Kauai. To get to the Queen’s Bath, drive to Princeville and park in the public lot. This parking lot is small and fills up quickly, so it’s best to go in the early morning or late afternoon. The lot is in a residential neighborhood, so it is impolite to form a long line waiting to get into the parking lot. When we arrived in late afternoon, it was full, but two cars were getting ready to leave, so we only had to wait a few minutes to park at the trailhead.
When visiting The Queen’s Bath, timing is important for another reason. It can only be visited at low tide outside of rainy season. During high tide and most of the winter, it is too deadly to walk all the way down to the Bath.
After confirming the tide timings, drive to Princeville and take the short trail down from the parking lot. This trail is more of a nature walk than a proper hike, but there are still some tricky and slippery sections, so wear sturdy shoes that can traverse roots, mud and sand up and down hill.
At the end of the trail, there is a vast stretch of volcanic black rock jutting out over the Pacific Ocean. Before walking onto the rock, you’re greeted with a warning that tallies just how many people have drowned in the Queen’s Bath. It’s important to be vigilant on the rock, as a crashing wave can sweep anyone into the ocean standing on the ledge even during low tide.
People Still Swim in the Queen’s Bath (but not me…)
That does not stop people from swimming in the Queen’s Bath and standing at the edge of the ledge to look out over the ocean. Perhaps the danger even makes it more exciting for the folks.
I am not a major risk taker. I went during low tide and still stayed away from the very edge of the rocks. Instead, I enjoyed my time here climbing the black rocks and admiring the full beauty and danger of the ocean stretching before me. The rocks also hold tide pools held over from high tide, which I inspected closely for sea creatures. I really just saw small fish and crabs, but overheard someone saying they thought they spotted a small sea urchin in the pools.
Heritage Trail
The South Shore of Kauai also boasts an abundance of natural beauty. The Heritage Trail is the perfect place to experience what this part of the island has to offer.
Heritage Trail starts from a popular beach on the South Shore. Park in a lot near the beach and walk along the sand to get to the start of the trail. The trail follows the bluffs along the shore line, and gives gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean along the trail. As you walk the trail, you can also access private beach spots to explore and/or swim.
We took a detour from the trail to one of these beaches covered in black volcanic rocks and tide pools. Again, these tide pools mainly had fish and crabs, but we did get to see a gathering of hermit crabs switching shells. Apparently the hermit crab real estate market is extremely competitive in this area.
Caves and Tortoises Galore
At the end of the trail is a system of some of the oldest limestone caves in the US. There are signs marking the trail to the caves, and an informational brochure that teaches you what you can see at different points from the end of the trail to the cave. This trail brings you to a tiny entrance to these caves where you have to duck down and practically crawl through the entrance to access them. Here, a suggested donation of $10 per person will get you a tour of the caves. When archeologists dug out these caves, they uncovered fossils over 10,000 years old, making these structures among the most unique on Kauai.
This part of the trail also has a giant African land tortoise sanctuary. If you brush off your feet, you can enter the area containing the tortoises and have a chance to see the freely roaming grandfather tortoise.
After the caves, you can also relax at the beach, away from most of the crowds. The trail is about five miles round-trip and takes about two hours if you spend time in the caves. It’s more of a nature trail than a proper hike and can easily be done in hiking sandals or sneakers.
Ho’opi’i Falls
Ho’opi’i Falls is a popular trail that leads to a waterfall, which is also a filming site from Jurassic Park.
It’s obvious to see why this location was chosen for Jurassic Park. Walking the trail easily transports you back into pre-historic times. The growth from the trees and bushes makes you feel like a velociraptor will jump out at you at any moment.
This trail is an easy trek through the woods down to the falls and could be done in sturdy sandals or sneakers. It is about two miles total for the out and back trail. Be careful not to trip over branches as you walk. Its accessibility also makes it very popular with families.
At the end of the trail, you’ll find the waterfalls featured in the movies. People do like to swim in the jump off the falls and swim in the water. However, there is a danger of harmful bacteria in the water. We chose not to take a chance with the bacteria and instead admired the falls from afar.
Logistics:
Where to Stay:
Kauai is one of the pricier Hawaiian islands. Airbnb was the cheapest option in the area we wanted to stay.
Most people stay on either the North Shore (Princeville) or South Shore (Koloa). We were attending a wedding on the South Shore, so stayed in this area and rented a car to explore other parts of the island. It seemed the South Shore was a better place to go for beaches and resort, while the North Shore had more activities.
It seemed like it would be ideal to stay on the South Shore for one week, then the North shore for another. The cheapest area to stay is Lihue.
Getting Around:
There is not a lot in the way of public transportation or rideshares on the island, so it’s best to rent a car if you want to really explore the island and do a lot of hiking.
We used Turo for our car rental as a way to keep costs down. Turo is kind of like Airbnb for cars. The owner will rent out their car to the driver for a period of time. Luckily, we were able to find an affordable Turo rental right next to our Airbnb.
We used Uber to get from and to the airport. If you want to use any rideshare services, you should schedule ahead of time to ensure a timely and affordable pickup.
Best Time of Year to Visit:
Kauai sees a lot of rain year-round and claims one of the rainiest places on Earth. No matter what time of year you visit, you’ll likely encounter some rain. However, the summer months tend to have quick showers, while winter will see more rain. Some areas of the island – like the Queen’s Bath – are also less accessible during the winter.
Safety:
The island was very safe, even walking around at night.
One thought on “Kauai Hiking: 4 Trails That Will Take Your Breath Away”