Hike to the Base of Wailua Falls
1.5 Miles
150 Feet
Chillin, Photography, Hiking
Intermediate
Year Round
Out-and-Back
Take a short hike to this amazing Kauai waterfall (173 ft) with beautiful views from the base. This is a fun excursion for the adventurous – no maintained trail.
The short, makeshift hike to the falls is well worth the effort – this is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island of Kauai.
Look for a small path at the south end of the parking lot. You will have to hop over a cement barrier that is about chest high (there is no sign marking this area as off-limits).
The path down is very steep, and has ropes tied to the trees to help you navigate down to the bottom. Definitely come during dry weather, as the trail will be very muddy and difficult to navigate, otherwise.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Reviews
Overall rating:
Killer
The best way I can describe our experience is that we casually flirted with death to see a beautiful waterfall. We took the path on the south end of the parking lot and climbed over a cement barrier. It took some time to find the ropes. God bless whoever put those ropes in because without them we would surely be dead. It was very steep and muddy due to recent rain. There were several times we were holding on for dear life. Once down, the waterfall was beautiful and we dipped our toes in the stream. We did not feel comfortably swimming since there was no other soul in sight and we had already pushed our luck. *TIP: Remember where you came down. We struggled with finding our way back to the path. This trek is not for the faint at heart. Glad we did it and made it out with no injury but some of these reviews were a little deceptive. Serious hikers only, do not bring flipflops, and do not bring children under the age of 12.
Best Swim On The Island
The slip and slide to the bottom wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! Definitely worth the end swim. Make sure to get and swim up to the falls but be careful getting in among the slippery rocks. I felt so much peace and positive energy amidst the waters of this powerful waterfall! The base of the fall was surely the best view in the house. :)
Muddy but gorgeous
This is a very steep walk down to the base of the falls. Note that you can also view the falls from the top of the road. If you want to venture down, make sure to use ropes to help you maneuver and wear good footwear. The bottom of the falls is majestic.
