Kapaa, Hawaii
Hike to the Base of Wailua Falls
1.5 Miles Total - 150 ft gain - Out-and-Back Trail
Originally added by Kyle Szegedi
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.
Tags
Reviews
Overall rating:
Easy, Quick, Rewarding
I wouldn't say this hike is 1.5 miles round trip. I dont think it is even a mile.
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. :)
Nearby Adventures
Kayak the Wailua and Hike to Secret (Uluwehi) Falls
1.5 Miles Round Trip
Hike to the nose of Sleeping Giant
4 Miles Round Trip - 1000 ft gain
Hike the Kuilau Ridge Trail
5 Miles Round Trip - 488 ft gain
