The Best Hiking in Kauai County

Iliau, an endemic plant to Kaua'i's westside, grows along the path -- hence the name: Iliau Nature Loop -- is located in Waimea Canyon State Park. Not far after mile marker 8. It has the same trailhead as Kukui Trail.Native vegetation are identified in signs along the path. There are excellent vi...

Waialeale Blue Hole Falls Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Līhuʻe, Kauai, Hawaii.

You will need a 4WD high clearance vehicle to reach this trail. To reach the trailhead, take Highway 580 which will eventually turn to dirt. You'll cross over a couple of streams and when you reach a Y, take a left. In one more mile, you will reach a second Y which you will turn left. If the gate...

Mahaulepu Beach to Kawelikoa Bay is an out-and-back trail where you may see local wildlife located near Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii.

This easy-to-handle trail is a good one for the whole family. The trail starts from "Shipwrecks Beach", in front of the Grand Hyatt and follows the coastline for 2 miles to Maha'ulepu Beach. Along the way, you'll witness beautiful, rugged coastline and multiple lookouts over the ocean. This tra...

(Note: the cave is only open to the public on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00am-2:00pm) Getting There:  Drive down Poipu road, traveling east; the road will turn to dirt and a few obstacles will make you glad to have (or wish you had) a medium clearance vehicle... Take the fi...

Makauwahi Cave is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii.

People have accessed the falls directly from the Canyon Trail, which begins between mile marker 14 & 15. You'll follow a dirt road for a bit, leading to a 3.2 mile hike (not my recommendation). The hike is more enjoyable via the recently opened spur trail, which starts at the Pu'u Hinahina lo...

Kawaikoi stream trail starts 3/4 mile beyond the Forest Reserve entrance sign on the Mohihi-Camp 10 road & across the stream at "Sugi Grove". It's a DLNR maintained trail, so there's signage & mile markers for the trail.At 1.75 miles total-roundtrip, it's a very easy walking trail, great ...

Parking at the trailhead is limited to approximately four vehicles, so arrive early. If you are unable to park, continue down Highway 580 and you will find parking next to Kawi Stream. The beginning of the trail, an old fire road, starts with a gradual incline where you are exposed to a variety o...

This 6.2 mile hike leads you through a forest reserve filled with native dryland plants and ends abruptly above the sheer cliffs of Awa‘awapuhi and Nualolo Valley. You will often hike in clouds and mist through the forest, but the clouds tend to part near the ocean, giving you spectacular views o...

A strenuous 7 mile hike, depending on which way you start, that takes you from the world renowned Kalalau Valley from Pu'u O Kila lookout, through dense mossy forests, across a stream, up to the highest swamp in the world and ends in views of Kaua'i's north shore of Wainiha valley and Hanalei Bay.

Drive Waimea Canyon Drive until you reach mile marker 17. Continue about half a mile further, park at the turnout on a corner near a telephone pole. The trailhead is directly back from the turnout.You'll first encounter a maze of criss-crossing hunter trails. Stay mostly to the left, following ri...

Kalepa Ridge is a narrow, unofficial trail that starts at the Kalalau Lookout in Koke'e State Park. To get to the trailhead, drive to the popular Kalalau Valley Lookout near the end of highway 550 in Koke'e State Park. Look toward the left (ocean side) of the parking lot where you'll see the unm...

There are a few different approaches for this hike - you can take either the East route, West route, or the Kuamoo-Nounou route. The East route is closest to nearby towns of Kapa'a and Wailua, so for convenience I chose this route.The trail quickly begins with several switchbacks, all of which a...

First, you need kayaks to get on the river. I bring my Oru Kayak with me everywhere, but we did have to rent one additional, and there are rentals everywhere - a quick Google search will get you tons of options. You can launch your boat from directly across the Wailua River Marina where you see t...